Countrified

Ever dreamed of an idyllic life away from the hustle and bustle of the city? Many of us have, and growing numbers are taking the leap for a healthier lifestyle, a sense of community, no traffic jams, a smaller (or no) mortgage, and a host of other reasons.

Traditionally, retirees have made up the majority of those leaving capital cities but, interestingly, in recent years the majority of movers are families, or individuals and couples under the age of 50, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Most who take the leap say it’s the best thing they ever did and they never look back. Occasionally though, tree or sea changers find themselves scrambling to reverse the error and go back to their old life.

Here are some points to ponder to ensure your move is the best thing you ever did.

Why moves go wrong

First let’s tackle the burning question: why do some regret making the move? One of the key reasons some regret their decision is that they relocated to their favourite holiday spot, expecting to feel like they were perpetually on holiday, but instead found that ‘real life’ happens no matter where you live. Others cite limited employment options, distance from family or friends, lack of social networks, boredom, fewer facilities and services, and lack of access to development opportunities for children and teenagers (for example, elite sports, quality higher education, or other pursuits) as reasons for returning to their former life.

But all of these issues could have been avoided, or can be overcome! In most cases, a more suitable choice of location, more realistic expectations about the transition process and the time it takes to settle into a new place, or more self-reflection and clarity around the underlying reasons for wanting to move would have ensured these movers were happy with their decision. With some thought, forward planning and research, you can find your ideal sea or tree change location and make your dream life a reality.

The Process

Going through this process will provide you with:

• clarity around why you are considering this move and what you want to gain
• confidence in your decision to go ahead (or not)
• confidence in your choice of location
• practical tips to transition successfully into your new dream life

So let’s get started. Choose your weapon: whiteboard, pen and paper, excel spreadsheet; whatever works for you. Give yourself space for four columns.

1. Push factors

Let’s call the first column ‘Push factors’ – we’ll get the negatives out of the way first so we can focus on the positives. In this column, list the main reasons why you want to leave your current location. Don’t be tempted to leave this step out – when it comes to deciding on your ideal sea or tree change location, seeing these words on paper will help you understand your ‘big picture’ and make the right choice. It may even help you identify whether a major move is really the best or only option to solve them.

2. Things I/we want to keep

This column lists what you like about your current lifestyle and location. Some of you might want to shout ‘nothing!’ but with a few minutes’ thought you’ll probably come up with at least a few things. What are the positives that you will still need or wish to have in your new location?

For example, your list might look something like this:

• a job in my current occupation/a viable business opportunity
• easy walk to shops/cafes/transport options
• trusted neighbours/babysitter/family nearby
• high-speed internet
• access to speciality stores e.g. gourmet/organic food
• nice restaurants
• arts and entertainment options
• yoga classes/gym/pool
• good primary/high schools
• kids can walk or ride to school/school transport
• after-school care
• local access to tertiary education
• lots of sporting activities for the whole family
• circle of friends / social scene

Think hard about what is important to everyone that is making this move and write them all down.

3. Things I/we must gain

On to the third column: ‘Things we must gain’. This is the ‘pull factor’ column and should include all the things that the move must give you to make the change worthwhile. While your ‘push factors’ may have been what sparked your sea or tree change dream, the really important aspect of this process is envisaging what you will gain from the move and identifying what your core priorities and values are.

Write down all the things that you feel are top priorities to achieve from the move. Imagine yourself in your new life: what does it look and feel like? What are you and your loved ones doing?

Some examples are:

• more space – be specific: e.g. four bedrooms/more living space/back yard/acreage
• more free time to spend on family/your favourite hobby/healthy living/study/etc.
• short commute to work
• more satisfying/less stressful job
• a job I can do from home/opportunity to start or buy a business
• walking distance to shops/beach/golf course/marina/etc.
• enough acres to run a hobby farm/land suitable for growing grapes/etc.
• able to ride or walk to school
• small vibrant community
• slower, healthier lifestyle
• sporting teams/recreational activities for the whole family

4. Your perceived obstacles

Column four is designed to help you identify whether you have valid reasons – or are just (unconsciously) making excuses – for not making the move a reality. It’s completely normal to experience self-doubt and worry about making such a big decision – no-one wants to make a huge mistake – and as a result we procrastinate or give ourselves ‘reasons’ why it won’t work.

List all of yours in column four.

Now, sit back and look at your four columns.  Are there items that you are willing to compromise on? What are the core priorities that are non-negotiable? Taking in all that you’ve written down about why you are considering this move, does it still look, sound and feel like the best decision you can make? If so, read on!

Practical things to consider to make your sea or tree change happen

So you’ve decided that you just have to make this dream a reality somehow. That’s great! Just making the decision will start the ball rolling in the right direction. The more you believe and assume it’s going to happen, the more things will ‘magically’ start to fall into place for you (also known as the Law of Attraction – and it’s not magic – it’s your own subconscious working to help you achieve your goal).

Here are some practical considerations to help you push that rolling ball along and get you successfully and with minimal delay to your ideal destination.

Finding your ideal location

Most sea or tree change dreamers already have a location firmly in mind, or have a few potential options.  If you don’t, then take your time with this. Go on lots of road trips, look around, and start to narrow down your preferences. Beware of dismissing locations on first sight – sometimes places need a little time to show their true worth.

If there is any way you can ‘try before you buy’, then grab it with both hands. This particularly applies to the city folk dreaming of acreage. Many of us have a romantic vision of what life is like on a farm or in a remote location, and the reality is often very different. Seemingly small things can become big issues if you find yourself feeling isolated, and the loss of conveniences us town-dwellers take for granted, such as nearby shops, schools and services, can have a massive impact on people’s lifestyles, particularly if they didn’t go in with realistic expectations. It comes down to personal preference, and that’s where some ‘real life’ experience of living in a remote location can be invaluable.

Employment

If you need to work, what are the employment options in the location you’re interested in? Will you need to change occupations?

Can you accept a longer commute to a city or town for work if necessary? Are there transport options besides driving? Options such as train links can make long commutes more palatable as the time can be used for sleeping, reading, studying, working, etc.

Is working from home an option? The ability to work from home a few days a week is a major factor in many sea or tree changer’s successful move to areas a couple of hours or more from their place of employment.

If you are planning to work from home, does your desired location offer the services you need, particularly internet speed and connectivity? Given how critical this factor is for virtually all home-based occupations, it’s worth physically checking this – don’t assume it’ll be fine or accept assurances from telco providers or real estate agents. There are many accounts of sea and tree changers who have found that the speed or unreliability of service in some areas has made the new location unworkable for them.

If you’re self-employed, thinking about buying or starting a business, or planning to change your occupation, have you researched the job and/or business markets and opportunities in your chosen location to make sure it’s feasible? If so, consider what preparation you can do prior to making the move, such as making contacts, applying for positions or undertaking training, to make the transition as seamless and low-stress as possible.

Income and costs

Are you prepared to take a potentially significant pay cut? In most occupations and businesses, earnings are lower outside capital cities. Of course in many locations this is offset by lower property and rental prices, but other ongoing costs, including utilities, groceries, fuel, heating or cooling costs, insurance, etc. may remain the same or even increase.

Financially, do you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the move and any period of reduced or no income while you make the transition? If there are two adults moving and you are both employed, one partial solution may be to have one continue working while the other goes and sets up the new living arrangements, finds employment, etc. Additionally, you can seek the assistance of real estate agents and other service providers such as accountants to narrow down your search for housing, viable businesses for sale, etc.

Children

Do you have children now, or plan to in the future? Consider schooling options, including the possible need for tertiary education or training; availability of child care and after-school care; recreational options, such as sporting teams and other extracurricular activities; transport to school and other activities; opportunities for after-school jobs, etc.

If these are limited in your chosen location, think about what your kids will likely do with their free time, and how you feel about them moving away at a relatively young age; for example, to attend boarding school or university, or find a job. Considering all these factors and feeling comfortable with the options available will help you avoid unnecessary concerns or regrets down the track.

Friends and family

Leaving friends and family is often high on the list of people’s reasons (or maybe excuses?) for not making the move. Of course there may be very valid reasons for this. In many cases though, the underlying concern is more about finding new friends and establishing a support network in the new location. There’s no way around the fact that this can take time to establish, and it might require some proactive effort and getting a little bit out of your comfort zone to achieve. It’s likely you will quickly make acquaintances through work and at the school gate if these fit your circumstances; otherwise, think about what your interests are (or will be when you get there) and do some research to find out about relevant clubs or activities in your new location, and arrive with realistic expectations and a willingness to keep trying new avenues until things start to click.

Ultimately, remember that more often, people regret the things they didn’t do more than the things they did. By spending some quality time going through this process, thinking through and planning all aspects of the change, and accepting that there will be challenging and stressful times during the transition, it’s very likely you will soon be one of those many sea and tree changers who are happily living the life they imagined, without a backward glance.