Will you be in East Dulwich when you are 70?

[Muttley]

I would guess that young people who buy a place in, say, Catford think of it as a stepping stone, and imagine themselves living somewhere else when they are older. East Dulwich used to be the same, but I wonder if things have changed. Often it's the pressures of growing family that force people out, but that's far harder to do than in the past because of the cost of moving, and with the pulling power of local shops, restaurants, good public transport, a strong identity, good hospitals etc I wonder how many of "us" will still be here when we are 70 (whether we are actively planning to be or not). And compared to, say, Bournemouth, or Chester, or the South of France, is this - or will this be - a good place to be 'old'?

What do you think the demographics of East Dulwich will be in: 2020? 2040?

The discussion that follows might throw up some interesting opportunities for entrepreneurs, and some important messages for estate agents and shopkeepers...

[SeanMacGabhann]

I have actually thought about this several times in the past. Having lived in many a place - rural and urban Ireland, rural and urban Devon, all 4 corners of London, not to mention (cough) 3 years in Swindon (why Lord why!) I can honestly say that if I had a couple of million for a bigger place (and do I need a bigger place or what) I would try and buy it within a 50 yard radius of where I am already (Upper East Side)

But the question is more will I live in UK/London forever? Not sure but as long as I am here I can't see myself leaving ED...

[mockney piers]

Like Sean I can't see myself leaving the area for other parts UK.

There's an inevitability about spending a few years in Ireland at some point (the fewer the better hopefully, nice place to visit and all).

In my seventies I hope to be in a white painted house in the andalucian hills with a fig tree in my garden.

[Alan Dale]

I don't want to leave Camberwell either Mockney except maybe for warmer climate when the joints start to go.

[Bellenden Belle]

In an ideal world I would love to stay in East Dulwich. BUT I think our big dilemma will come in about twelve/ thirteen years time when our children (yet to be conceived I hasten to add) are at secondary school age. Having been given a good state education myself I don't think I could limit my children through my own preference for a particular area.

One thing I know is that nothing would send me quicker to the grave than to move to a seaside "retirement" town. I intend to grow old disgracefully in good ole London town.

[Alan Dale]

So you've started trying BB! Thanks for sharing. Don't forget the folic acid.

[Doodles]

Blimmey. You lot are making me feel old. I did make the mistake of moving out to a seaside town (Whitstable). Hated it. Missed home. Came back.

[Muttley]

The trouble with living in 'warmer climates' - France, Spain, wherever - is that by the time we're 70 they won't just be warm, they will probably be excruciatingly hot for large chunks of the summer, with water shortages and extortionate air conditioning bills for those who can afford/morally justify installing a/c systems. East Dulwich itself may have the warmer climate everyone will be looking for.

[Bellenden Belle]

Oh my goodness - no, Alan Dale - thank you about the tip on the folic acid - but that wasn't an announcement of my attempt to conceive - it was one of the many thoughts that swim around my head when thinking about my ten, twenty year plan! I think hubby would be rather disturbed to hear my intentions first on the EDF!

[citizenED]

I am so enjoying East Dulwich at the moment that I can imagine living here for a long time yet. Whether I get to 70 who knows as needs and requirements chop and change. We also have to go through that secondary school debate - have to check on how things stand in around ten years time for that. But I guess if ED trends continue for the next 40 years, ie it still retains that independent high street feel, the parks continue to thrive and it retains the diverse social mix, then, yes, I could well imagine being here.

citizen

[Louisa]

I'd be more than happy to be living it up in North Devon. Wonderful food, local markets, reasonable weather, gorgeous scenery, friendly people (all based on years of experience visiting the place).. I love Devon so much because it has a true county identity, and it feels welcoming.. Maybe Plymouth is an exception to the rule but hey.. I would give up ED in a flash if my circumstances were different, even though I love the place and all..

[ratty]

Would be nice to think we could afford to stay in ED, but the fact is, with only one wage coming in to the house (Maternity Leave) ED and most of London is far too expensive. One things for sure, ED is the only place in London I would stay as I pretty much cannot stand anywhere else.

It's all aboput Quality of Life and I can probably have a better one elsewhere! :(

[Keef]

70.... Er, can't be sure I'll get there to be honest. If I do, I have no idea where I'll be living, but hopefully it'll be somewhere interesting. I've got another 4 years, so East Dulwich will be under water by then ;-)

[Brendan]

I intend to buy some land somewhere in a remote and desolate part of Southern Africa. (North West SA, Southern Botswana or Eastern Namibia)

I am then going to declare independence and crown myself king.

I may accept refugees from parts of London that end up under water but they will have to do my bidding.

I?ve not run this all buy the missus yet though? I fear she may have ?opinions?

[redrouge]

70 years... that's 50 years away!

I've lived most of my life (living in a village in the middle of Ireland before moving here). And I have to leave East Dulwich next summer... Woe.

By the time I'm seventy I hope to be rich enough to own my own riverside property on Bankside - one of those Georgian houses by the Globe theatre and Tate Modern. I'll be eccentric and wear tapestry robes with frizzy red hair, a proper theatre madam.

People will think I'm proper posh because I grew up in East Dulwich, and by then the masionette I grew up in will be worth ?1,000,000 due to insane property prices (it's probaly already nearly there!).

I'll occassionally drop back to Dulwich, I'll get my driver to bring me, because the 40 bus will be too expensive and dangerous for an old lady in 2057 for am amble in the woods (if it's still there and hasn't been built over by property developers) and I'll go see my previous homes in East Dulwich and shed a tear... for those days when I didn't have a riverside home... just views of a busy Lordship Lane...

Yes, I've been dreaming of a riverside home most my life... Deary me...!

[LostThePlot]

Muttley Wrote:

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> I wonder how many of "us" will still be here when we are 70

hellsCATchance

Nope, we have the plan to leave London, for the West Country, Brissol Airport way, to be near my wife's family, and to get away from the hellhole that is London...ED itself is not too bad, just it's too near the rest of London for my liking...

[tinagwee]

I've only lived in london for three years so still love it (and am always surprised that people hate it) and can't imagine leaving. So far I am loving east dulwich (in my whole 2 weeks of living here). Saying all that, I grew up in a rough part of Belfast, so London is great in comparison. Maybe in a few years when I have forgotten how great it is compared to Belfast, I will grow to hate it like everyone else. Though a few weeks back home would send me running back here I think. Its all relative.

[lordship_bod]

Lived in london all my life (mostly east) but am currently loving ED! the only draw back is that eventually me and hubby would want to start a family and we probably cant afford to buy a nice big place in ED without becoming bankrupt. therefore when we hear the patter of tiny feet and our flat gets too small for us, we will probably think about leaving london and finding somewhere which will give us more for our money.

Also along with many others, i dream of leaving the rat race of the city and when that happens i'd want to leave london altogether...Soo to answer the question, will i be in ED when i'm 70? probably not.....

[Asset]

Hey Louisa, I hope the Devon folks don't give you as much stick for being an incomer and changing the face of their county, fancy London folk moving in etc etc. as you give the folks in ED!

I wouldn't live any other part of London I don't think but will probably move back to the old country before too long.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I lived in london for 2 years back in 1990 and did not get on with it at all. Lived in devon for 6 years after that and mostly loved it but realised i craved the buzz of a real city. .havent looked back since

[citizenED]

Took me ages to move to London, even though I always wanted too and now I'm here, I can't imagine ever leaving - whether ED - is another matter, though as per previous post would like to think I could be. If not, then I cannot imagine being anywhere that was too Torygraph or Daily Mail, which seems to be the problem with most of the nicer places I have visited in the UK. (If there are any, please let me know). If I were to leave ED, it would have to be somewhere closer the centre like Fitzrovia or the Southbank somewhere.

citizen

[Alan Dale]

Camberwell is slightly more central. 45 minute walk to Monument.

[Parker's Folly]

London is great to live in if you are single, or a couple without kids, or if you have a lot of money.

If you are none of the above, and have a family, I personally believe living out of London offers a better quality of life for young children growing up. I love East Dulwich and its probably the nicest part of London for me, but I worry about schooling around here. Unless you have ?20,000 p.a to send a kid to the better schools, once your kids hit secondary school age, there is a lack of quality around here, in my opinion. Of course, that could change over the next 10-15 years, but you don't really know that at this point in time.

[Louisa]

Dear Asset!! I always participate in the local culture when I go on a holiday, so I do not intend to take my fancy London ways to Devon with me, I plan on becoming a local... slightly different to the people who move to ED I think!!

[*Bob*]

In around a decade there will be a whole new generation of kiddies of the current crop of 'incomer', who's educated/pushy parents will have no desire to leave the area (or be able to afford private school). Their kids will go to the locals schools and the schools will change as a result.

Louisa, I look forward to you being cussed as a fancy London 'incomer' on the Ilfracombe Forum.

"I plan on becoming a local" HA HA HA