Coastal living and a dream job – how Christina found her perfect balance, by the sea.

Christina McLaughlin had always dreamed of a life by the sea, so when she saw Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust was recruiting district nurses in the coastal town of Whitstable, she jumped at the chance.

“I have always loved this part of the world and I would often visit Whitstable for day trips or weekend breaks when I was living in west London. I love everything about it, the beach, the quirky shops and the old harbour.”

Christina felt the time was right so she packed her bags and together with her son Max, 10, made the move to Faversham, just along the north Kent coast from her Whitstable work base.

“It’s a whole new way of life for both of us, we’re not sitting in traffic jams every day breathing in fumes and it’s lovely being so close to the sea. Faversham is more inland than Whitstable but it’s easy to get to London from there, if we need to get back to visit family and it has a lovely village feel to it, even though it’s quite a busy town.

“I love the market and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Max goes to primary school in Whitstable, which is really convenient for me as I can drop him off and collect him every day on my way to and from work.

“Sometimes after he’s finished school and I’m finished work, we head straight to the beach – it really is idyllic. Max has made lots of new friends too.”