We’re slowly making the move into downsizing and moving into a retirement flat in town to be nearer the shops and also the hospital (just in case), and using the money left over to buy a holiday home on the Isle of Wight. We’ve started the ball rolling by organising for central heating to be installed so that our house is more saleable, and workmen will be invading every room in our house during the week commencing 18th July. Stevie is not looking forward to being uprooted, but needs must. The kids have flown the nest, and more and more we’re looking forward to spending weeks at a time or long weekends on the Island.
Last week in-between attending the festival we spent a considerable time visiting holiday parks. The old chalets of our youth have gone, and now there are what the sales bods call ‘Holiday Homes’. These appear to me to be large static UPVC caravans with decking, but we were assured by the staff that ‘Holiday Homes’ are their new name. They come in various sizes up to a large lodge, which is more like a bungalow, and apparently the smaller caravans which fit on the back of gas guzzlers have changed their name and are called ‘Tourers’ (the kind that we saw can be seen in the picture above).
It was all news to us. We were shown around many holiday homes/caravans until we were in fact ‘caravanned out’, but were impressed with their quality and realised that they weren’t like the old 1950’s caravans we remembered from our youth. They are like little home from homes, some with en-suite bathrooms, double glazing, and central heating. The holiday parks are not residential, and so we cannot have post sent there, but owners can stay in their homes for as long as they like. There are even owners’ social functions throughout the year to attend. Owners can also sub-let when they are not staying there, or let their home out privately. It all seems too good to be true.
There are 4 holiday parks on the Isle of Wight, all selling similar homes but all with very different prices. It all comes down to whether you want a panoramic view or not. If you do, you will be paying three times the price for the same home that you would on a cheaper site. We are caravan experts now, and can witter on for hours about decking, underskirts, awnings, sub-letting, site fees, and premium pitches. We were won over by one sales lady who was very good at her job, and we plan to buy sometime in the near future when our house has been modernised and sold.
Our sons and their families have suddenly expressed a keen interest in holidaying on the Isle of Wight. Has anyone had experience of buying a holiday home? I’d be interested to hear your opinions. When I asked the sales lady what owners or holidaymakers complain about, her only answer was that a couple had complained that there were fish in the sea when they were trying to swim!
Stevie Turner said:
Also we won’t have to pay the costs of a second property, as it’s not a residential park. Might need to be absent from Cyberworld quite a lot of July I fear, due not only to the central heating being fitted, but also we need to help my mother move from sheltered to very sheltered housing. Will blog when I can.
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Bernadette said:
I was wondering what you have been up to. Having a holiday home sounds like a wonderful idea. From reading your posts I can tell you both enjoy your time spent on Isle of Wight. Change always comes with a price but it sounds like the benefits outweigh the costs in this instance.
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Clive said:
We had one of those in our family for a number of years, in Walton-on-the-Naze (aka the land that time forgot). My now ex-wife used to spend the school holidays there when our girls were little, with visits from me and her parents. It was a wonderful environment for the kids, who both learned to ride a bike there. The park was a mix of retirees and people with young families so you should be fine. The next thing on your shopping list will be a beach hut 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
I used to love going to Walton-on-the-Naze when I was a kid! Beach huts aren’t big enough – I need a caravan!
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Clive said:
You’d still love it, it hasn’t changed! Beach hut is in addition to your caravan, for those long lazy days at the beach. Every seaside caravan owner should have one 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
As long as we get the weather for it…
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Clive said:
Until you’ve sat in a beach hut, freshly made cuppa in hand, gazing forlornly out at the British summer stair-rodding it down, you just haven’t lived 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
You have obviously done this at some point? We had a holiday in Cornwall once when the Tail-End Charlie hurricane was passing over. It didn’t stop raining until we got home again!
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Clive said:
On many occasions. But never in a hurricane!
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Stevie Turner said:
We went with relatives, who took video film of the rain hammering down on the car roof!
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Clive said:
We had several photos of the view outside, the ones where you couldn’t even see the sand – which was 3 yards away.
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thejuicenut said:
Oh I would miss the garden so much! My husband would love to downsize – especially after this last week of decorating and gardening! But I love the space, and I love having the space for people to come and stay. When my mum and dad retired they bought a 1 bedroom flat with no garden to avoid just that! But I love having family and friends here. Good luck with your alterations and moving. 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
Neither of us are into gardening, but would like to move to a complex with a communal garden maintained by somebody else!
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thejuicenut said:
Haha yes, I can see the attraction 😊
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Lisa Orchard said:
I think downsizing is a great idea. Less maintenance, so you have time for the more important things in life, like your grandchildren and children. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
Absolutely. And no gardening! I hate gardening!
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Stevie Turner said:
It’s always good to move nearer to your children and grandchildren (and hospitals!)when you’re considering retiring. As for holidays, take time to figure out if you like to stay in the same place or visit different locations. We’re happy to holiday on the Isle of Wight, as it’s such a beautiful place.
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joanneeddy said:
We have a similar issue to yours, though with a twist, and I hope we can find as elegant a solution! We live in small town on the Albemarle sound, connected by water to the Outer Banks, (long barrier island on the Atlantic, one hour a way by car.) That is the bigger tourist venue, but our little, charming, historic town was the first Capitol of North Carolina and has things to visit (the old Lighthouse restored in the harbor, an old courthouse, grand fireworks for the 4th of July, innumerable “festivals” for tourists, even a refitted trolley that winds its way through the historic district.) We have been our children and grandchildren’s vacation destination, though we work here.
Now we are looking retirement in the eye and moving to Raleigh where they live. Farewell, charm. Hello, bigger venue, more to do, (better hospitals), and grandchildren all the time. But not sure how we will vacation, and we haven’t quite figured that part out yet! Maybe we need to check out your solution! Great to read what’s going on with you as always, Stevie!
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robjodiefilogomo said:
I have to admit, I thought the same thing when I saw the picture—it looks like mobile homes—but as long as the inside is functional and works for you—that’s what counts. We just downsized to a townhouse—there used to be a stigma about that (at least in my mind) but we love it!!
As for views—IMO, I’d forgo the extra fee and just walk to the view—then you also get good exercise!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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Stevie Turner said:
Our main residence would still be on the mainland. This is just somewhere to go for a holiday. Thanks for the retweet.
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