Got to agree there. Moving from UK to Victoria, Australia I long for more wind and rain and the cold that bites your ears and nose.

Having said that the springtime and autumn are like hot English summers but summers’s 40+ can be wearing.

I’ve been here for nearly 13 years and Christmas at 35+ is just wrong! Wouldn’t go back to Blighty though.

@Geoffrey51

I see. I used to read about America's most livable places on Sperling's Best Places, CNN Money, US News and World Report lists etc....and started visiting many places on the list of of top 10. That is how I chose Austin, TX.

But soon I realized that there are many things that do not suit my personality. The religion on radio on every other channel, people listening to rosaries on way to work, churches around every other corner, white gloved cops at Sunday Churches guiding traffic of congregations and stopping all others, people bringing religion to work, overall damn bad conservative thinking ... where legislators spending more time in passing vehicle license plates that say... choose life, support soldiers than offer medicare to its citizens just drove me nuts. The weather is good, people are generally nice, the city is laid out nice but... it is suffocating. Every party is BBQ.

But now I am reading that ... don't choose a place to live by what is livable on any list, Choose one that suits your personality. So, here I go again... looking for a place that is progressive, vibrant, is relatively Jesus free and is not stuck in the past. Although I like many things in the conservative thinking like fiscal discipline, strong on defense, illegal immigration, I know I am not conservative at heart. The overall self serving philosophy and false pride of better family values are so hollow.

@St-Sinner That’s good thinking. I spent a little time in Dallas and also around Raleigh NC and also Boston and New England. I must say the North East disposition seemed more accomodating. Being embedded in the community and not a tourist I got to understand some of the quirks!

@Geoffrey51
Have you seen this movie? What did you think about it? Robyn Davidson was from Miles, Queensland and then moved to Alice Springs later on. I sometimes think I am a kindred-spirit.

@St-Sinner I don’t know it! I’ll look out for it on Netflix.

@St-Sinner You may have to move to Australia. Hardly anybody goes to church here anymore or if they do they don't try to "convince" you to do the same.

@Jolanta Really? What about Christ Church and the religious community? Are you referring to Sydney and Perth - metro cities? It is very good hear what you said. Are people friendly to outsiders, legal immigrants? What about the rise of the conservatives and right wing in Australian politics?

I sure like the speed with which you change your prime ministers..

@St-Sinner Even Christ church are reasonable here, of course you would get a fanatic sometimes but not often. I am talking about all of Australia. Most people are friendly to outsiders, however we do have a right wing government who is doing its utmost to make it into them and us, unfortunately. And the Murdoch media doesn’t help either, but you don’t have to worry about that someone will want to bash you because you have a different opinion to them. Yeah the thing about prime minister shows you how fickle the politicians are, just interested in money and power for themselves.

@Jolanta
Thank you. It is very helpful. I am going to read more.

Do you think you as a country and continent are rather detached and far physically from Europe, America? The flight time is so far and expensive. You are close to East and South Asia though. I saw in Bali that it was full of tourists from Australia and Japan.

@St-Sinner Australia doesn’t really care who you are so long as you are not up your own arse in which case you will be told and you are prepared to muck in and help our when required. Religion really just Hillsong which is pretty much up itself but won’t bother you.

@Geoffrey51
Thank you. You talk like an Australian now mate?

@St-Sinner I’ve noticed bits creeping in like ‘a’s stretching out such as five of them in caaaaar paaaaark!

@St-Sinner Hopefully the detachment keeps some of the nonsense at bay. There is still an inclusive feel in Australia and don’t really take politicians too seriously, as evidenced by the broad representation in the Senate, which can play havoc with the arsehole representatives.

They tried damn hard to stop same sex marriage bill but the senate would have none of it and the people were asked in a plebiscite.

The States also have a reasonable amount of autonomy from the Federal government and have frequently told them to go away in no uncertain terms.

The turnover of Prime ministers recently has been fascinating but it is testament that, if you are seen to be not doing right but the people you will, eventually, be moved on.

Australians will always give you another chance. It’s called ‘a fair go’ until you are seen to be a ‘mongrel’ taking the piss, in which case you are done and it’s over!

@St-Sinner No, not really. I talk like the Queen does.