I moved to the seaside, over 250 miles from London, just as my career was starting to take off in 2002. At that time it was considered to be a bold and unusual move – I heard later that the Chief Executive of my London employer had given the news to the Board with the comment that I was ‘deranged’ to do it. Probably true as it was indeed difficult to pay the mortgage in a small community with a very limited number of senior positions in my industry.
But no more! Covid has transformed the way we live and work, and these changes could well be permanent. My experience of being by the seaside is so positive that I can only encourage you to make the jump before everyone else does.
I did end up in a bustling and magical town with a large harbour, so that was lucky, but aside from my career struggles it amazed me that I didn’t miss London at all, bearing in mind that I lived for many years in a wonderful neighbourhood (Portobello Road) and I had a great love of the city.
The open countryside has many advantages however I found it generally too dull, especially in places where Mankind had defeated all forces including untidiness, and the villages could seem too clean and twee for me to relax. Not a problem near the sea, which can’t be controlled, and which actually is powerful enough to take lives throughout the year. Respect for the sea is not a joke and it keeps me humbled and awed when watching those who work on the water. Sea ions are supposed to increase mental health and I believe that to be true, a walk on the beach in any weather is a fantastic experience, in fact I prefer out of season beach walking although the boats and ferries are more fun in the summer. Being able to walk to the beach and walk to a pub and walk to a boat launch is pretty much heaven for me. Less makeup and more casual clothes suits me perfectly, and nothing beats roads with less congestion and communities with more long-standing roots and traditions.
Things are changing, and London people and London thinking – which had once seemed so far away – are reaching my new town. People are wearing better clothes, the roads are busier and the communities will change. However the very fact that the sea is visible, powerful moody and gorgeous, means that a simple walk to buy milk from the shop is a glorious experience, and it is that which transforms life into the Good Life.
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