Freedom At Last!

[haiqu]

It had to happen. The wanderlust has finally caught up with me again.

After almost 29 years continuously living in Melbourne circumstances now dictate that I move on. Reading about sailing has kept me relatively sane for a while, but I haven't been in a position to enter that lifestyle so a few days ago I bought a 1994 VW Transporter off eBay for $1500 and I'm off to follow the harvest trail in 3 weeks. First stop is Shepparton, where the apricot picking season is about to start, then all points north. I may even do the big loop if things go right.

Prepping the van has been fairly easy. Despite the price there hasn't been much maintenance needed at all, which is a Good Thing since it has to pass a roadworthiness test before I can transfer the registration. A new light globe here, a trailer connecter there, fix the sliding door latch, get the LPG system serviced. It may not be the prettiest van on the road but I'll be calling it home for the next 12 months.

I see this as a great opportunity to accustom myself to living in confined spaces. Let's face it, there's about enough room inside the thing for a blow-up mattress, a camping stove, a fishing rod and a Swedish backpacker. It may not be a wet address, but it sure is an itinerant one.

Wish me luck!

Rob

[haiqu]

Well life sure can throw you a curve occasionally. Just when I was ready to give up on the working world and go roaming/feral an offer came through on a job I applied for over a month ago. I'm being flown to Townsville for an interview on Wednesday, and if I get the position will need to move there asap. Cool.

Opposite Magnetic Island in the tropics, loads of boating and fishing, totally laid back lifestyle. Couldn't be happier. It looks as if 2011 may finally yield something good.

Rob

[Istioploos]

Originally Posted by haiqu

I'm being flown to Townsville for an interview on Wednesday, and if I get the position will need to move there asap. Cool.

Good luck Rob

Vasilis

[redbopeep]

Best of luck in whatever you do.

[haiqu]

The job in Townsville didn't come off, but since my last login I've covered 6500km to Ipswich, Qld. and back and feel totally revived. I'm now back in Melbourne, reassessing my employment situation after finding that the fruit picking work isn't at all as plentiful as stated by our government.

Along the way I've met lots of European backpackers - although these days very few hitchhike, most buy vehicles - and stopped at most of the places I've ever lived. Quite a nostalgia trip.

I'm now determined to keep moving and stay out of the cities so I'm pursuing harvest driving work, which seems to be more plentiful and better paid than fruit picking.

As a test of my ability to live in small spaces this hasn't been too difficult, so a small yacht seems to be a definite option for the future.

[HandyBilly]

Sounds like great fun. And now you know you can deal with small!