Long-term (5+yrs) spacious home-share

Hi there!

I have lived and worked in West London for more than half of my life, embracing the English culture while bringing a cosmopolitan perspective, and have happily called the Westbourne area home for the past five years.

Although I truly love my current home, circumstances have changed, so I’m now gently exploring options for a new long-term home, either on my own or in a genuine home share.

What I’m looking for is very much a home rather than simply a room-somewhere with a shared lounge and other communal spaces, where people enjoy occasionally spending time together while respecting one another’s privacy.

My idea of relaxing at home might include curling up on the sofa with a fluffy blanket and a good book or film.

Location-wise, I’d ideally love to stay within a 15-minute walk of Westbourne, though I’m open to nearby areas including Westcliff, Bournemouth, Lilliput, Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs, Branksome Park, Ashley Cross, and Poole.

Being within walking distance of a sandy beach, surrounded by trees, and with good bus links (such as the M2/M1 route between Poole and Southbourne/Castlepoint) would be a dream.

The home itself is important to me. I’m looking for:
- very large bedroom with a lot of built-in storage (wardrobes and cupboards are essential)
- space for a desk, large bookcases, and a few well-loved plants
- an ensuite bathroom, ideally with a shower over a bath
- a shared lounge
- garden or large balcony (vital to me after the lockdown years)
- space outside of my bedroom to hang laundry, ideally somewhere private, convenient, and accessible

Shared spaces need to feel genuinely shared. I’d love to be able to contribute plants, paintings, and bookshelves to the lounge, and to feel at ease using communal areas as part of everyday life.

I enjoy cooking and baking from scratch, so a well-equipped kitchen with plenty of storage for my appliances and ample cupboard space for groceries is important.

Having generous storage throughout the home makes a real difference in feeling settled and able to make a place my long-term home.

If a cleaner and gardener (where relevant) are included, that would be a lovely bonus.

I’m not in a rush to move and would only do so for the right place, though for a perfect fit I could relocate within two months.

My budget is up to £700 pcm inclusive of bills, but for an exceptional home I could stretch a little. Would much rather share a larger home than live alone in a studio where everything happens in one room.

I’d also be very happy to consider a long-term tenancy (5+ years) for the right full property with its own front door.

About the household dynamic:
I’m very open to sharing with a live-in owner, provided the arrangement feels like a genuine home share rather than a hierarchical setup. Am looking for a household based on mutual respect, where shared spaces are genuinely shared and home rules are mutually agreed and applied equally.

A collaborative, adult household, where people feel comfortable raising everyday matters openly and kindly, and where everyone who lives there feels equally at ease, is one in which I would thrive.

I’m particularly well-suited to a household where the owner may work away or travel from time to time and would enjoy returning to a place that feels lived-in, cared for, and welcoming - a warm, comfortable home rather than a space that’s been closed up and unused for long stretches.

I help a home feel calm, settled, and genuinely homely, whether the household is busy or quiet.

A little about me:
I’m 56, quiet, clean, considerate, and I take pride in looking after my home and belongings.
My work life can be quite demanding, so my home is my sanctuary - a calm, respectful space where I can recharge.

I am a Christian, family and pet-friendly, and especially fond of cats.

I’m mostly a home-body, happy to socialise and share the occasional meal, but I also relish personal space.

Having friends over for coffee or a meal from time to time is one of life’s joys - of course, everyone in the household would be included.

My interests include cooking, sailing, dancing, reading, films, crafts, and complementary and alternative medicine.
I’m “awake” rather than “woke.”

I’d also be open to discussing a share-and-care or child-minding arrangement if that might suit the household.

If this resonates and you feel we might be compatible, I’d love to start with a conversation.

Warm regards,

Cally