Today marks five years I’ve been living in Canberra. In 2007 I moved here from Darwin after living there since February 1996.
If you follow me on Twitter or you’re a Facebook friend you’ll know my natural habitat is any place that is warm and moist. I like living in warm humid small friendly cities. Having grown up in Brisbane (not that Brisbane is small, it’s larger than all the capitals in Australia in terms of geography), I reckon if you can survive a February and March you can live in any humid city.
Canberra is not warm and moist. Canberra is friendly but it is mostly cold and dry. I’ve lived with very dry skin all my life as well as allergic rhinitis. A dry climate is not a natural habitat for me without pain and discomfort, and medication and bucket loads of moisturiser.
Aside from the weather, Canberra is a good place to live. It’s small, it’s almost rural, it’s designed and best of all the people are friendly. Not Darwin friendly mind you, but pretty friendly. I like that as the national capital we have Eastern Grey kangaroos living all around us as well as foxes, wombats and echidnas. Having had the opportunity to visit cities like Washington DC, London and Ottawa, Canberra is not an architecturally grand or even beautiful city. It doesn’t have the capital feel that Washington DC and London have. None of that matters though, it’s our capital. More people should visit Canberra to see what goes on and then go and visit Darwin and Brisbane and far north Queensland to warm up and see really beautiful parts of the best country in the world.
So how much longer can I live here? I like my job, I like my friends here, but I don’t like the weather.
I like that one twitter follower once called me Canberra’s eating machine. That will do me 
Pingback: Taze Mediterranean Cuisine Canberra City | Yummy Lummy
Pingback: Back in Canberra | Yummy Lummy
Pingback: Five years working in Canberra | Yummy Lummy
Pingback: My weekend in food was good | Yummy Lummy
I would love to see where you live. And I agree that you are the eating machine of Canberra!
Thank you for your kindness Barb
Gary you certainly paint Canberra in a light that makes me want to visit! I have been there a couple of times and really enjoyed it – my favourite part is actually the drive towards Canberra alongside Lake George
Driving out of and into Canberra is very nice. I really want to see Lake George full of water. If only it was warmer and more humid. It would be a great place for me to live.
Pingback: Brisbane high rise and food glorious food | Park Hyatt Canberra Buffet Lunch | Yummy Lummy
I just love Canberra, Gary. I went to uni here and afterwards I lived in three different countries and other Australian cities and I always knew I’d come back to Canberra. It’s a great city and I think the ‘bush’ design to it is very fitting for our capital city. Washington DC is grand, but it’s also austentatious, not at all suitable for Australia. I love that Canberra has four distinct seasons. As a city, it has everything, not a lot of everything, but a bit of everything, and isn’t that enough? Importantly, it also has you 💜
Thanks Bron. I like it too. Not sure it’s where I’ll always live but for now you’re here and that’s what matters.
I’ll be here for a while longer. I have a great job and there are such good people in Canberra. I just had lunch at the Park Hyatt. The BUFFET
don’t go! I’m just past 4.5 years actually – one of the longest places I’ve ever lived anywhere (beaten only by Toowoomba, can you believe it?). There is indeed a lot to like about Canberra
I’ll be here for a while longer. I have a great job and there are such good people in Canberra. I just had lunch at the Park Hyatt. The BUFFET
How long are you planning on staying in Canberra? Any places you recommend or is it so small it’s straightforward?
At the moment, while I continue in my current job. Canberra is straight forward. Mid-September to Mid-October is Floriade, if you like flowers, a weekend trip from Sydney is cheap and cheerful and you can see the national capital. I reckon it’s worth it.