I really have nothing worthwhile to say. Life is... just the same: good in some ways, but with some real sadnesses in it too which I find impossible to shake off. So - irrelevantly to all this - we've been watching after-dinner programmes about people who build their dream homes, which always makes me want to go off and buy a piece of land and have a house built.
It would have to be in Scotland. I could move away from Scotland only to be nearer all the children, which with one here, one down south and one up north is impossible. And even then... it would be hard. Ideally this house would be in the country (I ignore tiny problems like having to be near a bus service when we get too decrepit to drive) with a view of distant mountains in one direction and the less-distant sea in the other. It would have a garden of about an acre, mainly laid to lawn (in slow-growing grass...) but with a wonderful herbaceous border - mature but again slow-growing. The house itself would be in the Arts and Crafts style - but new, so that it wouldn't need major repairs. Perhaps Lutyens would like to come back from the dead to design it for me; or Frank Lloyd Wright, maybe? Or possibly Daughter 2, come to that, who is still alive - an advantage in an architect. I'd like a double-height room somewhere and also a cosy study with a view over the garden and I'd like it to have internal views from one part of the house to the other, but also nice private little spaces. And lots of wood, preferably with interesting shapes.
Not much to ask really.
Being more realistic, I'm sometimes tempted to move to a small town, maybe North Berwick or Haddington, which are in East Lothian, 15 or 20 miles away from the city. But really, with Daughter 2 in London and Son in Perth, neither of these is practical if we want our departed children to be able to visit us reasonably easily. We might, however, move back to the east side of Edinburgh, where I come from - near the sea. But can we be bothered? Or will we just stay where we are? Daughter 1, Son-in-Law 1 and the grandchildren live nearer that side and the journey across to them, through the city centre, is somewhat tedious, so it would be lovely to be nearer them. Thus any move that we might make is dependent on where they are - and they're considering moving house too (though they're not decisive people and there are various other factors affecting any decision they might think of making). So... who knows?
I do feel a bit restless, though.
Where would you live, if you could choose within not-too-impossible reason?
I would stay right where I am now, we only moved here from the Big Smoke four years ago and I am never ever not never moving again! I quite like the sound of your dream house and garden, though.
ReplyDeleteI would like a house with a good sized backyard, an ensuite bathroom that I wouldn't have to share with the kids, a good sized sewing room and somewhere to have a piano, proper television reception, a dishwasher, a bath big enough for a decent soak, and air-conditioning. Oh allright then, and a pool in the backyard. I would like it to be about 4 kms south of where we are, with established houses nearby that won't require renovating. Also I would like my own dance studio that I didn't have to share with other hirers. I can dream, can't I?
ReplyDeleteI want to be able to go for a quiet walk without having to brave traffic first, preferably by the sea, but as I grow older I also want to keep practicalities - like mains gas so I don't freeze in a power cut, my lovely neighbours within shouting distance in case I fall (again!) and who check my curtains every morning to make sure that I'm up and OK, as I'm on my own a lot. Pints of milk are currently a short, if steep, walk away, taxis aplenty. We have good internet speeds, several large supermarkets, wonderful beaches within 6-10 miles.
ReplyDeleteI've done the major house rescue thing in the past. It's all-consuming and exhausting. I will not be doing it again!
How fun to read of your dream house! I have the big house with everything I could want in a house (well, the sewing/laundry room situation could be better, but it's ok) but we live in such a geographically boring area. If I could choose, I'd plant my house near one of your little seaside villages. Or maybe in the mountains -- although, walking at sea-level is much easier than in the mountains, considering that we're aging and all.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I've been very encouraged that TheFirstChild and wife are seriously considering our little city when they're done with their residency. He's always had big dreams of living out west where the big mountains are, but the situations for his position aren't nearly as favorable there. Yay for unfavorable situations LOL. Now, if we could just get TheSecondChild (who lives as far away from us as DD2 does from you, but without the train service) to have happier impressions of his hometown!
Let me know when you plan your move -- I'm good at moving (just ask SweetiePie!) and I'll happily come and help you!!!
The trouble with moving to where your kids are is that they can up and move at some time in the future, and by then you would be too old and frail to move again after them. I only say this because it has happened to some friends of mine in recent years.
ReplyDeleteAs for me and my Other Half, we are staying put now that we've been upgrading our house a bit. I would love a huge craft room with floor to ceiling windows on one or two walls, and Ken would have liked a dedicated home theatre/music room, as well as a four car garage. But we'll make do with what we've got.
I like it where I am, I just wish that the garden (tiny as it is) would take care of itself and that I had a lift to my living floor - no not a Stannah!
ReplyDeleteI'm still thinking.......
ReplyDeleteGood questions. I cannot answer for myself. Everyone else seems to know with great certainty what I might wish for or what I should do.
ReplyDeleteHaving recently spent about £30k on an office in the attic and a new bathroom, I think I shall stay just where I am. We have been here 35 years, and it is my home.( 2 of my grown up kids, and grandkids are within 5 miles too)
ReplyDeleteThe grown up children issue I can identify with as one lot are presently nearby and expecting the first grandchild. We however are supposed to be downsizing and moving quite a way off. I can see the tug being quite a dilemma.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I "win" the lottery (usually when out running, dog walking or swimming, strangely) I always buy a house in our village. A handsome. and substantial Victorian pile on top of a hill with large, wild gardens and gorgeous views (once I've sorted some trees out). I wonder if the current residents have any inkling how often they have been turfed out of their home??!
ReplyDeleteSo, at least I know I'm CLOSE to my perfect spot...
Lesley xx
Back from my blogging/blog reading hiatus and you have me dreaming! :) I love the description of your dreams! :) I started by thinking about what I love about my home-my yard (although I'd love to have it bigger and have someone to care for the not-so-fun details like mulching-I want to plant. ;)) and then the other things (small bedrooms, small eating area, etc) that I would love to fix... I'm not entirely sure where it would be located... I like to dream somewhere far from here where the summers aren't so hot and humid but that, inevitably, is far from both sets of our parents... so, I have more dreaming to do! ;) Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteYes , I'd like to be within striking distance of all three daughters so that we could maybe all have the occasional Sunday lunch together .
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'd just take our flat with us ... moving last year nearly finished me off and I'm never doing it again !
And , wherever it was , it would have to be in a fairly large town . It's too late to become a country girl , now ...
It's lovely to brood over these things for a time.....Any chance your children - the two who are away in different directions - will return home?
ReplyDeleteOccasionally, I do think about moving but, deep down, I know it's highly unlikely that we will. My parents (and my in laws) lived all of their lives in this town (once famously listed as the worst place to live in the country!) and we're probably going to do the same (apart from spending those few years away at uni). We're in easy striking distance of both coast and country and there's a very good hospital just down the road. Funny how the latter has become increasingly important. Hope your restlessness abates.
ReplyDeleteOh, my...where would I choose to live? Actually, DH and I have lived several places, this is actually our 9th home. When we set out to buy this one, we very logically sat down and made out our "wish list" and agreed that whatever options were on both our lists, those would be first priority. It didn't work out that way... DH saw this house, large and centrally located, with a much reduced price and HAD to have it. The house needs more work than we thought and the property is much too small. If I could, I would have a single-level house on a slope so that there could be easy access from the drive, but with a lower level that had a walk-out entry (for the dogs) and lots of natural light. At least 3 bedrooms for when the boys come home to visit, and in the lower level, a craft room for me, an office for DH and a room for the dogs (grooming, kenneling, etc.). And at least an acre of land for the dogs to exercise properly and room for a garden and small fruit trees. Where? Good question. I would like to live close to our boys, but they are not yet settled. I would also like to spend a year or two in Great Britain, preferably in Scotland. Do you know of any positions open for a Senior Librarian???
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