Splendid Isolation...or not?

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EricaT
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Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:03 pm

Splendid Isolation...or not?

Post by EricaT »

Hi folks,

I'm just wondering who on here, (in France), lives in a home with zero neighbours in sight. I'd be even more interested to know if you have children. Do you like it? Do you wish you'd bought somewhere in a hameau or similar instead? Any thoughts appreciated :-)

Erica
dorie
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Location: Haute Savoie

Post by dorie »

Very personal preference I would say - we are in a small hameau, 6 houses, 4 of which are used about 3-4 weeks a year and the other a gite rented for about 8 weeks in winter.

I would like it if we had more permanent neighbours, it is so nice to say "Morning!'' or have an impromptu drink or snacks plus I do like the idea of looking out for each others homes, noticing if a stranger is lurking about, if the dog has escaped etc
Fleur
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Isolated or not?

Post by Fleur »

We don't live in France full time but visit a lot between March and October.

Our house is in the middle of a small village, approximately 500 habitants. We are fortunate to have really great French neighbours who have welcomed us and keep an eye on our place when we're absent. They are always ready to help out if we need assistance.

I would not choose to live in an isolated location.
Fleur
annedab
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Location: Midi Pyrenees

Post by annedab »

We upped sticks from West London to move to the middle of nowhere just over 4 years ago. Absolutely love it and we have made more friends than we ever had back home. Winter can be a bit bleak but we do more socialising and impromptu drinks than we ever did in 25 years in a big city. Our kids are grown up though and have their own lives - not sure I would have said the same when they were little as, obviously, almost everything we do involves driving somewhere. OH plays in a band, so now that we have moved on from our gite business he has the luxury of making as much noise as he likes without driving anyone up the wall (myself excluded :lol: )
Regards

Anne

If there's no such thing as co-incidence, then why is there a word for it?
EricaT
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Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:03 pm

Post by EricaT »

Thanks, folks.
I guess it's horses for courses.
I live in a village at the moment and apart from the school run, I have to drive everywhere. I guess I'm used to it.
Thanks again for the responses!
Erica
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oasiscouple
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Post by oasiscouple »

EricaT wrote:I guess it's horses for courses.
Exactly. Our house in Gironde has no neighbours, just vines & fields around us. Suits us fine as we are naturists when weather permits. My daughter, husband and three children and my partner's daughter (also naturists) all living near Paris love it here and we attract naturists for our B&B. Just getting the pool ready for the warmer weather just starting.
Honi soit qui peu y boit
EricaT
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Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:03 pm

Post by EricaT »

Well Oasiscouple, I guess you do just naturally gravitate towards what appeals to you personally.
Personally I love the seclusion, but I just wondered if anyone else was actually "living it". Seems it's perfectly normal!
la vache!
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Post by la vache! »

I live in a hamlet with 3 other houses. My closest neighbours are a retired couple, but I get on really well with them, they look after everything for me if I have to go away (even the gite guests).
When my kids were little there were fewer disadvantages. However now my daughter is at Lycée (my son is still in Primaire) she has to get up at 6H15 (and me too) in order to get the bus from the local village at 7H. I then have to take my son to school later. My daughter gets back at 19H, it is a long day for her. I work in Rennes so end up doing around 750kms a week with all the return trips for all of us.
But I love living in the countryside and despite the inconvenience of having to drive even to get the bread, there is nothing nicer than putting on my running shoes and getting straight onto a footpath with my border collie for a run. Without exhaust fumes.
I think guests would ideally like to be within easy walking distance, rather than easy running or cycling distance of a bakery, but it is difficult to have peace and quiet and proximity to commerces.
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Moliere
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Post by Moliere »

I think it's clear that it's a matter of personal preference. For me, I live in a well-appointed village (3000 habitants, although it was 1800 when we arrived). This suits me very well - everyday shops and a wide range of services are nearby, my neighbours are friendly and always ready to help, it's lively and there is always something going on - I like that, but it's not for everyone.

The only thing I would counsel is to take note of local services - medical, plumbers, taxis, car-repairs etc; think about the winter, will you be cut off sometimes in your location; what happens in an emergency - these are all things we hope won't happen to us, but they sometimes do, so be sure you know what the "big picture" is.

Given all that - enjoy your choice, wherever it is.

Mols
Jumping is just dressage with speed-bumps.
EricaT
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Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:03 pm

Post by EricaT »

Thanks, ladies!

La Vache, what a lot of driving! I guess you have lovely quiet roads though and beautiful scenery :-) What do you do for work in Remmes if you don't mind me being so nosey?
Mols, I think we're going to say no to the place we had found. I think people who stay in gites in general want a bit more "going on" and it would also have been a complete money pit. As beautiful as it was it needed e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g doing. Total renovation.
Pixietoadstool
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Living in Splendid Isolation

Post by Pixietoadstool »

Hello

We live in the Cévennes (south of France) in splendid isolation. We can't see any other houses from our house and our nearest neighbours are 2 kms away. We don't feel at all isolated as the community is very friendly and supportive and the locals make an effort to include us in village events plus we have get togethers with our 3 closest sets of neighbours a few times a year. Everyone supports each other and if there is a problem we ask our neighbours for help. If we had an emergency there is the air ambulance. However we are only 8 minutes away from our local village and 12 minutes from a small town with all facilities.
We run a gîte and B&B and all our guests choose us because they are looking for somewhere peaceful and in nature.
The only problem I could foresee is that if you have children they might have to travel a way to school but young families are welcomed very warmly here because the community appreciates that we need to keep our villages alive!
Hope this helps (though a bit late!).
Love not fear!
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