Sea Change

We went to visit our friends yesterday, which got me thinking about how much I hate long trips in the car with the kids. As much as I love them, there is something about two hour car trips and kids in the back. I feel lucky that we don't do it too often. Our friends have four children, one of whom is Hannah's best friend since Play Group and lived just around the corner and recently sold up from Adelaide and moved to the country.

They bought a 10 acre block in Koolunga, a very small town about two hours north of Adelaide with a 17 pupil school, a garage, some kangaroos and a few houses. In true Australian style, it doesn't have a store, but there is a pub. They are renting and considering how to develop it. It is a very beautiful part of the world, with the stark dry Australian landscape broken up by beutiful dark green gums and other native trees. I admire their plan in some ways, but I am done with country living. I'm a City Boy now.

I grew up in the country in Scotland and going there made me feel all nostalgic, especially since it was raining (a rare occurrance here). It didn't make me want to do the same thing. Things that I like are the safe environment that a small town provides for children, the access to nature, seasons, pets, chickens in the bag yard and the freedom that a rural life allows.

What I don't like are the flies and insects, half hour round trips to get basic provisions, two hour round trips to get other items and access to doctors and other services (before you wait in the wating room), the isolation, the boredom, coordinating children and their friends and activities as they get older. At least in Australia it is warm most of the time.

Good Luck to them, but I have come to enjoy the convenience of city life and Adelaide has a good balance, with access to the country when and if you want it. Next up, the four hour trip to pick up Hannah on the weekend.