Moving Away from “Home”
11/03/2016 at 08:30 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.
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.
1.
Alexandra | 11/03/2016 at 09:38
I’m so happy that you’ve paused in your journey to let us all know that truly you are home and all is well. We might have discerned that from the Facebook posts/pics but it’s very meaningful reading the words that you are home and happily so! You and other women like you: bold,strong, curious,energetic and passionate have inspired me to take a journey much shorter out of my current job and into starting a business. Congratulations on making the journey 10,000 miles to your new home new friends new life new adventures and for inspiring others to do the same in their own lives!
2.
Barbara Talisman, CFRE | 11/03/2016 at 10:10
Many thanks Alexandra! I hope your own journey is going well. Getting out of comfort zones is always good.