4 minute read
Unreliable Guide
How's the serenity?
The Unreliable Guide To... City Living
Words Nat Shepherd Photo Claus Trophobe
The Unreliable Guide is not loving the city. All the fun things - galleries, restaurants, pubs, parties - are off the menu, while all the crappy things - too many neighbours, small living spaces, no garden - have been thrown into sharp relief. Even going for a stroll on the coastal walk feels like a game of COVID roulette with the number of people here. The death rate seen in high density areas like New York and London highlights the fact that crowds equal danger.
At the time of writing, Melbourne is still in hardcore lockdown with a strict curfew and depressing daily death toll. While Melbourne’s CBD ranks number one as the most densely populated area of Australia, our local suburbs such as Potts Point and Bondi take 8 spots out of the top 10. A similar Sydney lockdown seems almost inevitable, but never fear, The Unreliable Guide is here to suggest a solution.
Take flight
Right now, a sea/tree change sounds like a great idea. Check the latest restrictions before you pack a case and leap into your car, but for the moment New South Wales residents can travel anywhere within the state. Don’t be a dick though; that cute little rural town doesn’t want your city contagion. Get a COVID test before you go, wear your mask while you are out and about, and be respectful. It might end up being your new forever home.
It’s a trend
I’m not the only one thinking outside the city box; rural real estate offices are reporting a massive upswing in sales and rentals. COVID refugees have been fleeing the cities since March, with some looking for a break and others using this crazy time to reassess their whole life. Guardian writer Calla Wahlquist summed it up well in her recent article: “It’s as if the whole world had a midlife crisis at once.” We’ve started asking ourselves, “Who am I, what’s it all for, and what am I doing stuck in this crappy apartment?” From there it’s only a short step to wonder why the hell we don’t move somewhere pretty with a garden, a dog, a veggie patch, some chooks…
Virtual life
COVID has made many of our jobs virtual, and this shift may reshape the world forever. If you’re working from home, why pay a premium to live within commuting distance of the office? Sure, if you have kids you need to stay close to their schools (unless the schools go back online), but for those of you who are child-free, what’s stopping you?
Overseas opportunities
With the current downturn in tourism, several countries are now marketing themselves as hot destinations for digital nomads. If you are COVID-free and can prove you have sufficient funds and healthcare, when Australia opens the international borders you could be working in Barbados, Bermuda, Estonia, Prague, Berlin... So long as the Wi-Fi is good and the locals let you in, you can be virtually anywhere (pun intended). Fancy relocating your home office to an isolated beach in Madagascar for a few months? Don’t laugh, you’ll probably have less glitchy Zoom meetings. A world comparison of overall internet speeds ranks Madagascar at 33 while Australia struggles across the line with a sleepy rank of 50. If speed really is everything, consider the British island of Jersey, a beautiful little place off the coast of France, which ranks third in the world after Taiwan and Singapore for fastest average connection speeds.
Finally, The Unreliable Guide suggests we start thinking outside our previous squares. A 45-square metre, milliondollar apartment in the city isn’t much fun if restaurants, bars and theatres aren’t open. If everything is closed and you’re cooped up in that apartment like a battery hen, why not sell up and ship out?
Randwick News
We want to hear from you! We’ve created a draft Environment Strategy that sets Council’s long-term objectives to guide our future planning programs. We’ve highlighted more than 30 specific strategic approaches to help us reach our goals. With each one, we’ve included precise targets and dates to keep us accountable and we’ll be tracking them closely to stay on target. Here’s where you come in – we’d love your feedback. The strategy has been written in a very easy-to-digest format so you can read it without feeling overwhelmed. You can download it at yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au, we hope you’ll give it a read. What matters to you? Clean water at our beaches? Using renewable energy? Diverting garbage from landfill? Increasing our tree canopy coverage? How would you prioritise? The strategy is open for comment until October 13. Speaking of our beautiful environment, have you heard of Council’s bushcare groups? They meet regularly in various locations to help protect and restore our stunning bushland and parks. It’s a great way to get outside, be part of a group and make a difference to your own community. It’s a volunteer program and you’re welcome to drop in when you can. To find out more, search bushcare on our website or call our Bushcare Officer on 9093 6708. Thanks everyone – I hope you’re enjoying these warmer months and stay safe.
Councillor Danny Said
Mayor of Randwick
What’s On
EVERY FRIDAY COMMUNITY GARDENING PROGRAM
9.30am, Randwick Sustainability Hub. Bookings essential
4 OCTOBER FLOWER ARRANGING WORKSHOP
1.30pm, La Perouse Museum. $20 per person, bookings essential
13 OCTOBER WRITING FOR PLEASURE: A CREATIVE WRITING GROUP FOR BEGINNERS
2pm, Online Zoom event
11 & 13 OCTOBER SHELL WORKSHOP WITH AUNTY MAXINE RYAN
1.30pm, La Perouse Headland and Museum. $20 per person, bookings essential
UNTIL 15 OCTOBER BEACH COUTURE:
A HAUTE MESS La Perouse Museum, 1542 Anzac Parade, La Perouse
UNTIL 29 NOVEMBER HAPPY VALLEY: LA PEROUSE IN THE DEPRESSION
La Perouse Museum, 1542 Anzac Parade, La Perouse
