Canberra - a few lists
We've moved more times in the last 10 years than I'm comfortable admitting. We've been in Brisbane for the last few years - but we're about to make a big move to Australia's capital city, Canberra.
I've been flying down every week from August since I started my new day job and my contract says that I'll move there full time by the end of the year, so off we go.
Canberra seems to be a very polarising place. When you tell people you are moving there, sometimes they scrunch up their nose and ask "why?" The complaints are as follows in descending order of importance:
1. Boring
2. Full of public servants
3. Hot/cold
4. No beach
But, for the people who live there by choice - I've heard it described as "Australia's best kept secret". I would have to agree. Nobody wants to live in Canberra, thank goodness. This means:
1. Great jobs are plentiful (I've got one)
2. Traffic is minimal
3. People are there because they love it (generally)
I don't really live there yet, but here's what I think I like about the city:
1. It's a planned city - all clover leaves and roundabouts, no traffic jams
2. The architecture is starkly beautiful - think modern lowrise futuristic - Gattaca.
3. People there seem to be generally nice and accepting
4. It's international - we had the Queen of England and Obama there in a 3 week span. I work with a melting pot of people from all over.
5. It's called "the bush capital" - and has a feel like that. Surrounded by mountains and greenery - it's not a huge town.
6. This will sound elitist but I'm also glad that the CUB* level seems to be pretty low. (too many broken beer bottles on the sidewalk at 3 AM in Brissie)
I've been flying down every week from August since I started my new day job and my contract says that I'll move there full time by the end of the year, so off we go.
Canberra seems to be a very polarising place. When you tell people you are moving there, sometimes they scrunch up their nose and ask "why?" The complaints are as follows in descending order of importance:
1. Boring
2. Full of public servants
3. Hot/cold
4. No beach
But, for the people who live there by choice - I've heard it described as "Australia's best kept secret". I would have to agree. Nobody wants to live in Canberra, thank goodness. This means:
1. Great jobs are plentiful (I've got one)
2. Traffic is minimal
3. People are there because they love it (generally)
I don't really live there yet, but here's what I think I like about the city:
1. It's a planned city - all clover leaves and roundabouts, no traffic jams
2. The architecture is starkly beautiful - think modern lowrise futuristic - Gattaca.
3. People there seem to be generally nice and accepting
4. It's international - we had the Queen of England and Obama there in a 3 week span. I work with a melting pot of people from all over.
5. It's called "the bush capital" - and has a feel like that. Surrounded by mountains and greenery - it's not a huge town.
6. This will sound elitist but I'm also glad that the CUB* level seems to be pretty low. (too many broken beer bottles on the sidewalk at 3 AM in Brissie)
9 Comments
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
*Cashed Up Bogans
http://videosift.com/video/Cashed-up-Bogans-proof-fence-CUB
GallowflakWhere've you spent time in the last few years, and of which of those places are you fondest?
I've gone from England to France to Canada to Australia to New Zealand, and I'll probably move on again by the end of next year. Japan, as my wife is half-Japanese, or maybe another Australian city. Looking for ideas!
spoco2I'm hoping that you, @persephone and the kids find it to be a great place, I'm sure you will. Maybe you can move into politics and pass a law that everyone of voting age must visit Videosift at least once a week. Some sort of cultural requirement.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
I have plans to join the ACT Pirate Party.>> ^spoco2:
I'm hoping that you, @persephone and the kids find it to be a great place, I'm sure you will. Maybe you can move into politics and pass a law that everyone of voting age must visit Videosift at least once a week. Some sort of cultural requirement.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
I think it really depends on where you are at in life. I lived in Japan in my 20s and loved it - but I think it would be challenging with kids.
Australia is generally great for families - and for careers, it's just about the only country that hasn't been hammered by the GFC.
Having said that - I did a little tour of Oregon earlier this year and found it to be just about the best place I've ever been. It ticked a whole heap of boxes for me.
>> ^Gallowflak:
Where've you spent time in the last few years, and of which of those places are you fondest?
I've gone from England to France to Canada to Australia to New Zealand, and I'll probably move on again by the end of next year. Japan, as my wife is half-Japanese, or maybe another Australian city. Looking for ideas!
direpickle>> ^Gallowflak:
Where've you spent time in the last few years, and of which of those places are you fondest?
I've gone from England to France to Canada to Australia to New Zealand, and I'll probably move on again by the end of next year. Japan, as my wife is half-Japanese, or maybe another Australian city. Looking for ideas!
I've never really lived there, but I've spent a half year in Japan spread over a couple of couple-month trips and love it. For whatever that's worth.
kymbosAs an architect's son and a former Canberran, I can only disagree with you on the architecture front. With the notable exception of the members bar of Old Parliament House - that thing is gorgeous.
Good luck in the Can. The place is empty over summer, as the public servants exodus to Bateman's Bay takes hold.
Boise_Lib@dag
GFC = Global Fucked-up eConomy??
Sounds very nice, good luck.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
I don't like clutter. I don't like victorian buildings with fretwork, cornices faux columns etc. Nooks where dust collects and never leaves. Long planes of molded concrete surrounded by trees appeal to my aesthetic sense. >> ^kymbos:
As an architect's son and a former Canberran, I can only disagree with you on the architecture front. With the notable exception of the members bar of Old Parliament House - that thing is gorgeous.
Good luck in the Can. The place is empty over summer, as the public servants exodus to Bateman's Bay takes hold.
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