I’m a big fan of the Australian TV series titled “Escape From The City” on the ABC and the British version of “Escape To The Country” on the BBC. It’s interesting learning what motivates people to move from the city to the country or seaside. In most cases the people making the big move are elderly retirees, but occasionally I see younger people with families leaving the rat race to lead a simpler life as well.

The concept of the TV series is that presenters take the prospective buyers around to different houses in the country with the hope that they will decide which is the perfect location and house for them.

When we decided to downsize and escape from the city of the Gold Coast earlier this year we didn’t really know if we would like it. We moved from a lovely beach house located only a short distance to the beautiful Burleigh Heads beach with shops, cafes, clubs, pubs and restaurants all just minutes away. We left behind many good friends and some family to move over the border to New South Wales to a small seaside village. A few people thought we were crazy to do this!

Our previous home in Burleigh Heads

Our reasons for Leaving the Rat Race

Our reasons were many and varied. Some were perhaps a little too personal and we figured that we needed a fresh start in a new place. Other reasons included:

• We felt fenced in where we lived as we owned a house on a narrow block hemmed in between two duplex units.
• Our house was a double storey, 4 bedroom house that was far too big for just the two of us.
• We were in a busy street that was slowly being overtaken with duplex unit dwellings, with the population of our street at least doubling over a short period of time.
• We experienced a lot of noise from renters on the two adjoining properties.
• It was difficult getting a car park on our street due to the high density living situation.
• Our son and his wife purchased a house over the border in New South Wales so we felt it would be good to be closer to them.
• We were tired of the traffic, the crowds, the pretentious people and the over-development on the Gold Coast.
• We looked around for alternative housing on the Gold Coast but couldn’t find anything that appealed.

The crowded Burleigh Heads Beach

How we decided on our Seachange

Around 4 to 5 years ago we sold an investment property on the Gold Coast and started looking for a property across the border on the Tweed Coast. We thought we could holiday let the house/unit out and use it ourselves on occasion. After searching for a suitable property for a few months we never found anything we both liked so we went cold on the idea.

18 months ago we were having lunch with friends in the Tweed Coast village of Kingscliff and on the drive home we stumbled across a newly developed release of land subdivided into residential blocks. When we got home we took a look at the land online and discovered that there were a few vacant blocks for sale. So we made an offer and within a few short months we were the owners of a vacant block of land.

The beautiful parklands and promenade in Kingscliff

What we liked loved about this little village was its easy laid-back holiday vibe, its great amenities, range of shops, cafes and restaurants and its proximity to the beach and estuarine creek. Our block of land was within a short stroll away to all of these wonderful things. It really ticked all of the boxes!

We were also still only a 20 minute drive to the Gold Coast if we needed to visit friends, family or access the larger shopping malls.

So we immediately started looking at house designs and decided to downsize considerably, eventually selecting a low set 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home.

Our new home in Kingscliff

Is our Seachange working out for us?

In a word YES! Now that we are settled into our new house and have completed most of the landscaping and outdoor spaces, we’re fully embracing our new lifestyle. We have been taking advantage of all that’s on offer in our new town. We walk and swim at the beautiful beaches, walk along the kilometres of pathways, enjoy coffee at several cafes in town, visit the markets every second weekend, buy farm fresh fruit and vegetables just outside of town at Cudgen, play lawn bowls at the local Bowls Club and enjoy live music at either the Surf Club or at one of the Cafe/Bars in town.

Playing lawn bowls at the local Bowls Club

Our neighbourhood is cosy, quiet and extremely friendly. In fact we can’t get over how quiet and still it is here during the night and mornings. There’s no traffic noise and most days we can walk on the beach without there being too many people around. I’ve found a great medical centre, yoga class, physiotherapist and a new accountant in town, so there’s little need for us to visit Tweed Heads or the Gold Coast. In a few years time there is going to be a large hospital here too, as the Tweed Heads Hospital is being relocated here.

The beautiful creek in Kingscliff looking a picture

Is a Seachange right for you?

The answer to this is very open ended. I’ve heard of a few people regretting their decision of making a seachange. Some miss their friends and families too much and find it hard to make new friends. We met a couple from Adelaide a while back who built a house in our estate and they returned because they had family members that were ill. So sometimes your strong bond to your family can get in the way.

I think it depends on a lot of factors, including:

• Are you able to leave friends and family behind? Are you able to make new friends easily?
• Is a seachange financially viable? Will you have enough money to live on in your new location?
• Will you cope with less amenities like large supermarkets, shopping malls, hospitals and medical centres?
• Will you miss the entertainment that the city provides and being able to go to live shows, concerts, cinemas and clubs?
• Do you have a hobby or interest that you can take with you to your new location? For example, lawn bowls.
• Are you willing to experience new and unfamiliar things? Some people tend not to cope very well with change.

Creating our own footprints in the sand at Kingscliff Beach

There really is a lot to consider before taking the big step of seachanging or tree changing. For more reading I recommend this great article written by my friends Jan & Rowan from Retiring Not Shy called Making a Sea Change

Also a post I wrote recently titled Tips For Downsizing Your Home.

At the end of the day you need to do what’s right for you. Your kids will cope if you move away to a new town and in these days of Skype, Facebook and Facetime it’s easy to keep in close contact with family and friends. If you’re willing to stick your neck out it could be the best decision of your life! I know this because it has worked out very well for us.