Comments on: Wonk Wanted

By: Liam

Liam — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:46:21 +0000

And if you don’t like flying or don’t have the money to spend on the DH-8 tickets, the train’s very civilised. I caught the train back from Canberra to Sydney a couple of months back and enjoyed a book, a newspaper, a hot meal and a couple of cold cans, and could easily imagine making it a once-or-twice-a-week commute.

By: dr faustus

dr faustus — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:46:27 +0000

Patrick,

Obviously it’s different for everyone, and that sort of move is the sort of thing that’s easiest to do at certain points in your life (particularly when you’re young and unencumbered, such as I was). Still, flights between Melbourne and Canberra are quick and pretty inexpensive (and probably cheaper than the petrol most cars would consume for the 650km trip), so it’s not as if you’re moving to Mars. My family and most of my friends are still in Melbourne, and I catch up with them relatively frequently.

But yes, I’ve certainly seen people for whom the social dislocation was too much who have moved back to where they’ve come from — they do seem to be the exception, however. It’s not for everyone, but lots of people find it a pretty nice place to live.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:18:53 +0000

Obviously FDB’s not a real wonk!

Dr Faustus, what if your whole family down to grandkids and 80 per cent of your friends lived here?

By: FDB

FDB — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:54:09 +0000

Anyone else find this post title a little easy to misread? ;)

By: dr faustus

dr faustus — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:17:30 +0000

As an ex-pat Melbournian who has lived in Canberra for the past couple of years, I’d certainly recommend people move up here for a job they think they would enjoy. It’s certainly not the easiest place to get socially integrated into, but it’s a very easy city to live in, especially if you’re past the age when you need to go out to crowded nightclubs every second night.

The job sounds interesting (and I certainly fit the position description), but for the moment I’m perfectly happy making a pittance in the academic world.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:36:31 +0000

The person in question already tried it for some years. I suspect he would struggle to convince his wife to try it again!!

By: Don Arthur

Don Arthur — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:30:13 +0000

I recommend moving to Canberra.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:52:12 +0000

OTOH, it is based in Canberra. I know (and I’ll bet you know the same person) someone who lives in Melbourne who would be delighted to apply, if it was in Melbourne!