I post here because I am faced with a decision about what direction I take my life. For the last 6 years I have lived in Melbourne in a rather quiet but multicultural part. I have always lived in big cities the smallest place I lived is Launceston which is not that small. I have lived in Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston and Canberra. I also lived in rural Tasmania for a few months. I also followed the hippie trail around northern NSW in my youth.
The house here in Melbourne’s inner north that I rent is being sold in the next few months and I find myself looking for a new home.
I have two options:
One stay in Melbourne, a place to which I have no family attachments, significant others or regular employment to tie me down (all except a fur baby called Snowflake). I have made a few friends which for me is a major achievement. However you can always make more. The negative with Melbourne or any major city is the cost of living. While I can move further out into suburbia. I am of the inclination that if you give up the benefits of cities you might as well go all the way out. Also the cost is not significantly reduced in outer suburbia. I would rather move into a more rural or remote location. A place of open vistas.
Space is a factor in my deliberations. As a woodworker I find myself seeking the space to store wood and house tools / machinery. Space I think is going to be a difficult constraint going forward and will only get worse with time in Suburbia.
Two I can find a home in a small country town with a big shed. If I need something I can always make a trip.
To put things into context, I am single, I work sometimes as a casual secondary woodworking teacher but the work is not regular and no prospect of securing a contract ever seems possible.
At this stage I am considering locations. With my choices falling into two types. A location just outside Melbourne going out into the Yarra ranges (this could be a way to get my toes wet) or going further out to the Alpine region or further north towards Beechworth or Myrtleford areas or up into the Snowy region.
I would prefer a thriving place, a place with diversity. Last year I took a trip to a small town north of Shepparton. I had time to look around town it was a dying town. A dozen shops boarded up or just empty. The remaining were dying slowly. Most folks were welcoming and would engage in conversation. But the one thing I noticed was a lack of children well anyone under 60 was a rare sight.
I would not be in the market to buy but only renting. While work as a teacher would be nice I accept that it would unlikely. My only concern is access to medical services my health is not great and have rather high support needs. Once in Launceston I had health complication and unable to secure a
Doctor (would not take on new patients) I ended up in the emergency room.
Well that’s a start - what do you think?