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Like tens of thousands of others I packed up and moved from one of Australia's metropolitan cities for the regions last year.
I say tens of thousands as the Australian Bureau of Statistics found 70,900 city dwellers left Australia's metropolitan cities and moved to Regional Australia between 2020 and 2021, with more population changes following that period.
As one of them, I packed up my apartment in Melbourne's West in January 2022, put my belongings in my partner's and I's cars, and started making the journey to my new home in regional Victoria.
I left the big city for a job opportunity that I could not refuse.
But I was also seeking the slower pace of life, the fresh country air, reduced pollution, less noise and traffic.
I was yearning for the kind of idyllic life where you knew your neighbours, greeted them daily and helped each other out when needed.
I was also desperately wanting to escape the alarmingly high numbers of COVID-19 infections, the harsh and long lockdowns and restrictions that plagued Melbourne in the past two years, and the countless protests about anything and everything that disrupted our daily lives.
And evidently, I was not alone in my thinking.
I can say with certainty that I'm glad I made the big move.
The stress of living in a big city is something I don't have anymore.
The people in regional Australia are friendlier.
I drive three minutes to get to work and there's never any traffic.
Everything you need is in the city centre - which is within walking distance of my house.
There's a stronger sense of community and camaraderie and there's always some fun local event happening.
Going back to visit friends and family is just a short drive or plane ride, and when they visit you - it feels like a getaway or mini vacation for them.
But there are a few things nobody tells you about moving.
While I love my new home in the country, the moving process was lengthy and tiring, and it took me months to actually feel settled.
Because it's not just about physically moving your boxes, it's also about feeling home - getting comfortable in your new house, knowing where all your stuff is, getting situated at your new job, getting to know your neighbours, and figuring out where everything is in town.
So here are some tips I compiled that no one tells you about moving:
- You have to be meticulous and organised - the best moves happen when things are systematically planned
- Don't try and do it all in one go - be realistic about what you can do in a day without exhausting yourself
- Enlist help - and lots of it
- Be prepared to feel stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed and lonely throughout the entire moving process, especially if you are going to be living on your own
- Give yourself time to get adjusted and settled in your new home and town
- Make new friends and introduce yourself to your neighbours - knowing your neighbours increases feelings of safety in your neighbourhood
- Trust the process
- Enjoy it all - your new home and life
Happy moving!
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