Life’s a Beach

Life has brought us many twists and turns over the last few years, and I think we have proven ourselves to be reasonably adept at dealing with whatever comes our way.  While our ability to adapt has been well and truly tested by covid restrictions and the resulting spending considerable time in countries we didn’t expect to, we have also tried our best to stay true to our values. When we chose to leave Dubai, it was largely because we wanted to live a simpler life.  One that was less consumer focused and more environmentally sustainable.  The sailing and van life lifestyles have enabled us to do that well, so when we decided it was time to set down some land-based roots, we were looking for a property that would enable us to continue to live simply but with the reassurance that we had a bolt hole if needed.  Our desire for a bolthole increased with the uncertainty that we felt through the covid times, and so this task moved up our priority list.  We also wanted to continue to do the things we had set out to do initially.  We didn’t want a house that would be a financial drain or burden.  We also wanted the option to lock and leave to return to our other home – currently floating in Thailand, as well as a place where we could enjoy spending time with family and friends.

In April, we became the official owners of our first house together, and Bryan’s first house purchase ever.  True to our principles, it is no bigger than we feel we need but big enough to be able to welcome friends and family. Our two up, two down 1850’s stone-built end terrace is walking distance from the beach, town centre and kiss-me-quick attractions of Paignton. We also gained a roof-level terrace garden, a real bonus for such a small property. An advantage of it being small is that it is also very affordable – reasonably cheap to maintain and with no need to generate a rental income.  After our chosen property in Wales fell through (https://ripeningnicely.com/2022/01/26/we-bought-a-house/) we changed our search area to focus on Devon.  Still close enough to get to family in Bristol and with the added bonus of the prospect of near neighbours with best mate, Belinda.  It also meant that we would be living a stone’s throw from the sea.  If we are not on it, we might as well enjoy looking at it!

The timing of the house completion meant that we had just arrived in Thailand and assumed it would be months before we could get back to the UK, but it was comforting to know that we finally had a place to call our own.  Fate had other plans, however. When we arrived in Thailand, I received news that my stepfather had been taken into hospital.  What initially didn’t look to be too serious, began to become more worrying.  It became increasingly apparent that I needed to get back to the UK.  I flew back in late April, leaving Bryan behind in Thailand. Sadly, my stepfather, John passed away a month later.  It was a tough few weeks during which I had stayed with my mum up in Bristol.

So, it wasn’t until the beginning of June that I was able to start the move-in process.  Not that we had much to move in.  When we downsized leaving Dubai, what didn’t fit on the boat was returned to the UK to reside in Belinda’s loft.  It amounted to 3 large boxes. With no furniture in the new house, I set about getting some essentials in place. It wasn’t long before things started to take shape. One month further down the line, I have most of the furniture that we need.  A deep clean was required too, not least because the property we bought has been tenanted for the last 17 years and has been lacking some care and attention. 

While some items have been bought new, I have tried to be as sustainable as possible with plenty of second-hand furniture ready for renovating and upcycling in due course. I’ve just started an online course to teach me a few tips and tricks.  Our garden was pretty overgrown too, so I spent a few hours weeding to get it in check for a more substantial make-over later.  It was fun to discover that we’ve inherited our very own banana tree. A true sign we are living in the tropical south!

The house is a fantastic base for exploring the Devon coastline, and I’ve been enjoying exploring both on foot and in the car.  We are less than a 10 min walk to Paignton seafront, and it’s possible to walk into Torquay in under an hour. We can walk the coast for miles in either direction. It is great to be able to stroll down to the coast at different times during the day, watching the ocean, the people and the constant entertainment of the seagulls.  I learned quickly that they are highly skilled at stealing food after one swooped from behind me over my left shoulder to steal food from my hand. 

I’ve had plenty to keep me occupied while separated from Bryan. Now we are finally back together though, we can really move forward. We have lots of work to do on the house and garden that will require us to acquire lots of new skills but look forward to getting out and about to explore from our base also. We will make the most of being by the sea but not on it for a while at least.

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