So on deeper refection about our awesome trip to Tasmania — I asked Imogen (pictured above) to tell us all about her dive into living in Tasmania.
IMOGEN:
When I think about trying to articulate my love for this tiny city, I get all flustered and almost teary. Hobart saved my life. In the middle of last year I closed down a business in Brisbane that I had poured all of my energy and love into for two years. I was a bit lost, a bit tired, suffering a bit of late-20s ennui about life not turning out just as I had planned it. Change was a-coming. I was deciding where to go back to university to study primary teaching and my mum suggested Hobart. She was watching a lot of the Gourmet Farmer at the time. Instantly, I was in. Something felt really right about it. And so, so right they were, my mum and my instinct.
I do not labour under the false illusion that Hobart is a city where everyone could happily live, but that is indeed part of its 211, 656 person charm.
There is only one gay bar, one strip club (that I know of), no Ikea, no Gorman, most things are shut on Sundays (including cafes — go figure), most pubs are shut by 10pm. But none of this is too upsetting to me really (ok, except maybe Gorman). When people ask me why I moved to Hobart, after the obligatory ‘for the weather’ joke, I often say ‘for the lifestyle’. But what exactly does that mean?
Here in no particular order are my top 10 favourite things about the Tasmanian lifestyle.
- People are not wankers about the things they love.
Lots of the things people love down here like boutique beers, ciders, cheeses, whiskeys, honeys, meats and baked goods often come with a slightly (or very) pretentious air about them in bigger cities. Here people make and consume these things because it just makes sense to eat and drink well.
- You can walk to most places.
I live within a 15 minute walk to most of my friend’s houses. Walking into town only takes about 20 minutes. Uni is about a 15 minute drive from my house and that’s considered pretty darn far.
- Food is religion.
Seriously, I know everyone goes on about Tasmanian food but that is because it is SO GOOD. Ethos make bread and butter that will make you weep, just about anything you get at Farmgate market on a Sunday morning is worth the trip to Hobart alone, not to mention the produce which more than likely came from a farm less than a couple of hours away.
- No matter what day of the week it is there is guaranteed to be a market on somewhere.
- The views. Everywhere. You. Look.
Mountains, beaches, rolling green hills, sailboats resting on glassy water, historic buildings. All of it incredibly, overwhelmingly stunning.
- Drive half an hour in any direction and you will either be in beautiful country side or at a beautiful beach. Sometimes both.
- The seasons.
The long, cold dark winter (which actually is kind of awesome because it justifies buying things like previously mentioned incredible vegetable puffer jacket) was totally worth it to see the entire city burst into colourful, fragrant bloom a couple of weeks ago. Plus, seasons mean seasonal eating.
- The people are kind.
When I went to Service Tasmania to change my number plate over the lady at the counter chattered away for a good ten minutes and told me how brave I was for moving interstate (I didn’t mention that I had lived in Mexico, the US and Canada). Once, when I drove the wrong way at the airport, a man who worked there, rather than yell at me, stopped traffic so I could turn around and go back the right way.
- Did I mention the food?
The peace and quiet it affords my soul. My dear friend Emily once said that ‘Hobart isn’t overwhelming like other cities, it fits in your brain.’ And it’s true. Here I am happier, more at peace, calmer, slower and more content than I have ever been.
And here is a bit of artwork Immy did that is in our very living room!
DJ GLAD RAPPA 