Five Things I Miss Living in Australia's Regions
I love my peaceful country lifestyle, where the nights are quiet and the neighbours wave at your kids and start conversations with, "You'll never believe what I heard last night!" But even in paradise, there are still some things I miss about city life.
Public Transport and Taxis
Country towns have charm, but public transport isn’t generally one of them. Here, walking home from the local at 2 a.m. means dodging golden orb spiders and hoping Stevo in the Land Rover ute who doubles as the town’s taxi driver, hasn’t had too many sheep deliveries. It’s not exactly Uber, but beggars can’t be choosers!
The Razzle Dazzle of City Architecture
Sometimes I miss the city’s bold architecture—sleek glass towers, and modern designs that seem to whisper “progress” rather than “in my day...”
It's not all bad, though. The main street of my country town is lined with majestic double-brick heritage-listed buildings that are unique and feel like stately old men, chuckling as you wander past.
Sushi and Latte Lifestyle
In short, my country lifestyle is soft, simple and predictable, and I love it. However, I do lie awake some nights dreaming of city luxuries: a creamy, extra-spiced latte, served with a side of sushi which costs more than my first car, served by a barista named Bekki with blue hair and an Irish accent. Mary from the servo could NEVER!
City Buzz and Spontaneity
Don’t get me wrong — the calm of country life is soothing for the soul — but sometimes I miss the city’s buzz: deciding on a whim to go to a gig or accidentally stumbling on a quirky gallery or record shop. In the city, there’s always new people to meet and unexpected places to explore.
Hands-On Shopping and Choice
For those with decision paralysis, country living is perfection. But, every now and then I am reminded of the biggest drawback of country life. Choice! Anytime you want to buy anything bigger than a two-drawer toaster, or your wild city genes drag you towards new adventure toys like a jet ski, caravan or car, it turns into a logistical nightmare involving paying for interstate vehicle freight. Imagine having the ‘’city shopping privilege’ of being able to choose a caravan without planning a three-day trip and spending hundreds on petrol and accommodation or having the choice of jet ski in nine basic colours!
Luckily, for those of us who’d rather skip the full-blown expedition of route planning, borrowing a trailer and crossing our fingers that nothing falls apart along the way, the local car freight company can turn limited local options into endless possibilities.
I can explore my choices, have an exciting shopping experience, splurge on a new toy, and get the best price again, all from the swing on my front porch. The same swing I can sit in and watch them deliver it right into my shed
Inconvenience, annoying logistics and lack of choice? Not anymore!
