I’m 32 next month. Since moving to London 3 years ago from Sydney, I’ve been desperate to return to the coast as I like the lifestyle it offers, but had been delayed in my attempts due to an injury. My contract on my current place ends the end of August, although I can renew this. I’ve just got a new roommate I really get on with, and have started social connections in the area following a very bad breakup with my ex. Part of me is happy for the familiarity and connections the city offers but I’m also feeling like I’m wasting my time here now.
I’ve built a home and life in london, but long to be by the sea. I want to put down roots now, the pull is pretty intense, I’ve been nomadic and moving around since 18 and I’m tired of it. I feel like I’m building a life in London I no longer want, but I’m scared (which is ridiculous considering how many times ive moved before) to start again. The loneliness of a new city or town, changing medical care for my injury to a new area, finding a new place to live and routine. But staying in a city I know I don’t want to put down roots in is starting to make me feel stagnant and low moods.
Has anyone started again or moved somewhere new in there 30s with the idea of moving to put down roots? Have you moved specifically for the idea of saying “this is going to be where I settle now”. Was it difficult to make new friends and get established? Please share your positive and negative experiences!
Comments
I have 🙂 I left my small town and moved to the big city a few years ago. Something deep inside of me told me to go for it and I’m so happy I did!
I found a perfect job (after starting out with a horrible job at first when I got here) and found awesome new friends at this new job. I volunteered and met awesome people as well. I love my life here and my dating life is so much better.
However I don’t think I’m meant to be here forever, I do sometimes long for the peace and quietness from a smaller town. But for now it’s perfect and I have trust that no matter where I end up, I’ll be happy and meet new people.
It’s just important to put yourself out there in a new city. You have to put in extra effort.
I’d say go for it! You can always move back if you regret. Life is too short to not take chances. As long as you are not tryin to escape from yourself 🙂
I left the city I had built my whole adult life and friendcircle in to move back to my home region because of my elderly father and lower costs.Â
And it’s a never ending nightmare. Living in a basically ruined house, going in debt for renovations my parents should have done 30 years ago, not having my friends around, missing the city I lived in for 15 years.Â
It feels like I have thrown away my life.Â
I did. I moved a couple of times in my 30ies, from Singapore to Sydney, I stayed in syd for about 4 years before then returning to the UK (initially London then to Scotland) so I do understand the syd – London comparison, it’s a very different life, I’d live in Sydney again (if things where different and visas weren’t at the time so hard to convert to PR, I’d have stayed in Sydney)
I’m now on the West Coast of Scotland, on the beach which is beautiful but fucking freezing, it is not comparable to Sydney coastal living, maybe comparable to Woolengong. I met my wife when I came back to the Uk, she’s from the town we now live in and life is nice, it’s not what I expected I’d be doing but I love it