I’ve really struggled with this move, and the living in limbo, and the constant mess that surrounds us currently. But there are some fantastic aspects about living here and that’s what I want to focus on today.
1. I’m getting to know the area that R has called home for many years. He has been working in this neighbourhood for 8 or 9 years now, and has been slowly introducing me to his favourite baristas and cafes and barber but it wasn’t the same just coming in and “visiting”. Now Master Z and I are walking the streets every day, getting to know all of the above, plus more. The local Big Issue sellers. The spruikers along our side of Lygon St – who all melt and smile and chat and wave to Master Z as we walk past. The buskers. I had no idea there were buskers along this stretch of Lygon St. Some nights, there is a full five piece band! Other nights it’s the double bass player in the doorway to the spice shop. We’re starting to get recognised as locals, and suddenly I can feel the warmth and community around this part of the city. It’s not something you really feel when you just visit. And for all the years that I worked at restaurants along this stretch, I never worked in the ones where staff become family and the sense of camaraderie and looking out for each other pervades the working environment.
2. Readings. Really, given our love of books, that’s almost enough said. But there is more. It’s not just living so close to such an amazing bookstore – we have that at home too, *waves to The Little Bookroom*. We’re getting to know the staff, they’re starting to recognise us both. We go to storytime on Monday mornings. Until moving here, I had no idea that they had a storytime and never would have found out because I’m never down this way at 11am. This morning we were late and I thought we would have missed storytime. We came in on the last couple of pages of the last book. But then Andy saw Master Z and picked up the book, “That’s not my train”, saying that he knew that was the book that Master Z would like to hear, and proceeded to read it, twice, just for him. Even though storytime was officially over. We were both thrilled.
3. Random running-into Daddy. Living within a couple of blocks of R’s workplace, and going to the same cafe, same eating places, same supermarket, same bank means for some regular, random meet-ups. Sometimes in one of those places and sometimes just on the street. Sometimes Grandad is with with Daddy, and those meet-ups are the most fun for Master Z. His eyes light up and his voice goes even higher as he squells (cross between a squeal and a yell) “Daddy! Grandad! Daddy’s here!!” Just little, extra-something-special shots into his day, and mine. Just so lovely.
4. Coffee. Ooooh the coffee. Just so good.
5. Proximity to the city. I’m getting things done in the city because we only need an hour or two. Just jump on a tram and we’re there. It’s really only a small difference in distance compared to our house, but it is half the distance. It means that if Master Z has a lovely long nap until 3, we still have time to make it into the city to do something, and come back in time for Master Z to get his Daddy-time before dinner. I just couldn’t do that from our house.
6. Live-in grandparents 2-3 nights a week. R and I have been able to go for a walk together after Master Z’s bedtime. We were able to celebrate our anniversary with dinner out, in the same week as our anniversary (last year we celebrated our anniversary 2 months after the actual event). This week we’re going to see Driving Miss Daisy (starring Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones…*squeee*), and it hasn’t been a big thing to organise babysitting. Just little things that are so big and so precious.
There is much which is good, and some benefits to living here that we will continue to reap once we return home.
