Moving from Mumbai to Pune at a Mid-Life stage was a Life-changing Decision!

This thing that they say about Mumbai being the City of Dreams is so true. We’ve both spent so much time, actually almost all of our lives here that home means Mumbai and there is no way that we would have swapped Mumbai for any other city to live in let alone move to from a permanence point of view. 

From growing as a kid to settling in a career to being a married couple and a parent, life gave me a fair share of experiences in every role. With growing needs of life and to raise my family in a better environment, I bought a 2BHK apartment in Santa Cruz, which was certainly not an easy task even around 12 years back. I had to place on the table all of my savings at that time to own an apartment in a cosmopolitan location. 

As time progressed, we began to feel an increasing tug of pressure with the homes loan EMIs, the education expenses, the overall increased cost of living and of course miscellaneous and other unplanned expenditure that would crop up more often in the most abrupt manner and without a hint of any warning whatsoever. And that’s when the thought of moving to an alternative city was sown into our minds till it started gaining momentum. Both of us being in IT and the number of job offers coming in from Pune also got us thinking what if? 

And the lure of moving to a city where the overall pulse of existence was just a tad slower and calmer. And so, I then began to wish that we could move to a place where we could experience a higher degree of serenity and calm, a life away from the hustle-bustle and the density of a big city. I still remember on one particular Friday evening on the onset of a slightly longish weekend, when we were joined by some friends who had come over to spend a few days. They seemed to be very comfortable where they were staying in Pune, having moved almost six years ago. 

Through the discussion, they began talking about the overall vibe of living in Pune that outstrips the quality of life in Mumbai. This is when they also mentioned that in one of the reports published online, that the living index in Pune is amongst the highest in the country. But, according to them what seemed to trump all advantages was the dramatic shrinking of time from residence to home and back which results in a massive amount of time saved. And this what got us seriously motivated to start our search for a property in Pune. They told us that they themselves had just moved from their earlier home within Kharadi to a new home with a fantastic campus and a great vibe within the community. This is when we went online immediately to look through the property that they had bought and was now ready to move-in and were moving in into. The Riverdale Heights website was really quite detailed and showcased the living facilities, the amenities, an exceptionally well- designed podium that is car-free. 

We drove back from Mumbai to Pune with our friends to get a first-hand understanding of this offering. We were seriously impressed with the manner in which the presentation was made to us detailing out the interior planning and the rest of the campus with the landscaping, the podium and the other amenities. The cherry on the cake was however the absolute distance to EON and to Zensar where both of us were getting job offers to. We came back to Mumbai knowing that it was time to finally take the plunge. The clincher was obviously the cost of real estate being relatively cheaper. Needless-to-add, the sort of living amenities available within the average residential apartment available and in this one in specific were far more expansive than the average community in suburban Mumbai.

Having moved here to Pune, the first thing that you get to see is the crowd, which is a lot more cosmopolitan. A lot more diverse, accepting and a whole lot more accommodating.  The weather is excellent. This is rumored to be one of the driving factors for people to move / migrate to Pune. Then the sort of schooling facilities, there is a vast assortment available to select from. The presence of a younger sibling and the availability of excellent pre-schools just a stone’s throw from my office as well as my residence made the decision making a whole lot easier. 

The availability of great social entertainment, restaurants and theatre just a stone’s throw away.

The location provides us with noise and pollution-free environment while being well connected to all the major conveniences like hospitals, shopping malls, etc., and the weather at this place is also mild throughout the year. The breathtaking view of the river from home offers the serene experience of living in the lap of nature.

I was worried about the supposed exodus of finds from my savings but it seems like that this investment has been worth it. The physical, psychological and emotional is all the markers of how we lead a healthy life. I can opt from several activities like yoga classes, going for walks, pore over a book in the library and a lively conversation with a friend over coffee on current affairs in the lawn area.

I have not only experienced the enhanced quality of life that I think we could never have dreamed off but also the sort of peace of mind that seemed like an illusion for the longest time.