In May I headed back to the area I had lived in last before heading overseas. Catching up with friends and wrapping up some business. I’d only been back in Australia just over a week but was keen obviously to see my people. I knew I wasn’t moving back to the area so finishing up there was on the agenda as well.

When I had decided to move back to the cities when I returned there were 3 States that I had been considering. Sydney. Where I was originally from, knew and already had a raging love affair with. Melbourne, which I’d visited a couple of times and loved the atmosphere and culture of also and Queensland – purely from a recommendation I’d been given. Knowing a bit already about the other two I decided to try Queensland first which also had the benefit of my daughter currently being there. Although that wasn’t going to be a permanent situation that was good enough for me and I had to start somewhere, so Queensland it was.

You can’t go wrong with a giant Cicada sculpture really.

We only had a week before work commitments meant my daughter was travelling but it was enough time to do some exploring and realise that beautiful city was a real contender. Prices were much better than the other two cities and the lifestyle element was great. It was also a city that took the environment and various impacts on it more seriously and proactively than others. A topic close to my heart. I explored some of the city, joined the local library [another big love] and then hopped a flight back to my old stomping grounds.

The rest of May passed by in a blur of dinners, drinks, food fairs, coffee dates and weekend outings with friends. Visits, catch ups, appointments and work. I was not going to be able to achieve everything I wanted in one visit so another trip would be needed. In the mean time, till more could be done I would head back to Queensland to decide whether to put down more permanent roots or to keep looking for a new place to call home. At least for a while. So as June started I boarded another flight, well and truly ready to stop living out of a suitcase for a while.