Guest 1622- Registered: 23 Dec 2015
- Posts: 4
#1
Hi everyone! I am a retired US citizen and disabled US Army WAC considering relocating to Dover for at least a year. If a like the area, I will stay permanently. No special housing needs except bathroom tub handles are needed. I require lots of information regarding housing. My preference is a house or cottage in or near town and transportation, as I will be doing much touring. Cost of living is of interest to me--I am a pensioner. Making friends and enjoying an easy life is my goal. any suggestions of where to live, etc. will be appreciated. Dover is recommended to me by a English friend who lives in Oklahoma City. I have lived in a little run down resort town in Eufaula, Oklahoma, and I can't stand it. Before that I lived in the Oklahoma City area since my Army discharge in 1976. Cheers! Hoping to hear from someone soon. g.
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Guest 1616- Registered: 4 Dec 2015
- Posts: 4
#2
Hi Roblyer,
I think you are right about their decision.. you have to enjoy their life with full of happiness and peacefully.. your decision is very right about going to dover..
I think It's moving can be stressful, so that's why It's here to make your move smooth in every capacity. their movers are experienced in handling furniture- they wrap it with packing materials before putting it into the moving van. They handle all types of moves- from local and long-distance to commercial and piano moving.
Thanks
lauren
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#3
Welcome Gloria, I know you have not said what age group you are in but as you are retired this local organisation should be able you steer you to the right path to take as I guess you will be renting.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/dover/
Dover and surrounding area even with all its faults is still a great place to live.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 1622- Registered: 23 Dec 2015
- Posts: 4
#4
Hello, Jan. Thank you for your response. I am in my sixties. I would like to rent a small furnished house or cottage. Dover was recommended to me by a young married couple I know. Thanks for the aging services website you passed on to me. I have looked it over and the Center provides services in which I may have interest in participation. Eufaula its has faults, as well; the infrastructure is atrocious. In general, however, Oklahoma is a great place to live. Oklahoma, especially Eufaula is considered "Indian Country" and all, but two reservations are considered "Open". Tribes (nations) in this area are mostly Cheyenne, Choctaw, and Ponca (there are about 39 nations in OK.-not all registered) . I am frequently mistaken for a Cheyenne. Living among Native Americans in this area is great, as they have many activities that are inclusive to non Indians. I just need a change and Britain calls me. Thanks again, and Best Wishes. Keep in touch. G.
Guest 1625- Registered: 31 Dec 2015
- Posts: 2
#5
Hi Gloria. Are you also a British citizen as well as a US citizen, or do you have the right to live in the UK by some other means? I ask because nobody can just move to the UK to live without the correct visa. You can visit for a length of time - 6 months I believe - on vacation, but living in the UK, or any other country in the world for that matter, usually requires some kind of visa which may take a long time to acquire or even be impossible to acquire. On entering the UK you would probably have to show a return plane ticket and evidence that you could support yourself financially for the length of your visit.
I am a UK and US citizen or grew up in Dover and have lived in the US (Oregon and Idaho) for most of the last 20 years. So I know that to move to the US requires a visa, and it can be very difficult to obtain. Same applies for anything other than a vacation (or "holiday" as us Brits would say) to the UK.
I would also say that if you do have the right to live in the UK, it would be wise to visit Dover first and get a feel for the place before cutting all ties with Oklahoma. We might speak the same language (well, kind of!) but the two countries are very different and you might find yourself not happy in the UK at all, and then have nowhere to return to. Also, getting things like utilities, driving licenses (we drive on the opposite side of the road, very narrow roads, lots more traffic) will be very different. Some landlords may be reticent about renting a place to someone with no local background history to check. You will still have to file tax returns in the US and maybe in the UK too. Getting credit cards etc may be difficult with no UK financial history.
Don't want to be pessimistic, but there is a lot to think about for a move to another country!
Guest 1622- Registered: 23 Dec 2015
- Posts: 4
#6
Hello psyman: Thank you for all of the useful information. I have done my homework relevant to a move, and you are correct--it is quite a process. Just obtaining my VA medical forms processed for a move or extended visit will take almost 8 months. Perhaps a long visit would be more practical. There is so much I would like to do and see that I feel a short visit just will not do. In any case I will still need to find a place to live for the duration of my visit. Any suggestions? Dover is my choice, as I can cross the channel and visit Switzerland, etc. I have a few friends that are Brits and they all have suggested this town. With internet, up to date communications networks, reasonable and direct deposits, I do not feel a rental agent will not have any problem verifying and contacting my former landlords and references;income is not a problem. There's plenty of time for all of that---what's the rush? As they say here 'I am the first duck in the pond' and will be able to sort it all out. Good advice such as yours is very helpful and I hope you keep in touch. Best Wishes g.
Guest 1622- Registered: 23 Dec 2015
- Posts: 4
#7
Hello psyman: Thank you for all of the useful information. I have done my homework relevant to a move, and you are correct--it is quite a process. Just obtaining my VA medical forms processed for a move or extended visit will take almost 8 months. Perhaps a long visit would be more practical. There is so much I would like to do and see that I feel a short visit just will not do. In any case I will still need to find a place to live for the duration of my visit. Any suggestions? Dover is my choice, as I can cross the channel and visit Switzerland, etc. I have a few friends that are Brits and they all have suggested this town. With internet, up to date communications networks, reasonable and direct deposits, I do not feel a rental agent will have any problem verifying and contacting my former landlords and references;income is not a problem. There's plenty of time for all of that---what's the rush? As they say here 'I am not the first duck in the pond' and will be able to sort it all out. Good advice such as yours is very helpful and I hope you keep in touch. Best Wishes g.
Guest 1625- Registered: 31 Dec 2015
- Posts: 2
#8
Hi Gloria
Well if it is less than a 6 month visit you are planning, then all should be fine. But you said you wanted to move to Dover for at least a year in your original post, which would mean your first hurdle would be getting the appropriate visa from the British Embassy for staying that long. I hope you have that in hand. I would bring appropriate references with you with regard to renting a property, rather than expect a potential landlord to obtain them from so far away.
I haven't lived in Dover since around 1999, which was temporary, as I moved away (almost) permanently in the early 80's. However, I have been a regular visitor. Where in Dover you live will be dependent on what you can afford, I guess, as well as need for public transportation, closeness to stores etc. I think compared to most American towns and cities, English towns like Dover have pretty good public transportation systems with local buses and trains to Canterbury, London etc. I think you'll find a lot of people from Dover might say River (which is an area in Dover west of the main town - and yes the River Dour runs through it - hence its name) is one of the better parts of town, as is Temple Ewell which is next to River. There is a small train station at Kearsney (kind of on the border of River and Temple Ewell) where you can catch a train to Dover, Canterbury or stations up to London. Both places are residential though with just a few corner shops, so youd need to go somewhere further away for a supermarket.
One thing I have noticed on my returns to Dover is that travel to France and the continent has actually got a bit more difficult, if you're leaving form Dover, which sounds crazy as its so close. In the old days, it was easy to go as a foot passenger on the ferry, get off in Calais or Boulogne, and catch a train from the port to Paris etc. Seems like so few people travel as foot passengers now, that the transfer between all the methods of transportation is more difficult. This is partly due to the port now mostly catering to car or truck traffic, and partly due to the channel tunnel. If you are making regular trips to the continent, you might actually be better off living near a station that has a stop for the Eurostar trains from London to Paris and Brussels, but that is probably either Ashford or Ebbsfleet, which are inland from the coast. A few years ago I went to see my uncle in Brussels, travelling from Dover via ferry to Calais, bus to the Calais train station, train to Lille, and then the Eurostar train to Brussels. A nice adventure but took about 8 hours. If I'd gone by train from Dover to Ebbsfleet or London (going in the wrong direction, effectively!), and then the Eurostar to Brussels, it probably would have taken about 4 hours.
Let me know if you have any questions, although I am sure people that still live in Dover can give better advice on places to live and other day to day living advice.
Cheers.