This post has been inspired by a website Danita recently found.
It’s tasmaniatopten.com and is well worth checking out if you’re planning to visit the Apple Isle (OK we’re actually Android devotees but I digress).
Today is our twelfth day which is why I’ve opted to call this 12 Great Things About Tassie.
Each day has been exciting with new adventures and experiences so at the top of my top 12 list is every day we’ve been here.
It started out wonderfully and just keeps getting better.
So, apart from the last twelve days here’s my list so far.
Friendly People
Everyone here is so friendly.
Walking down the street becomes exhausting because you have to say hello and chat with everyone you meet.
Here’s an example, but first a little background for comparison.
Many years ago, when I was living in Melbourne I was walking home one evening when a woman pulled her car into the driveway I was just about to pass.
She started to abuse me because I hadn’t crossed at the traffic lights.
Move forward 30 years.
Yesterday, Danita and I were walking Sancho when a woman was reversing her car out of the driveway.
When she saw us she stopped and got out of the car and started coming towards us clearly with the intention of engaging.
I immediately flashed back to the above mentioned Melbourne experience and prepared for a confrontation.
I was completely surprised when this lady asked if we were locals and then started to tell us about a situation involving the police which had occurred near her house the previous night.
We had a lovely chat and moved on having had a very odd but wonderful experience.
I think I’ve worked out how they do it.
Rather than pump flouride into the drinking water (a highly suspect activity but a common one especially in Australia) I think they put in Prozac resulting in everyone being calm and relaxed.
How else can you explain this universal tendency towards friendliness?
No Mobile Phones
In the shopping precincts, cafes etc NO-ONE is talking on a mobile phone.
This is weird but delightful.
You may have heard of Nomophobia – the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.
In Tasmania there seems to be an almost universal infestation of nomophilia.
Emphasis on local produce
Wherever you go there’s a lot of marketing material about buying local produce.
Even the big supermarkets (I won’t name them for fear of being sued but their names start with C and W and I’m sure you’re familiar with them) have signs in the produce sections designating the local products.
This could be considered as promoting parochialism but I find it makes a lot of sense from health and environmental perspectives.
For some time Danita and I have preferred products which have as few “travel miles” as possible, meaning there is a reduced environmental impact (lower carbon footprint and all that).
Additionally eating local produce means you are having food which is in season and has nutrients consistent with the environment you’re living in.
This makes a lot of sense for me.
The Weather
Before we moved here people were constantly telling us about how cold it is.
Danita was even checking the daily temperature in Devonport and comparing it with where we were living at the time.
Pretty consistently it would be a less than favourable comparison.
However, since we’ve been here the weather has been magnificent.
I mentioned this in last week’s post – Boat People.
Since that post we’ve had continually stunning weather – bright sunny days (mostly) with a bit of rain occasionally.
Sure, in the wind it’s cold but you can dress appropriately.
We’ve always preferred cold weather because you can dress up for it but there’s a limit to how much you can dress down when it’s hot.
It also means your clothing options become much broader and fun to choose – I do enjoy a hat and being wrapped in a scarf with a heavy coat.
You’re Allowed To Smile
That may sound odd but have you had your driver’s licence renewed lately?
I was recently at the motor registry to organise registration of the car and bike.
Next to me was a gentleman having his photo taken for his licence.
The woman taking the photo commented (and I quote) “You’re allowed to smile”.
Any other place I’ve had a licence I’ve always been told not to smile.
I suspect this is based on the idea that if anyone is looking at your licence it’s likely to be a police office and you won’t be smiling.
Given that, they want to ensure that you look like your photo.
So, being told it’s OK to smile was quite a pleasant surprise.
House Prices
We’ve been looking for a place to rent for a year or so in order to get ourselves established and work out where we want to live long term.
Our budget is around $400 per week.
That’s slightly more than we were paying in Sydney for our storage units ie two single car garage sized boxes.
Here, we’ve been seeing 5 and 6 bedroom houses in wonderful locations – stunning views, very close to shops etc.
Since we both work from home we need at least three bedrooms, one to sleep in and one each for offices.
We don’t do well in the modern corporate environment of open plan and hot desks – guess we’re just too old for that.
The rest of the bedrooms are for all the friends we expect to visit – wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more…
TBC…
That’s six out of my list of 12 things we love.
Stay tuned for the next installment.