Living where we do on the Welsh coast, we have a rather good view of the sea, and get some rather spectacular sunrises, sunsets and seascapes in general. The trouble is, when you see it every day, and wake up to the view every most mornings, it’s easy to get a bit blasé and take it for granted. This morning, as the car got doused by yet another storm wave crashing over the sea wall as I drove past the seafront, it came to me that it might be sort of interesting (for me anyway, if not for anyone else) to keep a record of what it’s like to live and work in a remote-ish part of the country, about five minutes’ walk down the hill to the sea.

The first idea that might come to many about living in a location like this is … how wonderful. But there is a bit more to it than that. This is a part of Wales that does not thrive economically. Some of the coastal regions, the Valleys and mid-Wales have received a lot of European Funding over the last 12 years or so, so I think that might make us officially part of the European ‘third world’. Last summer, Edwina Hart expressed a view that it would be good to see some better results. Hear, hear, I say.

Carving out a living in the private sector as a small business is not easy anywhere, and it can be doubly difficult in an area that is, shall we say, economically challenged. Sure it’s a great place to live, fab lifestyle and a wonderful way of bringing up the kids, but there is a price to pay for that. No-one can live on fresh air and sea views alone.

A Property Business in a Rural Area

Our business is – mainly – property. The Other Half (David) and I are professional landlords and investors, though the latter is a rather grandiose term for what we do. I have had the opportunity through working with Your Property Network over the past year, to speak to a lot of people who are successful in property, and the majority focus their attention on areas of high population. There are exceptions, of course, but those of us beyond the urban areas perhaps need to take a more creative approach, or be prepared to travel. Both of which are fine as long as you factor them in up front.

So, in short, this is what it is really like to live, work from home, invest in property and generally live the life with a stunning view of the sea.

I’ve called this section of the blog West Coast View just because we’re in south west Wales and we have a view of the sea – albeit it’s probably more south-west coast rather than west. But South West Wales Coast View would be a bit of a mouthful.