That Net Site

If you read my first part on Sea/Tree change you will know that we went through the process of ensuring we were going to make the right choice, and as part of that choice we involved the whole family in the discussion.

The second part of our Tree Change (note no longer Sea/Tree change as we were moving to the country) was to identify where we would like to live, this involved;

• identifying what climate we wanted to live in
• what rough area/location we wanted to live in
• the rainfall in the area/location
• the schools in the area/location
• the services, hospitals and other amenities in the area/location
• distance from family and friends
• location from which a business could be run

These main factors gave us a starting point to work from, we were not looking for an actually property at this point but rather a location we will be comfortable in and do wish to live.  We already knew we wanted to live in the South West of Western Australia (WA) as we preferred the cooler temperatures and cooler nights than what we have now.  We wrote to and research schools in the South West of WA and listed the services and amenities each location had.  One vital component was a local hospital due to my own ongoing ill health.  We made a map of the South West of WA and shaded the annual rainfall areas in on the map and then selected a point we considered central to where we wanted to go and then drew a circle around that to idenity possible town sites we can take a look at as possible locations to move to.  We did not want to live on the coast and we did not want to go too far south or too far east so it was a central location we selected to start from.

Map of the South West of WA

Area selected

This gave us the starting point and so we then started to go out for a drive each weekend to look at possible locations.  As can be seen by the larger map, this was some 250 odd kilometres away from Perth so it was a day trip each time as we drove into a town and then ventured out from the town to have a look around at the land.

We quickly decided we did not want to live close to the main highway (South West Highway) as the amount of traffic was too high for our liking.  We also wanted to make sure the house that was on the property was complete and was not too old and needed little to no work.  With water also being an issue, as in most places there is a dependancy on water tanks for water, we also had to make sure the selected property had plenty of access to water.  The property had to have some acreage but not too much, neither of us want to be farmers but we would like to have room for a few animals such as horses, sheep and maybe even a few cattle.

Our driving around the areas soon made us feel we really did want to make the tree change and the kids also loved the areas we visited.  Each location we visited we marked down what was good and bad and then afterwards contacted local services such as schools to get more information about what was and what was not available.  The main issue for schools was the year 11 and 12 at high school as most high/middle schools in nearly all towns only went to year 10 and then the kids had to go to another school for year 11 and 12.  During our extensive research it was decided that Manjimup Senior High School will be the preferred school for our kids for year 11 and 12 due to the fantastic reputation and school record.  We then had to make sure where the bus service would go to so our kids could go to that school, this then reduced our range a little more which started to make the choice of possible living locations easier.

After several weeks of driving around we came across Boyup Brook, it was a little east of where I was thinking but we quickly felt this was a great location to live in, and it was on a second visit to the area we located a possible property to buy.  It was by chance the owners of the property noticed us looking at the property and invited us onto the property to take a look around.  It was 33 acres, had a tidy renovated home placed on top of the hill with magnificant views all around, plenty of water from an underground spring, massive dam, and council approval for chalets to be built on the property if you wanted to start a holiday style business, it was easy at that time to feel this would be the place for us.

To ensure the children liked Boyup Brook we took them out of school for a day and went back to Boyup Brook and showed them around the area and past the property we liked.  We drove around the adjacent areas, past the schools, the swimming pools, the sporting areas and so on and stopped and had lunch.  They like us felt a connection here.

We then went about arranging to visit the schools on the next visit to take the kids through and have a look at the schools.  This happened a few weeks later and the schools were quiet, small class sizes and the staff very pleasant and happy.  It was something our kids noticed as well as they commented on how happy everyone looked, teachers and kids.  Asking our kids later could they see themselves going to school there they said yes and this sealed it for us as this was our location of choice.

You may have noted that the above is written in past tense, this is because we are already living in Boyup Brook, I just had not made a post for quite some time (refer to my last post).  I will make another part of our Tree change soon, so bookmark my site now and come back soon.

Changes in our lives can be difficult, a total sea/tree change can be very daunting to most but it does not need to be, hopefully our tree change adventure can inspire you for your sea/tree change.  Join us over the next couple of months as we make our tree change….

First up – what’s the difference between sea change and tree change, well first up we believe that the change part is away from your normal life of usually inner city or suburban living to a place where you have space, room to grow and be part of a much smaller community.  On the flip side there is also those that have had the quiet life and want (for whatever reasons) to be in amongst the busy city life, either way it is a total change of life.

Sea change is the moving to the sea and enjoying the beach air, the fresh winds and the waves at night while having your space and quiet surrounds.

Tree change is the moving to the hills or country away from suburbia usually with some acreage or even a farm (of various sizes)

Of course you could have both a Sea and Tree change depending on where you wish to go

Back on topic…

This topic title is a big one for most families, or even those thinking about starting a family (or not).  So when is the right time for a change in direction that not only affects you but the people around you (your family and friends).  Over the years I have read, listened to and watched people make great plans or wishes to do things in their lives and never follow through with them, to be told that it is not quite the right time to make life changes etc.  It is something we also have been thinking about as well and really when is the best time…. ?

Even my parents have great plans, but to be honest by the time they get to even act on those plans they will be way to old to enjoy them.  So when is the best time… for anything?

The answer to that will differ with every person reading this post, we all have different backgrounds, lived our lives a certain way and have our comfort zones we cling to as part of our every day life.  But is that living life or life living – I can’t answer that for you as only you will know that answer.  However what I can say for the most of us is that we keep making reasons not to change rather than reasons to change.  For my family and I, well we were just getting by, doing the norm and it actually put us in a rut and very unhealthy situation.  So change was needed but what change and is it the right time for change now or should we  wait until the kids are older (ages 13, 9 and 7)…. well I was ready, my wife was ready so what about the kids.

We bounced ideas back and forth to each other and considered everything about if this was the right time to put the kids through this and then we thought .. hang on we are doing it again, we are making reasons ourselves as to why we should not do it rather than reasons we should.  So we decided it was time to open the discussions to our children, after all they will be affected and should have a say in what we may do.  We did not want to pressure the kids or push them into any one direction, we simply wanted to hear from their points of view on a few options we have considered.  We requested a family meeting (yes we request not demand) and asked them;

• are you happy?
• how happy?
• what would you like to do different?
• do you like where we live?
• would you be interested in moving house?

This laid the ground work for us to decide if we should continue with the discussion and responses were positive, interesting to both of us was a notable shift from love where we live to like where we live as you do once you have been in the same place for quite some time (7+ years), so we led into a discussion

• What do you think about the idea of moving to a larger property?
• What about moving schools
• How about living on a  farm (got a great response on that one – i.e. can I have a pony, motorbike etc)

They asked questions as well and we opened the discussion from there to hear from them what they wanted and what they felt about moving.  For the kids ages we were really happy with the way they asked questions and raised ideas and noticed a growing excitement from them, particularly our eldest whom we thought would prefer to stay put.

The end result of the discussions was a resounding yes, it was time to make the next move and this move would be quite a change.  I’ll make a further post soon about the next stage in our tree change but the point of this post was simply to share with you that the right time is any time, it is not when you feel comfortable, it is not when you have enough money, it is not when the kids are older, it is now, if you feel you need a change in life then you do.

The biggest thing I got out of this process so far was the realisation that we like most people were stuck in a zone that was a life, but not ‘the life’ and whenever we considered a change we were looking for reasons not change rather than reasons for change.

While our tree change is still in the process I really wish to pass onto anyone contemplating a change to;

• make reasons for not against
• make reasons that are positive not negative
• involve your whole family, they may have ideas you have not thought of – our kids did
• look forward not back.

While weighing up pros and cons sound good, leave the cons out as they only provide a negative outlook, list the pros – all of them and build them and have fun doing it… we did

Sea/Tree change part 2 coming soon….