Australians in pursuit of the good life

Cindy Dowling

We have all dreamed about it: leaving the routine office job in the city and starting again out in the country, doing something we really want to do in a location that gives us the lifestyle we really want. Thousands of Australians have experienced such a seachange, and in this book Cindy Dowling profiles the experiences of 20 such people. Their stories form the heart of this book, from those concerned about urban threats endangering their children to those who wanted to realise a long-held dream, and others who recognised a business opportunity away from the city. As the stories show, such change often demands unexpected hard work and a great deal of money, and it doesn’t pay off for everyone. But for most, a smaller pay-packet is compensated by a more relaxed lifestyle, a more satisfying family life and inner peace.

In three separate chapters, Cindy Dowling also writes about the whole seachange phenomenon, why it is happening now and who is doing it, and what it involves in practical terms. She describes what to consider if you are contemplating a change, how to avoid the pitfalls and how to make the most of the opportunity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cindy Dowling is an experienced freelance journalist who has worked on a range of magazines and newspapers. She is married with two boys and lives in Sydney.

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Reviews

‘This is an Australian title, focused on Aussie lives and places, but filled with stories that are likely to reflect and inspire lifestyle block owners on this side of the Tasman.’ New Zealand Lifestyle Block

‘Dowling tells the stories of 20 brave souls who have taken the plunge and made a seachange in their life, simplifying and improving it. Some, like Bob Rich and chef Alla Wolf-Tasker, are quite well known, others are anonymous, and others, like women’s spiritual retreat owner Catherine Johns, will be familiar to GR readers. Many of those featured discuss the change to a low-cost rural lifestyle and there is much good information to be gleaned about the process from their widely varying experiences. Other stories of interest deal with negative responses from family and friends, helping the kids cope with change, and experiences with communal living.’ Grass Roots

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SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 234 x 153 mm
Format: Paperback with flaps
Extent: 184 pages
Weight: 480 gms
First published: November 2004
ISBN: 978-0-908988-26-6