A year ago we packed up our old life and moved to Whitstable in Kent to begin our life by the sea.
Moving out and moving on…
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A question that comes up time and time again, of course, is do you miss London?
Do we miss London?
Do I miss London?
The short answer is no. We can go back anytime that we like. And we do. We have been back to see friends, for running, for brunches, for lunches, for dinners, for concerts, for shows, for haircuts (that will be me), for governor visits (me again) and for exhibitions. The list goes on. I love that when we go back we plan it- so we actually see the people and places that we like. It’s not an arduous task (usually). The train is easy or the drive is relatively short.
But, here’s the thing: I love it when we get home. It feels like home. I am all about how it feels.
I was worried that we wouldn’t settle. That we would find it claustrophobic. That it would lack something. London has SO MUCH to offer. How can a small Kent town compete?
There is a real sense of community here. Most days I will see someone I know or recognise. We will speak and say hello. Although we have friends in London, they were very spread out and we wouldn’t see them on a daily or even weekly basis without planning it. I still find it remarkable.
Whitstable has it’s quirks that never fail to entertain. The festivals, the carnivals, the art exhibitions, the blessing of the animals and all the other random things that go on. There is always something happening or coming up. It’s not boring. You can get involved or not. It has proved to me that you don’t have to be in a big city to see the arts and some diversity. We saw The Orb in a community centre, I mean that is kind of random.
On the flip side it is much quieter that London. I don’t hear buses rumbling by throughout the night or police sirens 24/7. Instead I wake up to Steven Seagull and his friends. The skies are darker which helps you to really connect with nature: the sunrises, the sunsets and the stars. I love noticing the seasons so much more. And embracing all the elements. There is NOTHING that hits like that sea breeze.
It has been lovely having friends come to visit (and I hope that the novelty doesn’t wear off). We have had lots of visitors and quality time with people we love. I am hoping that the pull of the seaside continues to be more attractive than SE London.
Of course the best thing is living by the sea. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to live by the sea. I always had that feeling of calm whenever I was there. I love that I can go and swim in the sea on a random Tuesday evening. I love our outdoor gym classes on the beach and overlooking the sea. Going for a run and watching the sun rise or set. I even don’t mind the tourists in the summer- it makes you feel like you are on holiday too.
It took us a while to decide on Whitstable (we dabbled with Devon and Bexhill On Sea) but in the end Whitstable offered everything we wanted. After living here for a year I can see that it offers even more than we thought!
So when are you moving here?
IYKYK 🤣😉