Where on earth have we moved to?

This is a question I have sometimes asked myself since we moved.  Geographically, we're 47km south of Brisbane CBD.  Population around 10,000.  According to a reliable source - Wikipedia - Jimboomba is an Aboriginal word meaning "loud thunder, no rain".  Not so today.  There's been no thunder but plenty of rain.

We affectionately call Jimboomba Boganville :)

This is for a few reasons.  There is an abundance of hoodies... they're even part of the local school uniform.  Though that may be the weather.  It's cold here!  The local paper has a police report section which in the couple of months we've been here, has advised local residents to make sure their firearms are securely stored after an increase in firearm thefts, reported several vehicle thefts and B&E's.  And it seems that the local soil is fertile in growing leafy greens of the illegal kind - though they're working to weed that out ;)  And then there's the couple of times women have demonstrated what I consider unladylike behaviour in front of me or to me... Economically, many families do it  tougher here. 

A resident of our street

But there's a good side too.  The countryside is beautiful and we love our land and the wildlife.  Mist covers the mountain ranges in the mornings.  I've seen several spectacular sunsets.  Smoke billows from chimneys on chilly days.  We have family out this way.  Many of the locals are friendly and helpful.  Logan Village Bakery makes amazing Bee-sting.  There's major growth in this area, and whilst on our little patch of dirt we won't be built out, there are new estates being released and this means in the next 10 years or so there will be better infrastructure in the area... roads are being improved, new schools being built, services upgraded, and who knows - we may get a full size Target - Target Country is an experience... a brief one!

The people in our new ward are so very very friendly, and I feel an abundance of charity.  I think it's part culture, but I've never had so many hugs and kisses of welcome!  It feels like a big family.

Today we ventured back to our old stomping ground.  We always drive past our home we recently sold and see if they've made any changes.  It's funny, though we lived there for so long and had many significant memories there, like having our children, I don't feel any heartstrings tugging.  Maybe cause we know all the other things we needed to do to the house :)  What I do miss though is our close friends.  I wish they could have moved with us - there's land for sale down our street guys :)

Driving home today I likened our oldest friends to my favourite pair of pyjamas.  Believe me, that's a high compliment!  See my favourite pjs are so comfortable, they're familiar, they keep me warm, I've had them for some time, I feel 'home' when I put them on.  I'd like nothing better to wear them 24/7.

I could always call on my friends, if I needed a chat, or needed a hand.  If I was running late or had a sick child, I could ask them to help with school pick ups.  We'd go to cooking classes together, see movies, have a whinge about what was happening at school, and hang out while the kids play.  I love it here, but I miss my friends, as the kids do too.  On a positive note, we're more organised in catching up at least once a month, so I know we'll continue to be close.  And when our house is built, we can have sleepovers for the whole family!

Moving here is like buying a new set of pjs.  They're not so comfy when they're new.  They're going to take time to wear in.  Eventually I'm sure I'll have 2 sets of pjs I love.  The old ones I'll still keep...  They've been my favourite for so long.

In time I'll find a good fruit shop, remember when it's bin day, not get as lost, and make close friends.

For all our joking about the name of this town, we also now call this beautiful place HOME.