I'm now in the position to make changes in my life and I've been giving it a lot of thought. I'd like to continue working and eventually (5/10 years) sell the house and move somewhere quieter maybe one of the 'Deans' near Brighton or somewhere else on the south coast.

I'm thinking of maybe going part time at work and having Fridays off next year.

If you were in a position to change your life what would you do and why?

I would start my own business.
If I can ever manage to buy a house and pay off any mortgage then I would give up work and live as self-sufficiently as possible, grow all my own food, live off the land as far as possible.

No surprises there

I'd love to have my own horse but it's a very expensive business. I may take up horse riding again next year.

I'm getting the theme tune to well known 70' sitcom in my head!

I think if I had the choice of anything I'd move to somewhere a bit.. wilder. Bit more hilly and remote. The Shetlands maybe. Do whatever the locals needed to earn a crust and have a simpler life. I harboured the notion of learning to be a blacksmith for a long time but it's a trade you'd be very lucky to earn a living at these days. The best approximation is there's a guy called Rob Miller who is one of the UK's last real swordsmiths and lives on the Isle of Skye. I'd quite fancy having his life if he didn't have it already .

Amusing none of us have gone for the 'win the euromillions and live like a Russian oligarch' option so far.

I think a lot of people want a simpler life and work to live rather than live to work. I've always wanted to do something to help rescue animals and re-home them. I wouldn't mind keeping chickens either. They're pretty amazing little creatures. Got to know them more since my step Mum started keeping them. It's very amusing to see them taken themselves to bed when it gets dark

As above, I would love to have a home of my own. It'd be closer to work, so it was easier to commute or pop home for lunch. It would also allow me to provide a better service to terminally unwell patients, so they/the family could contact me instead of a random out-of-hours doctor to do things like make adjustments to pain relief, or verify death. It would save on fuel costs and I'd love to have a place with a large enough garage and driveway that I could do my detailing whenever I felt like it rather than having to get up at 6-7am and be done before 10am on a Sunday morning.

I'd stop working offshore.

Don't get me wrong. I like my job and I like working offshore, but my wife doesn't. She's much rather I was home all the time and it would make her much happier. Plus I would like to spend more time with my boys.
Maybe in twenty years when the mortgage is paid off I can afford to take a much lower paid job at home, but until then......

Being at something of a crossroads myself, I'm not 100% what to do. One road leads me to back into education for a year but it also puts me much closer to Faye (who has moved from Aber to Cardiff), the other road keeps me in mid-Wales for another year or two, something that Faye doesn't want but will get me a better paying job in the long run.

Decisions decisions!

I've had what I wanted once.
I don't have that anymore.
I think I'm going to stop making any sort of long-term plans.
The heartbreak and disappointment can be too crushing.

Mark

No matter how trapped you feel, in reality you are always in a position to change your life. It's just that when you consider all the options, the life you have might not seem so bad.

My life is far from perfect, but I'm relatively comfortable for now. The best thing I can do is try to make the best of each day.

Sounds about right.
I'll ditto what you just said.

Mark

Sorry for the sudden dose of reality.
I'll take my life-affirming comments elsewhere.
(8+)

Mark

On that note, I'd like my own place, a better camera and some sexy lenses, be able to afford a proper rebuild of the car and the Dutch ex back in my life.

So, not much then, really, eh?

Mark

I'd like to think most of that's achievable.