xizzles

I think happiness is a "me" thing. If I am going to be the "glass half empty" sort, I'd be unhappy anywhere, big city or otherwise.

BadgeIsBack

People eh?

As I've said on BE before there is a time and a place for everything.
Noone minds you buying the top car if at least you are buying it for safety, comfort and you like it, and can afford it. I tend to buy expensive brands when it suits me but then I expect to get decades out of them. For me it is a sort of value proposition to buy shoes that will last me 10 years.

I embarass my daughters by dropping them off to ballet, (yes, yes, I know) in a 20 year old Ford Falcon that has never been garaged and goes up and down a dirt road so cosmetically it looks awful : it really does - it is a simple fact that our car is often the oldest and dirtiest, and cobwebbed car down in the suburbs and everyone looking down at us could be forgiven for judging us. But then I don't walk around in trainers and a hoody when I get out of the bloody thing... Some of the people at the dance school driving brand new Audis talk rubbish incessantly and seem to think that ballet is going to make they classy. (So why do we do it - because the kids' mother danced. Talking rubbish - I love talking rubbish : if you point the finger at others have a look at yourself first)...I was listening to some of the mothers and I can't help thinking if they are going to talk about the minutae of everyday life, at least talk about what they are going to have for dinner with a bit more interest..but maybe they are not interested in what I have to say. I like to think I have a bit more elan in the conversation department..maybe I am wrong.

Mothers wearing jogging gear. One of the problems I have with leisure wear is that it's sort of laziness. I actually reckon a man over 35 needs to ditch the hoody and trainers. But if someone is time-poor then it goes on quickly for the school-run. Also if there is a bit of a bulge then sports gear accommodates a bit of gain here, a bit of loss there. My wife has never struggled with her weight but she gives herself a hard time over small fluctuations - (it's exhausting!) again a dancer's perogative, perhaps so her leisure wear is convenient.

Coffee. One cup a day for me, from a perculator.

fish.01

I think poor transport infrastructure is a contributor. Over reliance on cars and housing that is too large (on average).

Cosmo Knott

Perth Western Suburbs!!!

sr71

I think it's easy to see why, 10-15 years ago Australia was great and the quality of life I think generally unsurpassed, but then the secret got out and the rampant population growth with virtually no infrastructure growth to keep up has made it a miserable place.

Sure the weather can be nicer, but you now have all the problems of the Northern Hemisphere cities and towns without any of the solutions. Strained healthcare systems, abysmal public transport, clogged roads (escape the rat race of London to come and live in Western Melbourne for a 2 hour commute each way) and on top of that some the most expensive house prices in the world in comparison to income. Most people struggling to pay huge mortgages, private school fees and Toyota Prados.

Beoz

I was reading this and thinking, "where is this place". Then you said. Might be time to move?

I'm not sure that's quite correct.

World Map of Price to Income Ratio for 2015 Mid Year

sr71

Well definitely least affordable

http://news.domain.com.au/domain/rea...17-ghp79j.html

Amazulu

Are you talking about Australia, UK, Canada or New Zealand?

Beoz

Or Hong Kong or New York or London or the mass of Asian cities?

fish.01

The other input to affordability apart from income is obviously median deposit available to the local purchaser. Income can't be the only measure when comparing.

astera

I think it might be high time to look at removing some vital aspects of the economy from the speculative/investment matrix.

I mean if you want to speculate: buy stocks, shares, gamble, etc. But speculative capital, which has grown to enormous proportions over the decades and has even forced the Swiss national bank to surrender in its efforts to keep the currency at a competitive level, should not be able to affect such fundamentals as housing or fuel prices. I mean how many times have fuel prices spiralled by so-called investors who never had to receive a litre of fuel physically? Time to cut the bullshit and stop certain areas from being at the behest of financial vultures. A good example is Norway: expensive as heck, but yet when you look at property prices they are absolutely normal.

fungrid

Ah yes, Mosman. It has the highest proportion of divorced women in Sydney. They sit in cafes with their overly made up mothers. Generations of ex-husbands pick up the tab.

astera

Seems to me that the friendliest people - true Australian - are those living in the country. For some reason big cities are a magnet for the worst elements of society, and I don't mean the typical stuff that goes on in all major cities but even everyday people you interact with.

fish.01

I don't experience this. I think Australians in the city are true Australians as well in every sense. I live very close to Brisbane city and the people I meet around here (local schools, parks, cafes, friends etc) are on the whole lovely...loving parents, many intelligent and decent people.

the troubadour

The poster is well versed in making gaffs and attempting to wriggle out of them. I wouldn't bother about it, quite frankly.