Man from Mars is currently scoping out Canberra on the housing front as he prepares to make the Big Move to Australia's Capital City. (See above for a geography lesson on Australia's most unassuming (translate: quiet, slow, scenic, sleepy) city. Also, for a double dose of education take note of the familiar sights from Year 6 camp: Questacon, Parliament House and Capital Hill.) He has spent the better part of the last two weeks planning the logistics of moving cities for his snazzy new job in the Transport department, or more precisely, the Infrastructure Transport Regional Services and Local Government Department. You better believe it. What a name. What a long name.
But don't be fooled by the grandeur of the long name- staring at the building from across the road presents a puzzling exterior of bright billowing signage: "Travel agent" supplies Man from Mars: "It looks like a giant travel agent". For once Man from Mars gets it right and I couldn't agree more.
Gaudy buildings aside though, I'm pretty jealous- working for the government sounds sweet: flex time, work life balance, low stress........ only problem is, you're stuck in Canberra. Like most things it's almost like the person planning Australia decided no one can have their cake and eat it too. If you're going to live in Sweet Job Central, you can't also live in Sweet Social Life County. Or, if you live in Sweet Social Life County, you can't enjoy So Much Space to Move Around in there's no such thing as Crowds District.
It's too bad, because if Canberra had 50% more zing and 20% less sleepy, it would be a nice place to live in (as opposed to a retreat for the golden oldies).
Ah well, we'll see how Man from Mars fares. He predicts he shall hate it. That he'll flee to Melbourne/Sydney any chance he gets, and that he'll crave the busy city life that Canberra, on its life, can't rustle up.
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