| Baby boomers have been raised on tales of their | | | | larger cities offer a wealth of stage plays; |
| fathers’ and grandfathers’ experiences of | | | | galleries; exhibitions and museums and English |
| wartime England and some of the stories of the | | | | Heritage provides an incredible list of stately |
| warmth of English hospitality and the good old | | | | homes to visit for those whose tastes run to |
| English pub scene are by no means | | | | trawling through several hundred years of |
| exaggerated. There is nowhere quite like England | | | | tapestries and family artefacts. |
| when it is the height of summer and the | | | | |
| strawberries are in season: lunch on the lawn | | | | Most American baby boomers retiring to the UK |
| under the Chestnut tree; cricket teas; village | | | | take the precaution of prescribing to private |
| fairs. | | | | health cover and enjoy top quality medical |
| | | | | attention in the several hundred superior clinics |
| England is certainly all of this and more but there | | | | and hospitals all over the country. The UK health |
| are some drawbacks to English life, not the least | | | | service has received severe criticism in terms of |
| of which is the weather which can cast a damp | | | | waiting lists and sub standard care but in fact |
| pall over just about everything, making a | | | | psychological articles advise the standards are not |
| barbecue impossible to plan ahead and edging a | | | | that bad and certainly private clinics have an |
| grey tinge around even the most enjoyable social | | | | excellent reputation. |
| event. English weather is unpredictable at best | | | | |
| and an English summer during a bad year can be | | | | The price of property in the UK depends on |
| non existent, constantly battered by rain and wind | | | | location. Rental can be expensive but in general |
| from April through to September. Psychological | | | | the property market is seen as a sound long |
| articles recommend that anyone with a tendency | | | | term investment for prospective baby boomers |
| to depression or suffering with SAD (Seasonal | | | | who wish to retire to good old ‘Blighty’. |
| Affected Disorder) should avoid the English climate | | | | The traditional thatched country cottage with |
| at all cost. | | | | roses around the porch can be costly but British |
| | | | | housing is well controlled and still represents a |
| That being said, the upside of English life must be | | | | reasonably safe purchase for those who yearn |
| the culture scene, with just about every town | | | | for a social life in the local British pub and a safe |
| and village in the country involved in its own | | | | and secure, albeit slightly soggy retirement…! |
| celebration of English heritage and history. The | | | | |