Lives in a house/A very big house in the country

It’s been nine months since we moved to the country*. We moved from Melbourne (population 3.85 million) to a town in rural/coastal Victoria (population: much smaller). At the time, I was more than a little breathless about the move, because I envisaged that it meant more time to spend with my boys, more money, fresh air, millions of peaches, peaches for me etc.

Has this indeed been the case? Yes, in discussion last night, Mr Fix and I agreed that it had.

I know a lot of city-dwellers who express their concerns about making the shift to the country, and particularly for lefties it can seem a big ask. Rural and regional Victoria, unfortunately, has some ground to make up on selling itself as “progressive”.

So what are my tips for a smooth transition?

1. Go there first.

Oh dear god, whatever you do, don’t commit to moving somewhere before you have ever been there. My main reason for advising this is that, sadly, if you hate it, you will have only yourself to blame. On the other hand, if you do a cursory cruise of the town (as my friend did before moving to Mount Gambier), you’re much more likely to be able to blame that “small town ambience” on your yearnings to move to a rural locale, rather than, you know, stupidity.

2. Choose a workplace that fits your beliefs, or at the very least doesn’t make you want to gouge your eyes out with a spoon

If, like me, you have the kind of lefty colours you could not only nail to the wall but practically build a small tent colony with, then you’re probably unlikely to get employed by Right Wing, Conservative and Conventional Partners. On the other hand, I didn’t charge about my workplace yelling “I HATE JOHN HOWARD, WHO’S WITH ME?” in my first week either (although if I had, perhaps I would now be friends with some of these people). If you’re going to spend a lot of your time at work, it’s important to find a job you like with people you think you can work with.

3. Find a house you like

Living in a place that is nice to come home to makes all the difference. We looked at some god-awful places before we found our current (rental) house. It doesn’t have to be a rural idyll with roses climbing the picket fence. But having enough room is a good start, and having a functional kitchen is even better.

4. Do all the things you moved there for

I have met a stack of people who moved here with the intention of going to the beach every day in summer, spending a lot of time outdoors, having a veggie garden and basically living a pastoral existence**…intentions they completely forgot when faced with the realities of life. Whatever people’s view on my level of frenzy, I have been true to my intentions to do almost all of the above (am yet to obtain livestock).

5. Have partner with transportable job

It is endlessly helpful for me that Mr Fix has the kind of job you can do anywhere (within reason) and that he was quite happy to move also. I highly recommend consensus when it comes to moving any great distance.


Anyway, if I was inclined to tell the internet where I lived, I'd be entreating you all to come visit me. Just know that it's awesome. So very awesome.





* If you believe some of my colleagues, I should really be pregnant by now.

** Harpo, that’s a reference for you – don’t say I never do anything for you. Or you can if you want. How will I ever know?