My partner and I made the significant decision to move interstate for the financial benefit of purchasing a home after spending over two years living in a caravan with our four children. This experience altered our priorities, driving us to seek a simpler, low-stress lifestyle while also enjoying the security of homeownership.
Securing a mortgage was no easy feat due to our unconventional living arrangements and reliance on freelance income, which didn’t exactly impress the banks. Fortunately, with the help of a broker, we managed to obtain a loan and after a year of searching, we found our first home in a small town in Tasmania. While this location meant less time with family still living in New South Wales, we valued flexibility and stability and aimed to avoid overextending ourselves, particularly with the concerns around rising interest rates that soon materialised.
Now, as a family of six residing in a modest three-bedroom house, the children share rooms, and we navigate through a less-than-ideal kitchen and bathroom. Despite these challenges, we have plans to expand our home but, for now, we find contentment in our simpler lifestyle. Our social circle may be small, yet we remain busy with our children and creative endeavours.
The distance from family has its emotional toll. I often miss spontaneous gatherings and celebrations, and while we attempt to visit at least once a year, it rarely feels sufficient. Visits now demand extensive planning and expense, but I remind myself that living closer would mean crippling rent costs, significantly increasing financial stress.
Reflecting on our choices, I often recall the words of Annie Dillard: “How we spend our days is how we spend our life.” Our decision to buy a home within our means allows us to enjoy a fulfilling life with less daily stress. We cherish the time we have with our children after school, and our days are filled with leisure activities like reading, gardening, and mountain biking.
I’m grateful for my parents’ understanding of our lifestyle; they share similar values and support our choices without judgement. Opting for a simple life requires significant life changes, especially in today’s economic climate, but we have no regrets.
Ultimately, knowing what matters most to us instils confidence in our decisions, even when they pull us away from loved ones. While the longing for family doesn’t lessen, it emphasises the value of the moments we spend together. We embrace our little home and the life we’ve built here, cherishing each visit with family and reflecting on the clarity of our priorities.
(_Jodi Wilson is an author and runs a weekly publication on Substack; she is also working on her first novel._)