Retiring to England - Our story of Semi-Retirement in the UK 

Love the way Dara looks at Ian, she obviously adores him.

I think you have the best of both worlds. Id love to escape the UK for winter but love our summer, Im not great with hot weather unless i'm by a pool with a g & t. Magenta the way you have been so lovely and positive about the UK makes you so welcome here and I am so glad you enjoy so much about our culture, history and hospitality. Continue enjoying your life.

Ian is a lucky man, having lived in Cornwall and Devon; as I have. God's country.

Note to all men:- don’t think that a woman will forget anything you might say as a throwaway remark or musing about the future!!

Such a fascinating story, you guys!! Thank you for telling your MOT Tribe all about what led up to your semi-retirement in the UK. As complicated as it must have been, I'm sure it was all well worth it. How wonderful for you both AND for all of us who benefit by getting to be "arm-chair travelers" watching your vlogs!! 🥰

What a wonderful way to be semi-retired….best of both worlds. Dara you’ve really made the most of your opportunity and we’ve learned so much about the UK through your wonderful videos. ~Cara ❤

I'm with Ian on living in Texas during the summer. I spent three summers living in sweaty Houston in the 90s.

We must have had the worst winter here in he UK, more rain than even usual! I think you are both very courageous ! Moving is most stressful so hope you don’t find it too much! Come visit us in West Sussex if you want, your both lovely people and so welcome!

I am late catching up, but wanted to congratulate you both, and wish you the very best here in the UK. I can't wait to watch your upcoming videos, especially your trip to Germany and you having friends over. take care both :)

Really interesting to hear how you came to be living on two continents, and sharing some insights into how it is possible to make that work for you. I would love to hear more about the differences between property purchases/sales in the US and UK. It's clear from watching the odd US "Selling Houses" type TV shows that there are fundemental differences. The thing that always surprises me is when they say "If John and Mary can't sell their house in 4 weeks they will end up paying two mortgages". In England at least (Scotland has a whole different system) that just wouldn't happen because of the whole 'chain' system, with everything co-ordinated to happen on the same day.

Dara and Ian-Yes, please share the ins and outs of purchasing UK property. As I have shared, I retire in 2.5 years and am contemplating buying a small place. As I have shared, I have been traveling to England for several years...just love it there and still have a great deal to explore. Could you discuss the following: Additional expenses involved in purchase-not just home? Also, council taxes and upkeep? This would be a factor for me as well because I plan to maintain a home here in America, as well. Thank you.

Very interesting video. It's a story of people taking control of their lives and making choices based on dreams that turn out fabulous!

Hi Dara/Ian - Love this video. I did wonder how you managed to spend so much time in the UK and not need to work, and now I know! As a Brit I'm very happy you both spend so much time in the UK, and yes, having been to Cheltenham myself a few times, not so far from me, it's a lovely old town, with great Georgian architecture too. I hope your American friends love coming to visit. I'm also going to embark on semi retirement towards the end of the summer (40 years in the oil industry is enough), so just need some nice summer weather please! Having lived in Florida, I too don't want 35/40c (95/100+f) every day😁

I somehow missed this Dara and Ian, this is a great video....I loved watching !

Thank you Ian and Dara for sharing your story - fascinating and really interesting. Looking forward to the video about purchasing your flat! I'm told that buying property in England and Wales is one of the six most stressful things in life (Scotland has its own property purchase process) and having moved around quite a bit, I can testify to that! Always enjoy watching your videos.

Intersting stuff! You guys live a brilliant life. So great that your pipe dream came true. We drove past Cheltenham last week on our visit to Dorset! Oo sounds like your house is going to be busy this year! Yes Ian, castle visiting in wales is the best. This was super interesting guys. Cheers 🍻

I couldn't think of a better couple to welcome to our shores. Jamaica is part of the commonwealth so your Brit percentage increased. Some years ago we bought a holiday home in Scotland a different kettle of fish to purchasing a home in England. We didn't use it enough and sold it another experience. Wales is a great place l visited many times in my youth via Cheltenham spa. Cheltenham was a hub for the bus companies and had a huge bus station.

Very interesting. Great that you are living the dream, and sharing it with us! We are living our own dream!

I think the bravest decision you've made is to "spill the beans". I'm glad we found each other and you love to talk and I listen, so wherever you lay your hat. ❤

Ideal retirement you have, sounds a perfect lifestyle to me

Absolutely fascinating. You guys are cool. It’s a great location and somewhere where you can use as a great base to explore the rest of the UK. A huge decision but looks like you guys are lovin life. You’re going to have a busy Summer!! 😃. Safe travels Ian and Dara.

Hi Dara & Ian, thanks for sharing your reasons for chosing semi-retirement to the UK and the background leading up to this decision. Oh wow, I didn't realise just how many properties you had! Ian had all the right experiences and credentials for choosing a place for you both in the UK, even though the property market and system is SO different over there compared to the United States. Cheltenham sounds like the perfect location. We are so glad you guys decided to make the UK your home - lots of great travel vlogs for us to watch, yay! 🤗❤

Great info on the visa rules and the complexities of the sharing of your time between both places. I wonder how long before England is as hot as Texas? 🧐 great time to pursue your dream and get a much better quality of life. Cheltenham is such a great location to have access to Wales and airports! Purchased 20 homes? Wow 😱

Hello lovelies! How cool you retired here! Come and visit us in Cornwall one day. You’ll be very welcome to come for an art workshop if you fancy it. Love the National Trust. Veryan is 5 miles from me! The Roseland is stunning! ❤

The "Nam" is quite a nice town.....Have you been to the horse racing festival ever??🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

You two are deadset living the dream. Nothing brings dreams to life like nose to the grindstone. I suspect you've worked hard to realise your dreams. Kudos to you.

(Melanie here) I would love to see videos of any literary destinations such as Jane Auten's house, the Brontes' home, Beatrice Potter's home or the area in Yorshire where All Creatures Great and Small is filmed. I have been to Oxford and seen the homes of C. S. Lewis and Tolkien. (The town of Oxford is also amazing!) My parents (who were British) owned a home in Devon (after retirement) near Torquay and area is so beautiful. I have relatives in Nottingham but haven't been there in years. I recently stayed in London near the Tower Bridge and was stunned by how clean it was and how friendly the average person is on public transportation etc. (I LOVE Italy, but a recent trip to Rome was disappointing with how much trash and graffiti was everywhere so that was one comparison). What is a challenge for you when it comes to adjusting when you go back and forth and have a life in both places?

We one your impression of Ian when you were trying to convince him to buy the UK flat

It's nice to have a base you can return to and spend extended time there and Cheltenham looks like a great city and location. We still have a family apartment in Italy and my parents at least over the years have spent months at a time there. I'm still working so can only do a few weeks, but I appreciate having the home base.

As a brit it makes perfect señsè, good for you.Take care and good luçk . Colin Case aka Casey

Hi. I’m originally from cheltenham. I’m currently living in Reno Nevada. I’ve been here 25 years. I do miss cheltenham. I’m planning a trip in the next year 🤞 got to go carp fishing 🎣 I am looking to purchase a place in the Cotswold water park. From Orion property’s. great videos keep it up

Increasingly large parts of the US - as well as India, Gulf states, no longer support life by default in the hotter seasons. Now how did we get to that point ??

I looked into this, but as an average American citizen without a British partner, it is virtually impossible.

That’s interesting 👍 good choice to move here for the summer Cornwall would be a good choice

On a separate subject, did you know that otters are now being regularly seen at Pittville Park Lake Cheltenham during the day? It seems they've come to visit you!

Being in the southern hemisphere we do the same travel to the north but it's not the escape the summer but the winter! And our winters aren't that bad, just summer in the UK and Europe is a much more attractive proposition!

So what’s the plan? Do you usually make an itinerary of places to visit, things to do, or do you just wing it?

Hello both! 👋 new to your channel. I’m hoping to find your content very relatable since I am British and my husband is a Texan and we spend a lot of time between the two! I’m with you on the Texas summers 🥵

Have you been to the forest of Dean in Gloucestershire?

WAIT!!! How did I not know that Ian's family lived in Devon and Cornwall??

I know all about having two countries and calling them home. Right now I am home in 🇳🇿🥝 and in a couple of months I'll be home in 🇳🇱🧀! Despite Boppy (@Poliss95) thinking me abnormal 🤣🤣🤣 I did manage to follow the conversation in the video at my 3am. Or was it 4? Whatever- great explanation and answering queries about how, what and why this is possible. Clocks gor back here tonight. More juggling times with premiers. Happy weekend. 👌🙋‍♀😎🥝🇳🇿

So, do you guys plan to do this indefinitely? Living in two countries I mean? Or will you eventually choose one or the other when fully retired? Interesting to hear Ian was 4 when his family moved to the USA. When I was a baby we were three days from moving to Toronto, furniture sold, everything. Then my father got tuberculosis and that was the end of that. I often wonder how my life would have turned out differently. My name is also Ian and I am retiring in June😊

Hiya Dara, I told my friend Annette about your vlog Americanisms Brits hate , I text her about it, Annette replied with "I'm going to put some Bad Boys in the oven now for lunch"!!!, I replied with "ITS BLOODY ANNOYING ISNT IT" I'll watch this vlog later on, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England

Shame about the sound quality for the first minute - great video thereafter. Thank you very much.

Love your hair!

So why did you both end up in Texas if the summers are so hot ?

Visit moreton in marsh

Tiny bit of money from YT? 🤔🤔Travel costs? 😮😮Great that you had the rentals! 🤣🤣The YT funds can buy lunch. Just not too often! Interesting semi retirement life and we enjoyed hearing about you experience.

Flat not apartment, yip your Brits, filled a vacancy when i moved to Australia 😊😊

Love how you break up your year!

Have any of your American friends decided to move here since visiting?

I’d like to see your friends dining on Beans on toasted croutons…

Regarding your friends, different parts of the country are known for different industries. Manchester is a great city for industry, Sheffield had the Steel works, Liverpool is Arty, London is fashion. Oh, and don't let them fall victim to the bread debate! Is it a crust or an end? Is it a Barm, a Muffin, Breadcake or Bap? Honestly, I'm surprised civil wars haven't broken out over the name of a baked good! 🤣🤣

Do you keep a car in the UK ?

u could reverse it and ask your american friends to bring american food/snacks for your british friends to do a taste test here !!

So you have to marry a UK citizen or be very wealthy to stay permanently, correct? I understand I can't even bring my own online job. If only I could do that, I could pay my own way.

Wish I could meet you guys! ❤ I live near Portsmouth, Hampshire. I’ll buy you a couple of drinks? :) and show you around if needed? Xx ❤

I live in dorset. Have visited dallas in summer. Yes texas is hot. But i still prefer it. England is changing dramatically and not for the better in my opinion. Englands weather is incredibly depressing 80-90% of the year. Not good enough for me.

I'll watch but not at 4am! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙋‍♀🇳🇿

Complicated, isn't it?

20 homes?! You must be millionaires! xx

Don't come to england its a nice place yeh sure but .........

Mmmm? Not so cool about this justification of wealth.

I’d like to see your friends dining on Beans on toasted croutons…