There’s a saying, “Create a life you don’t need to escape”. Maybe a little cliche, but I often wondered if it was possible.
As a travel lover and a travel planner for the last eight years, I doubted home could be as exciting and as satisfying as travelling.
I was wrong. It turns out you can create that life you don’t want to escape.
It might mean making significant life changes, some sacrifices, and a major shift in your mindset. But it is well worth it.
Changing our life is exactly what we did, and I can honestly say after almost three years of living in our dream location, you can create a life you don’t want to escape.
How it Started
We wanted a better life.
My partner, Dan, and I wanted a more meaningful life. To have more than working 9 – 5. We wanted to live in a house that suited our needs and be in an environment that inspired us. Neither of our places or locations did that.
We also wanted to live in an area that we chose together.
When we met, I lived in Wollongong, and Dan lived in Macquarie Links, 45 minutes away from each other.
When we decided to move in together, the best choice was for Dan to move into my place.
Dan hated Wollongong.
And I wanted a change.
We wanted space – to grow vegetables and not look into our neighbour’s yards. A place to breathe. Somewhere with a community.
Staying in Wollongong meant paying high rent for very little space. Buying in the area was nearly impossible due to the high demand for building blocks that were tiny.
The quality of life we craved was not available. Affordable living, space to work from home, a big yard, and a natural environment seemed out of reach.
Finally, after searching from Byron Bay to Port Macquarie and down the South Coast, we settled on the Blue Mountains. I have loved the Blue Mountains since I was a child. Dan had also spent time there and felt a deep connection.
We were surprised by our choice, to move away from the coast, believing most of our adult lives we were meant to live by the ocean.
But the mountains ticked all the boxes, and guided by our gut feeling, it felt right.
We didn’t know when we would move, there was a lot to consider, but we started culling and packing anyway. It felt good doing something, moving forward on our decision, even if we didn’t know when we would go.
Decluttering
Dan had been a single man living in a four-bedroom house, filled with furniture and paraphernalia.
My house was the size of a shoebox and was already at capacity so he couldn’t bring a lot.
I’m not sure what changed in him, but he became ruthless. I think he realised he had filled his life with “stuff”, things he felt he no longer needed.
Once he culled what no longer served him, he put the remainder into storage.
Once we made the decision to leave Wollongong, we both became ruthless, donating and giving away furniture, appliances, clothes, and more.
Moving to Blackheath
We chose Blackheath in the Upper Blue Mountains. Nowhere else seemed right.
Out of the blue, the perfect place became available. We moved three weeks later. Everything fell seamlessly into place.
By the end of the move, we donated, recycled, and gave away ¾ of our combined household items.
Dan’s 20ft container filled with household items had been in storage for two years. Apart from some unique pieces, and essential furniture everything else we donated to the local Community Op Shop – king size bed, washing machine, lounges, paintings, prints, box after box of homewares, desks, side tables, the list went on.
We felt so free.
Is Home Better than Travel?
This move has been a gift.
Individually and together, we have never been happier. We feel lighter with fewer burdens, especially financially. Life has meaning, and everything in our home has a function or emotional value.
The area we live in is stunning.
There is no other way to describe it. We go on bush walks, enjoy visiting lookouts, go for long drives, and have picnics.
Nature is at our doorstep, and we only need to look out our large living room windows to watch the array of birdlife in our yard.
We work from home, taking the occasional break in our week to pop down to the village and grab a coffee.
I have travelled overseas since living here. And as much as I love my travels, I am only too happy to come home.
I walked the Camino de Santiago in November/December last year. For 45 days, I was homesick. If that didn’t tell me I have created a life I don’t want to escape, nothing will.
I feel blessed every day living here. I am proud of us for making the decision to change our lives.
Even though you might need to make some tough decisions about family, money, work, and more, if you have the opportunity (or can create the opportunity) to create the life you dream of, then I say go for it.
It has certainly worked for us, and we cannot recommend it more.
Cindy x