When I’m 64 (but hopefully a little younger)

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 Some may already know that we are considering settling in the UK when we retire in five-ish years. Guido became a dual citizen in 2024 and it would be nice if Erika could become one too. The UK would be a fun place to spend time and a home base for travel to Europe. So part of the purpose of our trip is to explore areas where we might settle in a few years. After some research we loosely decided to search in two main areas- Chester and North Wales and Lancashire. 



Guido has family in Chester and North Wales. Adam and Claire generously volunteered to host us during our stay in Chester, refusing to let us lift a finger, and acting as our personal, local tour guides. We discovered how much we have in common with them and what a great asset it would be to live close by.



Chester is also a charming, characterful city. You can still walk the walls that once enclosed the Roman city founded there in the 1st century. Within the walls the city center is filled with two story Tudor- style shopping galleries, and a medieval cathedral. Like the distinctive sandstone that the city is built of and upon, Chester’s history is layered and pressed together in its own unique way. 



Cousin Michael and super-cutie pup Bella also gave us a taste of North Wales. Navigating the narrow roads where hedge rows brush your car on both sides, we went up into the Welsh hills and down to the beautiful coast. It made Erika feel right at home thinking about all the trails and paths we could explore with Rupert. 




While Chester and North Wales have family and certain features that felt familiar and homely, we also looked to Lancashire for a slightly lower cost of living and close proximity to the Lake District National Park and good connections into Scotland. We made Lancaster our home base to explore this region. 




Lancaster is a university town with some Roman history and a medieval castle that was used as a jail as late as 2011. After touring the castle with a delightfully entertaining and droll guide, we easily navigated the compact city. Guido naturally wanted to visit all the game stores. We also walked up into some neighborhoods with homes for sale in our price range. Definitely we could get more home for our money here. 



Preston was one place we noted for affordability and walkability. Its city center was bustling with activity and we picked up a few items at its historic covered market. However, as we navigated around town, it did not hold the same charm and appeal for us as either Chester or Lancaster.



Morecambe, a seaside resort town adjacent to Lancaster, was a wonderful place to a spend a day. With kids back in school it was a little sleepy as we strolled along the promenade enjoying the the sea breeze and sea bird bollards. However, we could imagine it on a bustling summer holiday, kites soaring, families picnicking in the sand, and kids with ice creams. While we met friendly people and enjoyed the day, the feast or famine tourist cycle wouldn’t suit us well as a place to live. 




We enjoyed both Lancaster and Chester and it gave us a lot to think about. Over the next few years we will need to wait and watch and see what develops before we can make a choice. 

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