Time for a change

In 2020, like many people experienced, our working lives transformed from being in an office 5 days a week to making do with hastily arranged home workspaces in bedrooms or unused corners of the house. From a productivity perspective, little changed. I was in the middle of a large project and we switched relatively seamlessly to being fully online. We were already working with team members in other countries, so a lot of time was spent on Microsoft Teams and people were familiar with the flow of online chat and video calls.

Whilst work remained consistent, other aspects were very different. The commute went from a daily cycle into the city, to 12 steps to an attic bedroom. It was convenient but things suffered. I cycled to work ever since I started working in London over 15 years ago. Initially motivated by cost savings, it became a great habit for both my physical and mental health and one I didn’t truly appreciate until it stopped. I also missed the options before, during and after work. The office in Farringdon was close to every lunch option imaginable, including street food stalls with a favourite falafel spot. There was great coffee, a Pret in every direction and plenty of pals who worked within a mile or two for easy catchups. Not forgetting the ‘Spoons a stone’s throw away! Even post-pandemic, when the restrictions were lifted and working in person was permitted, the trend in tech seemed for people to stay, at least largely, working from home. I took up a contract in 2021 that still was fully remote.

I lived in an area of North London that hasn’t historically been viewed as a particularly great place to live but I had loved being there since buying my first flat in 2007. However, my previous routine had been very different. I wouldn’t see many daylight hours at home in the week between work, hobbies, and socialising, spending more time at the weekend in the local neighbourhood. Without seeing colleagues and friends or experiencing the richness of being in the rustle and bustle of the city, it started to feel like a change was due.

One of the later factors that pushed the decision very much in the “move” direction was the arrival of a beautiful and wildly energetic Springer Spaniel puppy. Whilst London has over 3,000 parks, including several within a short walk away, it wasn’t the best environment for a hunting dog with a very keen nose. Walks required constant vigilance for chicken bones, which were in abundance on our road as it acted as a thoroughfare to the high street takeaways. There was also an incident with a paw cut open on a piece of broken glass in a park, which required a precautionary trip to the vet but healed up quickly. I had taken her to specialised training for working dogs in the more rural parts of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and it was clear she thrived in those environments.

The final point is a little more existential and difficult to quantify but considers a desire for more space, to do “something” with and to have options to do things like grow food. Increasing concern over the changing climate, the prospect of creating a home just as we wanted and being slightly less reliant on systems that had proven very delicate through the pandemic and political instability.

The next thing was to prove the theory, was escaping the city all it appeared to be?

Packing Up