Talisman Philanthropy

Moving Away from “Home”

March 11, 2016 at 8:30 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE 2 comments

10 March 2016

So many of you may know I moved to Melbourne, Victoria (Australia not Florida) in January.

Thought I’d take a moment to reflect and share with you over a couple posts what it takes and happens when you move 10,000+ miles away from “home”.

I truly believe “home” is wherever you are. I traveled a lot for work and pleasure in my career – every hotel room was “home” at the end of the day.

I can tell you without any reservations Melbourne is now “home”. And as I write this I am sitting at a borrowed table and chairs (Thank you Eleanor) in my living room with an airbed (Thank you Tahj and Reg and Sarah). I brought 4 pieces of luggage (Thank you Keri Kae) including my bike. I thought I had enough clothing to last until my “stuff” arrived – I was wrong. But bringing my bike on the plane was worth it!

My container left Baltimore on January 20, cruised to the Bahamas through the Panama Canal, stopped in Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney and arrived on my birthday, March 8, in Melbourne. It is currently going through quarantine and customs inspection. Contents should be delivered by the 18th or 23rd. Frankly, I don’t remember what’s in it.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

So in short, I don’t need much to make a place “home” – “stuff” doesn’t make “home”. Here are some things that make Melbourne my home:

• People – very Midwestern-like, open, welcoming, happy, easy going Ozzies.
• Food – plentiful, creative, cheap or expensive, new and old but mostly boutique and not franchise or fast food
• Biking – bike lanes on streets, along the Yarra River and Bay, pretty friendly drivers
• Outdoor activities – festivals, farmer’s markets, concerts

I have a two bedroom apartment waiting for you and enough friends around Australia to make your trip down under worthwhile. Come on down!

Entry filed under: Food!, Travel. Tags: Australia, Living in Australia, living in Melbourne, Melbourne, Traveling.