We have decided to begin a new adventure. We are leaving our little farm in December and moving up to Casuarina in northern New South Wales to live by the beach. Quite the contrast.
About 12 years ago, when we still lived on the Gold Coast, Ben's boss offered Ben a couple nights accommodation in a resort in Casuarina as his Christmas bonus. We fell in love with the area then and have visited regularly ever since. Casuarina Is a little beach side town with bike paths that run up and down the coast from one beach town to the next. There are surf clubs scattered along the way, parks, cafes, and the best gym! The beaches are stunning. It's our home away from home. Our little piece of heaven. We always thought that one day we would retire there or dreamt about spending winter and summer up there and spring and autumn here on the farm... At Christmas time we started looking at a variety of real estate from land out in the Hinterland, to old beach side apartments, houses. We thought about it some more and then in the July school holidays we found a development in our dream position. With months of negiation we finally bought a house, off the plan. It is situated two blocks from the beach. You can hear the ocean from the block! We bought the house thinking at the time that we would wait till the kids have all finished school and then make the move and just hope that they follow. Then as we talked about it some more we all decided that we didn't want to wait that long and as sad it is to leave our little farm, friends and community, Casuarina was calling. Not only are we looking forward to the new lifestyle and the beauty of the area but our family are all in arms reach! One of my sisters is currently living 10 minutes down the road, my other sister is a couple of hours away (an improvement to 20 something hours ), I'm in the process of convincing my parents what a good idea it would be for them to live in the area, Ben's family are all on the Gold Coast and Brisbane which again means we can all spend weekends together. To spend quality time with family and old friends. To reconnnect with our loved ones and be apart of their everyday lives again. I don't want to miss the little bits of their lives anymore. They are the best bits in my opinion.
We have applied to a school in Mullumbimby called Shearwater. We fly up next week for interviews and a 'school tour'. Fingers crossed the kids like the look of the school and the school likes them..it's always hard to know until they really settle into a school...The kids are amazing about the idea of moving. I think it helps that they are so familiar with Casuarina and have so many fond memories there, knowing they are going to have friends and family close by and the freedom to jump on their bikes or skateboard go down to the beach or meet a friend in town is obviously very appealing to them. Of course It is always hard to say goodbye. This is our third move in the last seven years. Gold Coast to Melbourne. Melbourne to Lauriston. Eden, Kobi and Maya have been to four different school plus a year of homeschooling. They are not scared of change. Fortuantely they love it as much as we do.
I always say, as long as we are all together everything will be fine.
We are going to rent out the farm so are writing lists of things that need to be repaired, painted, sold, and given away. It is quite a list!
I have started to think about the last five years here. The people we have met. The experiences we have had. There is so much to say....that's a whole new post.
love Tash xxxx
