Tell me lovely city slickers, do you ever dream of the country? Moving to where the air is fresh, where everyone knows your name, where traffic jams don’t exist, where you can have an acre and not see inside your neighbour’s window from your window. Where you can have some chickens, fruit trees, your own vegetable patch, a large white country kitchen with wooden benchtops, an aga that matches your kitchenaid, a barn studio for your craft ………ok I’m getting a little bit carried away now with my own personal dream but I’ve got to tell you. City life can get to you.
Sometimes I feel so grateful that we have a good life in this city of Sydney, but when you spend your days at home, all day everyday you do wonder what it would be like to move out of the big city and have more space. Retro daddy and I have often discussed it, watched the relocation relocation shows religiously and with 2 of his 3 brothers living in the country it’s not hard to convince him of the benefits. BUT it always comes back to that old chestnut, work. His big city job can’t go rural and he has career goals and aspirations and has worked hard to get to where he is. He’s also not farmer material. And I’m more country road than country girl. Trust me.
But today we headed out of the city to check out my favourite area. What could we afford? What are the schools like? What are the shops like? Ladies, you know that is important….don’t say that it isn’t! Just to see it all in person. And we were impressed! I may or may not have been quoted as saying ‘ just leave me here, thank you’. But it is so much work and a huge decision to move. Who knows if we’ll end up there or if we’ll be city slickers forever. I’ll keep buying my country living and country style mags, dreaming of my big kitchen and cream aga and sending retro daddy emails of my favourite houses which we could afford and let me tell you that they are gorgeous houses.
the kids were calling this a camel – time to work on our animals!
So hopefully I’ll share more of my research with you and keep dreaming of a quieter life. And now for the funny part of today. I know one person, just one, who lives down that way. A lovely blogger Beth, whose
blog and country life I love. And as we were getting out of the car to go exploring who should we meet? Yes, she was driving past and stopped to say hi. We are pretty hard to miss – all 6 of us. But I think it was a sign!
finn reminds his daddy whose banana bread it is
oh and you didn’t think I was going to come home empty handed, did you? I picked up this gorgeous baby alpaca from The Alpaca Centre in Berrima AND practised ultimate self restraint not buying 10 balls of each.
Corrie – your post made me smile so much. As someone who is “living the dream” I can only say some bits are fantastic and some bits, well, not so much…
Your photos are gorgeous. As are your kids.
Take good care.
The answers to your questions Corrie – yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes – need I go on??? Looks like a beautiful day. I look so much I think the real estate sites are going to put my name on the stalker list. Maybe you won’t do it straight away but maybe one day. Yummy wool! Tracee xx
Corrie I am so with you on one day dreaming of a tree change. I have had that desire since I was a child…the biggy for us too is employment otherwise we would move in an instant
We live in the country (10 acres on the Gold Coast), we love our little community. I think living in the city would have it’s good points, but I don’t think I’d like to be surrounded by houses.
I do love living in the country Corrie – we made the move when we came home to Adelaide and have never looked back. We now have 8 chooks, 2 cats, 6 fruit trees, an old hills hoist and the “space” for a beautiful country kitchen (somewhere in the future!). I have much more time to sew and read about sewing and bake as much as I like and watch my children get dirty chasing chooks and climbing trees and digging in th dirt. Never ever regret the move and only the occasional grump from DH about the 45 min drive to work. I hope you find the ideal place to grow your lovely family
As a city girl who followed the love of my life to the country I would have to say that I wouldn’t change our lifestyle for a million dollars. Endless sunsets, acres of exploring, beautiful people, friendly town and people who offer to carry your bags if you are juggling them and your baby.
It is magical for the soul for not only you, your relationship but also your kids.
Seriously consider it – although it may be a huge change….change can be amazing. X
There are pros and cons to all walks of life. But it is lovely to dream. Our fav TV show is Escape to the Country, the beautiful english landscape and old character filled houses. But I could never live there, too cold and too far away from home!
Go on, do it!!! I won’t say country living isn’t without its own set of problems but the positives are huge.
We know we have made the right decision when we watch the evening news and see everyone sitting in traffic jams while we have been out in the fresh air playing with the kids/chooks/picking vegies etc.
Hope Retro’D’ can find some work on the fringes and make it all possible. I’m excited too!
We moved to the country before the kids came along and it is so much more relaxed for us here but now the kids are older I do end up in the car a lot – taking them places. But I don’t think any of us want to move although my hubby has a long commute..
I love the country life, not that I have the aga or barn/studio but I do have all the rest. It is lovely! I wouldn’t want to raise my children anywhere else so I don’t mind the harder aspects, like lack of great shops.
Lovely dream! And did you check out the Woollen Shop near the Alpaca Centre where they’re having a 50% OFF CLOSING DOWN SALE?
bummer… i just tried to leave you a long comment about our tree change and blogger ate it
there are definitely pros and cons, but i don’t miss sydney! i really hope we don’t have to move back for my husband’s work!
Corrie .. your post made me smile … and yes, it is great living in the country (90kms from town, one way), DS attends a small school of 23 children from Prep to Yr 7, with a lovely school community… only 13kms through the paddock – one way – the school is on a neighbouring property… I do a bit over 50km each day travel to and from school. I do love my country life but, sometimes I dream of living closer to wonderful shops, cafes etc … at the moment I can dream of retirement
Happy stitching, P
I’m from the country- when I say country it’s probably better described as ‘outback’, now live the the Sydney outer suburbs. I must say I couldn’t go back now, but I couldn’t live any closer to the big city either! I love the Southern Highlands.
know where you are coming from…I’m an ex-sydneysider living in rural Gold Coast…I’m still close to shops & M1 which is a must…
Always wanted to live in the country as such but I’m use to being close to everything now…
If you are going to do it now would be the time…
Good Luck…
Berry what a lovely Town….
Come a bit further south, its even better here. Very cute pics. We need more people in the country.
Having grown up in the country and going back to visit regularly I do have moment where I think “it might be nice……..”. But then I think of how the kids will eventually get up and leave the country like I did and the lack of good basic services (in this part anyway) and I just go and visit instead!
This part of the country looks very pretty though!
We live in a semi rural estate on 3/4 of an acre. 20 mins to beach, 20 mins to nearest “shopping centre & quilt shop” and an hour from town. the commute to work was a PITB, but doable for a career (mind it was ME doing the commute) but at the end of the day we LOVE our block and wouldnt change it for the world!!!
If its what you so desire, I say grab it with both hands & go for it!!!
My mum lives waaaaay out in the sticks and I really do love visiting her property. I love the air. And the silence. And the stars. But not the snakes!
Love the pic of Finn
xxxCate
Oh yes, I hear you! Snap, snap and snap again! I love the southern highlands, reminds me just a little bit of home. But we have the same job issues as you do. Plus I am a city girl at heart and I don’t know if the reality of life in the country would suit me, although I hanker after it at times! DH definitely is not a farmer either! The kids would love it though. Marcus is having a blast at mum’s which is in the country
Hi Corrie.my Hubby commutes the 2 hours to Canberra for work (and he is not the only one who does this)…much better than the commute from one side of Sydney to the other!!!Mmmm, Berry about 1 and a 1/2 hours from us….lovely town…we are further down near the beach…Dzintra
PS…There is a saying but I’m not sure whose it is…
If not now, when…
Retromummy, my sister lives in the area where you were today. I have parted with a some cash at the quilt store you took a photo of and the local Catholic school is where my sister’s children go to school. I love visiting and spending the day going shopping whether it’s window or actual
We did the sea change, they did the tree change. The best of both worlds 
Good luck convincing Retrodaddy.
Angela
I’d love to live in the country. Working on it now.
It WAS a sign I tell you! I keep thinking about it. It’s a tricky time trying to work out such a big move (as you can read back on my blog when we did it) but you know in your heart if you can make it work. And look for signs….if it’s meant to be, it WILL happen. And I can’t wait to have you guys all over for playdates, hey, I might even start to get CRAFTY! Maybe…x
Ahhhh, sounds a bit like heaven on earth doesn’t it! Looks like you had a wonderful day and that wool…very gorgeous
Oh Corrie, this is a wonderful post and hit a soft spot for me too! Hubby and I have both had time living in the country and now live in Melbourne, but we know that we can’t be city slickers forever. We;ve bought 13 acres in rural Vic so that we can plan our dream house, learn about viticulture (as hubby wants to grow grapes and make wine) and me, well, I’ll be content with having a craft studio and selling loads of fabric to my country neighbours and attending to the chooks. So yes, it may not happen straight away for you, but one day – just one day! Keep Dreaming Corrie xx
I love living in the country, 7 acres, 1 neighbour, 4 kids, 4 dogs, 13 chooks , 2 guinea pigs, rose gardens, veges, fruit trees and the thing I love that city friends can’t believe, APPRO, yes taking things home from the shops on approval ! no money exchanges till you decide, at home ! I love the country. Its the simple things
It is absolutely my dream to live in the country. I always think about it when we are at the Easter Show too (which we were on Friday). My husband went to boarding school in Orange with really country folk, who I really like. Although I have always lived in Sydney, I don’t think I am too city-fied to ever change. I want a cleaner simpler life.
We ALWAYS have that conversation when we are down there!! I don’t think it will ever happen (similar job issues here) but maybe, just maybe we could it one day. Now, let me know what you found out about schools?
xx
I LOVE Berrima! Looks like you guys had a great day. He he I am married to a country boy, but very much more country road than country too.
I love living in the country. We have a 130,000acres sheep station in Far West NSW. I moved here 5 years ago with my husband and love it and wouldn’t change a thing. The best thing a parent could ever give a child besides love is their time. We spend loads of time together, whether its yabbying, mustering whatever. As for shopping, I do alot of shopping online, and take a trip to Adel or just away to see family often. I’ve never lived in the City. Visited often but a weekend here and there is more than enough for me. I think you’d love the country lifestyle!
Living near the centre of Launceston I still feel like I’m living in a big country town, so I feel I have the best of both worlds. I can also understand where you’re coming from and one thought springs to mind – can you afford to buy a little place to escape to on weekends? Perhaps on a share basis with other friends who want to buy a country retreat as well.
We have family in the Southern Highlands and we’ve been tempted to move there in the past..it is so green and probably the closest thing to England that you will find here – love those country relocation shows too
If you had told me 5 years ago how I would embrace a country lifestyle, I probably would have laughed. I was a die hard shopper and heel wearer…but I have to say that life is far more fulfilling now.
Oh, Berrima really is gorgeous, Corrie – I understand your attraction to it. And the Gumnut Patisserie is fabulous. I’m still keen on the idea of your moving down to Hobart…J x
PS Loving the new header!
Another one here who shares the country life dream! I have a few different email alerts with online real estate websites and think that if the right house came along we would jump at it – although it would be slightly easier for my husband to commute to the city for work appointments here in Adelaide
lol i love the photos of little girls and the alpaca, hehe. I live in the hills near Melbourne, which definately comes under “suburb outskirts” (we’re not country but we’re not suburbs), and I while I love some parts of the country, other parts I definately do not…
You know what i think shops are a great way to assess a country town! nice towns tend to have sweet little shops, while the not-so-nice country towns do not.
But you can’t deny how pretty the countryside can be
luv your blog
I think the country is calling your name! We kid of ended up in the country with my husbands job and we LOVE it. I love it. The space! The quiet…no traffic! I’m seriously dreading the day when we will have to move to Melbourne, away from our country life.
Oh, and in case you needed to know – Country Road are online and have the fastest shipping known to mankind!
I lived in the country until my late teens. As a child, it was great to be able to roam and explore, but a bit lonely. As an adult, I think I would appreciate it a bit more, but I think I’d really miss the social aspects of urban living.
Oh that’s a great post. I have been lucky enough to always have family in the country even when I was a city slicker, but the country called to me. I meet a man and 7 years later we have been married for nearly 6 years, we have 2 kids and I have never been happier. We have the fruit trees, the huge vege garden and our own meat also.
BUT… occasionally I miss the sushi (yes a tribute to you) and the movies and the shows and the take away.
Still for me it’s a perfect fit and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I just want to know where is my “aga that matches your kitchenaid, a barn studio for your craft “
Love these photos! I hardly ever dream of the country, but this post has got me thinking. I’d love to spend a few days in all that open space and fresh air. xx
If not the country Corrie, then what about a country town? Shops, schools and other bigger centres nearby, but quiet suburb, freindly neighbours, no traffic hot spots…. Thats the life we call Home!
Bonuses are – not too isolated, no snakes, still get wireless and so on….
Your post touched a cord with me. Living in our lovely city of Sydney, some times you just do want to escape to the country (and the TV show of the same name makes it seem VERY enticing!). I will say though, that haveing lived the first 19 years of my life on a farm, makes you see both sides of things. There are the good and the bad with both. The beautiful and the less so. I’m trying to make the most of where I am at this moment – sure, I dream – but I intend to live my reality as best I can. I hope you get your cream aga some day
I often think the same thing. A good friend from Mothers Group recently moved to Moss Vale and we’ve been to visit quite a few times – they’re in a HUGE house now on an acre of land, which is so different to our tiny inner city place. But I don’t think I’m ready to move so far from the city yet (might be different if I end up with more children, but 2 we still manage to do lots of the museums and galleries and good things that the city has to offer) and the husband’s work will always be in the CBD so I think it’s city life for us.
It would be nice to have a bit more room though!
I had to read this post as I am thinking the same thing on a daily basis. We live in MElbourne but I want to move out of the city – not to ‘full on’ country but to the town where I grew up – 30 odd thousand. We could afford a big house with backyard and finally get some animals. I loved growing up there – work is the clincher for us too. But I am hoping it will happen in the next year or too. Fingers crossed
I think it would be lovely for a while, but I think I would miss the buzz of the city. Andrew like Justin has to be close to the city, there is no way he could work anywhere else so that limits things for us anyway. A holiday house would be nice though…
Oh Corrie, that yearning and pull to the wider open spaces is strong! I need people like you to remind me of how good we have it here in ‘the sticks’ with my chickens and big garden and fruit trees. I do love the quiet and the fact that our (eventual) kids can roam free, have ponies and be a part of our family farming business makes me smile inside, but remember the grass is ALWAYS greener! Sometimes city living convenience is nice too
If all else fails you and your gorgeous family are more than welcome to come for a farm stay at Brindabella – seriously, all six!
Woops, just as I was about to make a purchase of some Lecien too..no shop. LOve the look of your blog. Follow your heart to the country!
Great dream…hopefully it will come true for you one day as it did for me…in Southern California it is hard to find a place that is considered “country”, but we did it and have never looked back! Good luck!
We did it Corrie, we bundled our bits into boxes, the kids into the car and left Sydney. We’ve unpacked ourselves in country Queensland… it’s brilliant to say the least! gxo
I so understand where you are coming from, big open spaces for the kids and the barn turned studio, oh my!…except I already live in a pretty remote area lol…my dreams of the ‘big city’ are actually country living ones…but with more of the comforts and opportuniries that the city affords. Tatum xx
My second ever post was about this exact topic, so YES… all the time!!! x
Just thinking Corrie….we desperately need good accountants in the country!! Has retrodaddy thought about agribusiness 😉 we would love him to do our books!
I am forever dreaming of a country life for my kids because that’s how I was brought up. I want the big sprawling home on a few acres with my big open kitchen, vege garden, fruit trees, chickens, small town community school. The list goes on. One day…..
What a great post, and lovely photos, too.
I almost hate to say it but I do live in the country. It is glorious!
Hope you are feeling better. Have kept you in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh yes, country life, only we’re doing the 150 acre version for our 4 children to run free, build the homestead we need (we’ve looked, we can’t find the house we want so starting from scratch) & i’ll say it – i don’t need modern conveniences & shops – but that’s because i’ll be driving the children daily to Canberra for city private schools, now that is the best of everything!! I’ll be Country Girl in Country Road, oh yes, farming the fashion.
Happy hunting – we’re building planning for the 4 teens we’ll have in no time, love Posie
I blame Beth (BabyMac). Hadnt even heard of this area b4 reading her blog re their big move there. But fallen in love with it – what a gorgeous place. too far to move for me away from family on the sunshine coast in Qld but yes realestate.com got a work out for a while there and the dreams of moving to the country went into overdrive. How funny that you saw each other that is awesome. yay for blogland/meeting real life
I do love the country! I never used to understand why people visited it but after travelling there, you cannot keep me away 😀
I thought I recognised the photos
My favourite place to visit. Would move in a flash if I could. But yeah, there’s hubbies work. And I really don’t want him to drive that long anymore. Did it for years when younger – not now
Our sea change 60 mins out of Sydney was the best thing we ever did. Hubbie continued to work in the city and actually enjoyed the rail commute. I loved our new area, the community, the natural beauty and of course the absence of traffic jams! Our daughter thrived too. Although we are now doing a stint overseas and living in the city, we very much look forward to returning home. I can see you living in the south Corrie!
Yes Yes and Yes. I am home from a five day escape in the country and could pack the bags and move tomorrow. There is a photo on my blog with a few more to come:)