goodbye perth
In less than 24 hours, in fact probably by the time you read this, I’ll have abandoned my home of the last 31 years and struck out for a brand new postcode in a new state. Yes, I’m uprooting my well established roots and heading to Melbourne.
In my ‘see you I’m outta here’ email to work colleagues I described the decision to shift state as taking advantage of a “window of opportunity to explore creative pursuits” with the more direct output being a novel (someday). In a sense, those pre-emptive words have come back to haunt me, as I now feel a heavy sense of obligation to carry through on the promise.
It’s a funny thing, for some reason I expected work colleagues to be resentful of the decision to pack up, leave a secure job and embark on my private pipe dream. But the response has been the opposite. All of a sudden colleagues, even those that I barely know, have been slapping me on the back, sitting down and telling me what a great thing I’m doing, how excited they are for me.
Of course many of my colleagues are in the midst of structured long term career paths. They have financial commitments to uphold. Families to think of. People don’t write novels in my area of work, but gosh do they want to. They want more than anything to believe that its possible to write a novel, even if they will never do it.
And so I feel a strange combination of support and expectation. Like Frank Wheeler in Revolutionary Road, suddenly something (I don’t exactly know what) feels at stake. Already I’m feeling the pressure.
But this is a good thing yes?
I’ve always got a lame chinese proverb or ‘blue book’ saying ready to whip out for friends/family in need (“being nervous is a sign that you’re learning something new” comes to mind). So this should be easy.
It’s still a safe move at the end of the day right?. There are no new languages to learn, no culture shock to acclimatise to. Worst that Melbourne can throw at me is it’s damn awful weather. This should be easy.
So here’s what I’ll say now, just so it’s written down; I didn’t move state so I could do the same thing in a different place. I moved to re-centre myself around writing and creativity. So what better place than the city of flat whites and literature?
Bring it on.
(Photo below is of the cardboard tram cutouts my partner Mon made for our going away bash invites. Very clever graphic designer she is – job anyone?).
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7 Comments
Congratulations! I hope this will only take your creative understanding to the next level and inspire you to pursue your dreams with a fiery passion. Very best of luck!
Good luck! That’s a definite proverbial kick up the ass, if ever I heard of one.
Looking forward to reading more of your exploits, even if you will be much further away…
Thanks Lauren/Karen. Here’s hoping it’ll be the kickstart I need.
“I didn’t move state so I could do the same thing in a different place.”
Wonderful. Good on you, Mark. All the best.
All the words have been said mate. It’s been a pleasure writing with you, drinking coffee, reading your work, drinking blooming tea, discussing politics, eating at Anthony’s, critiquing your work, going to Planet’s, having you critique my work, taking the writing up the coast, seeing you get published, and generally consume a fair amount of wine with you.
Amazing any of us got anything done…
I didn’t move state so I could do the same thing in a different place. I moved to re-centre myself around writing and creativity.
I’m going to keep you to that. Where’s the 2nd draft on the hotel story? Huh? My inbox. Monday morning. Be there or be a giant fake liar poopy head.
Seriously though, despite having only met you a few months ago it’s easy to tell that you’re dedicated to your craft. This is your chance, and I’m sure you’ll take it with both hands.
Cheers everyone for your enthusiasm! My god is it exhausting trying to find a rental in Melbourne. Went to an inspection today and had to line up to get in the door!
Phil, I’ll have the next draft to you as soon as I have a desk to write on…
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