Downsize to purchase retirement home?

Hi OP

just a few things, if you haven't fully lived in the countryside before just be careful. Living permanently in a place is very different to the buzz of weekend visits. Its reality. It changes your perception and it can take a long time to get your head around the permanency of it. It no longer has that "escape away for a weekend" buzz when its every single day.

Also be careful you don't isolate yourself too far away from shops, activities, people. Even if you love your own company and the peace and quiet it will be a lot more quiet when you retire. You also change a lot between your 50's and 60's (I'm assuming you're mid fifties now).

I am living in Kerry but was born, bred and schooled in Dublin city. One of my daughters is in Limerick with 3 small kids, one in South Kerry. I bought a year ago in West Kerry, an hour from both of them. BUT I made sure I bought in a small town, lots of people around, yet still peaceful and quiet. I can walk to shops. I am 15 mins from both Killarney and Tralee and 4 mins from Faranfore airport and mainline train to Dublin! I hike and swim a lot and am very active. I lived in Meath before and found it very hard to make friends, in Kerry its much easier.

Kids find it a lot harder to move than adults, especially as teenagers , it could be an issue that can cause a lot of grief. Hopefully not. I moved from Dubin to Meath when mine were 13 and 8 and they still talk about it, they hated it!

Finally I would advise against buying a big property, you definitely need less space and stuff as you retire. So many of my family and friends would love to downsize. But you sound like you have taken this into account from your thread title! Best of luck, just don't isolate yourself too much, you might find it a bit quiet in 10 years time.

The appeal of living in the countryside can be very alluring, however that appeal can wear off very quickly if one is accustomised to all the amenities of city living.

The main thing lots of people dont take into account is healthcare, as we age, we need the security of having timely access to a hospital should it be needed.

OP how far is your nearest hospital from your proposed countryside residence?

Just remember that your child may need to be back with you in their 20s & 30s and perhaps with a partner. That's the new norm for many families. Downsizing might not be a given.

Before the pandemic, I used to commute to Dublin from Wexford five days a week, but now I work from home one day and only travel three. The five-day commute is quite taxing, and nowadays, most employers wouldn’t expect such a commitment. For adults, an hour’s drive to and from work seems reasonable, but it’s a different story for children going to school; it’s not fair to subject them to that. A five-day school commute is exhausting, and it’s likely to lead to burnout. Financially, there’s no long-term saving either, as a house in the countryside may end up costing as much as one in the city.

When considering fuel costs, opting for an electric vehicle could be more economical in the long run, especially for longer commutes. Petrol expenses for significant distances can be wasteful, and I’ve noticed an increase in electric vehicles on my own commutes, which are ideal for such journeys.

Having experienced life in both Dublin and the countryside, I can say that each has its merits. The countryside offers spacious homes and is delightful in the summer, while the city provides more activities for dreary days and a richer social life for children. However, country living seems more suited to young couples and retirees who can fully enjoy its tranquility. For families with school-going children and active lifestyles, the convenience of city life can be more appealing, as not all amenities are readily available in rural areas.