Monday, June 17, 2013

Goodbye South, Hello North

 
I shouldn't complain. We're in a very fortunate position where we're being welcomed back into the family abode (in this case, A's family house) to do the sensible thing and stop paying 'rent money' and instead save like crazy to afford a family house or apartment of our own.

We're leaving our tiny 2 bedroom apartment in Prahran to go live Northside and although i'm excited by all the money we'll potentially save (as our next option was going to try and find a big 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom house in the area) I am already devastated we're leaving.



 
Let's just say they did not have Z in mind when they were thinking of potential occupants. The only other couple who had a child in the building left long ago.




When we first left the inner north we searched for an area that would fit our needs. We were childless at the time and both worked in the city and spent a lot of time eating out, drinking, and socialising. Prahran was perfect because neither of us had any connection to it and we could explore and make it our own. A enjoyed living close to Greville St, the Windsor end of Chapel Street and the Mt Erica pub and I enjoyed living near Prahran Market, Hawksburn village (my spiritual and fashion home), Prahran East shops and the cafes on the corners of Greville St and St Edmonds Road.

I've always joked that in the inner South residents always at least look like they bathe regularly unlike the inner North where the fashion and culture is somewhat questionable. So I wonder how much of that alternative student culture may be imparted on us. Will my fashion choices differ in a place where substance wins out over style? Will you see me riding a bicycle around town in a summer dress in 6 months time?

I asked Z this morning if she was excited about going to live with Nanny and Poppy. "Nooo!" she said, confused, thinking perhaps we were offloading her. I tried to explain as best I could to a 2 year old that we were all going to live at Nanny and Poppy's, that she'd have far more room to move and run about, a pool to swim in come summertime, and countless parks to explore. She eventually came around to the idea.

Last night I depressed myself by looking at the Melbourne property market. Starting at the bottom of the ladder after renting wherever we liked isn't exactly exciting. Half a million dollars buys you exactly nothing in any of the areas we'd consider moving to. Three-quarters of a million affords you more choice. Daunting. And then there's the issue of schools. Especially as we've hastily decided not to jump down the private school rabbit hole with Z so location is key.

This seems to be the time in our lives where we stop fucking around, pull up our socks and become adults, making adult decisions, plan for the future and quit "living in the moment."

Though I have been neglectful of this blog of late, I shall be tending to it more when we move. Especially as my focus will have changed. So expect to see more fashion, more cooking, more kid related posts, more on our adventures exploring our Northside neighbourhood and possibly even some sewing as it occurred to me the other day that there will even be room for sewing and crafts without little miss getting her sticky hands on it.

In the meantime I will be busy packing. In between random spurts of work and trips downstairs to the gym. Oh the 24/7 gym how I will miss it!

2 comments:

  1. It's the right decision definitely! You must live on our gym. Not that I ever go (no child care so annoying) but bf is there every day with our dog. Our dog apparently sits inside and waits for him haha! It will be a shock to the system for you moving out. Focus on the future ;-)

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    1. Haha really?! That's so cute.

      Moving in with the pseudo-in laws will be a fantastic experience for Z. It's a huge house in a fantastic part of town, with a pool and a choice of parks to go play in.

      But it's not "mine" and I hate living somewhere I can't make my own. At least it will drive me to save, save, save so even if we can't afford anything of that calibre (even though we would not need to, we don't have 4 kids and won't be having any more babies) we can at least buy something nearby. Being close to her grandparents is my top priority at the moment. And of course proximity to the city and a decent café or two!!

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