I grew up on the Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth-largest city. In my 20s, my partner and I lived in Canada, then England. When we returned to Australia, we spent eight years in Melbourne, then the last four years in Bright in country Victoria, so that we could be close to his family.
Bright was a small town of fewer than 3,000 people, and I fell in love with the lifestyle and people pretty quickly. I couldn’t get over how genuinely nice they were. It felt like the community really had each other’s backs, and I soon found myself slowing down and relaxing into country life.
However, after four years in Bright, my family of five moved to the Gold Coast to be closer to my aging parents in January. It was a tough decision, and the hardest part was leaving behind our friends and family, but I didn’t want to have regrets down the track.
Since moving back to the city, I’ve found myself trying to bring a few of those slower, more intentional ways of living into our lives here.
I’m building my community
Bright might be small, but it has an enormous heart. The people there are some of the warmest and most generous I’ve ever met. It’s the kind of place that feels like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day, a hug when you’re feeling blue.
Since my family moved in with my parents, I’ve tried to carry that same community spirit with me. I’ve been cooking meals for friends, offering to babysit when someone’s stretched, or simply checking in with a message if I sense someone might be having a tough time.
The other day, I even texted a new neighbor to ask if we could borrow a couple of eggs. It felt like such a small, old-fashioned thing to do, but it broke the ice.
A few days later, I invited her daughter over to play and sent her home with some of our eggs. Then, for my birthday, the neighbor made me candied almonds and left them on our doorstep. That initial simple gesture helped us connect on a deeper level and establish a sense of community.
I’m still enjoying simple fun
Living in regional Victoria, there was plenty to do outdoors, but a lot of the time, you had to make your own fun. Our best family adventures were often the simplest, like packing a picnic and heading to a swimming hole, picking fresh fruit at a local berry farm, or hiking through the mountains.
Now that we’re back in the city, though there’s more to do here, I’m so grateful for the mindset I gained in a smaller town. I rarely feel bored, because even on quiet days or rainy afternoons, I can think of countless ways to make time together feel special.
I try to connect with nature
One of the things I loved most about country life was the connection to nature. I slowed down and began to appreciate the simple things. The shift in seasons, the depth of color in a rainbow, the scent of pine in the morning air, the energizing feel of icy mountain water.
It’s not always as easy to find that connection to nature in the city, but I make a point of seeking it out. Sometimes we’ll drive out to the Gold Coast hinterland for a hike, or head to the beach for a quick swim before school. Floating in the Pacific Ocean at sunrise is a simple reminder that staying connected to nature doesn’t depend on where you live; you just have to make space for it.
There are aspects of city life that I’m really enjoying, like having access to amenities and a wide variety of sporting clubs for my kids. But sometimes I do miss the slower pace of country life and the people.
On harder days, I make even more effort to slow down and build a sense of community. Sometimes that means reading on the veranda in the sunshine and giving myself permission to say ‘no’ to activities without guilt. Other times, it looks like wandering through the local farmers’ markets or lingering at the local coffee shop and getting to know the owner.
Those simple moments sustain me and remind me of the best parts of country life.
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