Getting Off The Hamster Wheel

[Paul (SA)]

Phew. End of another week and a few precious hours with family this weekend before I do it all again on Monday.

Having read a few brief posts from a couple of swaggers, I am keen to hear the stories of people who have escaped the rat race and the drudgery of a typical 9-5, suburban existence and made the life changing decision to up stumps and do something totally different.

How did you do it? What are you doing now? Are you living the dream?

[Tjupurula]

Phew. End of another week and a few precious hours with family this weekend before I do it all again on Monday.

Having read a few brief posts from a couple of swaggers, I am keen to hear the stories of people who have escaped the rat race and the drudgery of a typical 9-5, suburban existence and made the life changing decision to up stumps and do something totally different.

How did you do it? What are you doing now? Are you living the dream?

Hi Paul
My normal everyday life seems to be what a lot of people are referring to as their "dream", although for many reasons I will not discuss it is not a dream.  We have had quite a few people pull up stumps and come out this way, for a short time to work, and some of them, 25 years later, are still out here.  There is no wa I could live the city lifestyle, that looks just too damned hectic for me, and too much of a challenge I would guess simply living a peaceful life.
Regards
Tjupurula

[brocky05fj]

Phew. End of another week and a few precious hours with family this weekend before I do it all again on Monday.

Know the feeling there. Feels like I fall over the finish line each Friday then recover just in time to head back to work on Monday. Looking forward to upcoming holidays keeps you going.
Cheers

[Brumbypt]

Phew. End of another week and a few precious hours with family this weekend before I do it all again on Monday.

Having read a few brief posts from a couple of swaggers, I am keen to hear the stories of people who have escaped the rat race and the drudgery of a typical 9-5, suburban existence and made the life changing decision to up stumps and do something totally different.

How did you do it? What are you doing now? Are you living the dream?

Having a nine to five job would be a dream to have for many people. Dont throw that away without not only having a plan, but a pathway  to take that plan on.

[Campsite Cruiser]

We are fortunate in that my work shifts are 4x12hr shifts followed by 5 days off rotating and my wife works reduced hrs at 20 hrs p/w and fits in with my shifts nicely, so we get plenty of family time and camp time. Our kids don"t realise  how spoilt they are. We moved from Sydney 8-9 years ago and although miss our life long friends, we have a much better quality of life in a semi rural setting.
Heading to Carnarvon Gorge and other parts of S/E QLD in school holidays. Can't wait.

[speewa158]

Paul the longest journey starts with the 1st step  . there is only 1 way to go & thats just go , have a go you mug as they say . l sold up in Melb packed up my stubby cooler collection & settled in Central Vic . Started up a new business in my field of expertise , working less , cose 
" l " want to & loving it . Got a house , shed almost full of toys to make toys . So yes it can & will work but only if you work at it 

[02-SR5]

We are currently doing this now.

23 years in the Army and moving, we have finally settled on a place out the back of Toowoomba called Meringandan West on half an acre with a nice little house and a big shed.

We are living the tree change.

[Roaring.Chicken]

We are a bit like speewa.   Over a twenty year period, we'd always talked about just heading off.  No plan except to go.  Somewhere.  Over the years and between the wife and I, there was always something one was doing that they didn't particularly want to give up at that time.  We'd just finished renovating a house in Adelaide, looked at each other and said "Now".  With only one child, we thought about accommodation and with a son, dog, cockatoo, and home schooling, a custom van was the go.  Our son had his own bunk bed with an area underneath for only his stuff.

We sold the house and just about everything we owned, put the 2nd car and camper trailer in storage, quit our jobs and headed off.

It is a great feeling not having a schedule.  Home schooling was....interesting at times.  It took us a month to get to Alice and 6 weeks to get to Darwin.  While that might be still rushing it a bit, we didn't feel that way.  One example was when we were going to stay one night at Banka Banka station.  Ended up staying a week doing the sausage sizzle, cleaning the shower blocks and got free power, full diesel and water tanks, some bread and milk and we were happy with that.  That's pretty much how it went.

What surprised us was the number of families that are out there doing what we were doing.

There will always be something that you think is stopping you. 
We didn't have a plan except to look for somewhere new to live.  I say, just do it. 

We're in SEQ now.  Still 9 - 5 but that's until our son finishes high school this year then who know what we'll do. 

Cheers

[speewa158]

When you think about all the reasons to stay in the comfort zone , ask yourself what could possibly go wrong 
What ever you come up with no matter how far out the idea is that can still happen if you stay where you are ,,,,, yes/no  your call .
The longest journey starts with the 1st step . You never know it might be fun , interesting  , satisfing , & worth it after all
                           Have a think /chat ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,




                                                            And Then         

[Paul (SA)]

Thanks Speewa.....I admire your guts.

I would love to run an outback pub or caravan - or do what Carlisle is doing. Something that makes you feel like you are alive and not just a mindless zombie in the rat race.

[Chippy76]

Gday Paul,

5 years ago, we made the decision to "pull up stumps" and move to the country. 

Living in Brisbane with 3 boys (newborn, 3, and and working 5 1/2 days a week, with little money left after we paid rent and bills, we knew it was time to move to the country.

We moved to a SMALL country village (with the closure of our church we are now a hamlet ... )and bought a house on 1/2 acre for less than we paid in rent. I started my own carpentry business (previously I was working for builders in Bris) and spent more time with the kids.

Am I "living the dream"?   At times yes and at times no .... There are some things that you sacrifice to live out here ... we are 2 hrs from brisbane and 1 1/2 hrs from Toowoomba, so shopping is restricted to what we have in Warwick (Big W, target country  ...so not all that bad) Business has had it ups and downs. At times I have been flat out and other times I have been as quiet as all buggery .....  The major upsides to living out here The space for my kids to "roam"- you know like we all did as kids .... riding pushbikes, playing down the creek, just generally being boys .... and the lovely country hospitality (dont get me wrong there are some w**kers, but they are well out weighed by the nice people.)

I cant answer your question without any doubt. However , for US, the move has been great.
I hope what ever you decide it works out for you. Sometimes the hardest step is the first!

Cheers Chippy

[Paul (SA)]

Thanks Chip. I missed out on a trade and settled for a management degree at uni. I think if you have a trade behind you it makes it so much easier, but I am still determined to see what can be done.

[berlitza]

Have been considering a shift from the burbs to a largeish country town ourselves, The only concern we have is work or lack of not finding something suitable. We have watched where we are living now go from country(ish) and being a great area 20yrs ago to being overpopulated and people have become more stressed out which usually turns into anger and low tollerance for the people aound them..
Were try'n to work somthing out while were still young enough to make to move..

[speewa158]

Reread post No 8   

[Bird]

Know the feeling there. Feels like I fall over the finish line each Friday then recover just in time to head back to work on Monday. Looking forward to upcoming holidays keeps you going.
Cheers

I think nearly all of us feel like that.

[ewwreckers]

Mate if your after an outback pub there's a pub just up the road at Mount Hope for urgent sale due to illness. I can try find the listing if you want.
We have it pretty good with hubby being self employed but as someone else said, that can be a double edged sword (like people thinking they can just come knock on our door anytime of day or night) but the pro's out weigh the cons. Recently we thought about doing the pack up just go (hubby not as seriously as me). I think the kids would thrive being travellers. But looks like we've finally been approved to buy our first investment place in QLD so a few more years of working for us yet. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel, we can now hopefully retire in about 20 years and then go.

[berlitza]

I think nearly all of us feel like that.

Oh this forum just became group therapy   

[speewa158]

Group Therapy Dr Speewa is in the camp .
Take 12 cans sit by the camp fire & lets talk this out  .
Supply me with grog & l shell enlighten you .
In the morning take Many cups of coffie bacon & eggs on toast
Then get on with it 

[Tjupurula]

Group Therapy Dr Speewa is in the camp .
Take 12 cans sit by the camp fire & lets talk this out  .
Supply me with grog & l shell enlighten you .
In the morning take Many cups of coffie bacon & eggs on toast
Then get on with it 

Let me see, I will have the bacon and eggs on toast, and coffee....but you will have to have the 12 cans my friend.
Tjupurula

[speewa158]

Done & dusted Thanks TJ 

[Paul (SA)]

Ok. We will meet at Lake Gregory then. See u all there.

[Tjupurula]

Ok. We will meet at Lake Gregory then. See u all there.

Um. not yet I don't think.  The roads around here at the moment would kill most CT's.  AS much as I would like the work repairing them, I would rather they came in good niock and arrived home the same way.  W also do not have alcohol here, that would put a lot of people off.
Regards
Tjupurula

[fishfinder]

3 1/2 years ago I got into some nice coonawarra ( i think spelling is rite ) estate red plonk and after 2 - 3 bottles I suggested to the wife why don't we just sell the house and move to the country, the wife thinking south coast of  WA and agreed. Two weeks later the house was on the market and 15 months after listing it was sold, moving from a city that was becoming over populated ( Perth ) to a small coastal country town in Tasmania. Still working the same ours on half the income but living a lot slower pace have not regret it for a second. If my kids show any signs of a lump on the side of their neck I mite have to consider moving else where before it is too late.

[Tim - Stratford]

Fortunately my job allows me to transfer around the State if I like. It isn't a 9-5 job and work is varied. Shift work means I miss out on some weekends but often get one when the public don't - great for quiet camping. Sometimes I go to work and come home three days later after living in a swag & 4wd. Other times I can go to work and end up 4wd'ing in the snow in the High Country all day/night.

9 weeks leave a year keeps me sane - and I just 'bought' another two weeks this year - so 11 weeks all up!

Not thinking of getting off........just yet. 

[SteveandViv]

Well I'm living the dream I get to play up the Gibb, travel to the Katjunka (Tjupurula's Land), yarn with locals that have lots of great stories to tell. My wife works for a fellow that owns a lazy 2 million acres around the Bungle Bungle and Broome that we play in and, I Support indigenous Health in the Kimberly through the company I work for and, play ICT Manager as well when time permits and more recently, I am part of the National working group delivering E-Health to Australia.

I think every one plays their part though. I had to make a decision to leave a secure job working for AMEX and hitch up the camper and head into the wild, wild west -  I've never been so scared but glad I did it. Some times you've just got to take that chance.