Ideal Australian Accommodation & Income - putting it out to the universe

I just graduated today. Huzzah! Finally I can leave university life behind me, at least for the moment.

I’ll know tomorrow, when my parents and I meet the migration agent, what our plan is regarding visas and my move to Australia. Whether I stay here past this month and only go back for my sister’s wedding, or if I spend a month in Malaysia then come back for good…things are mutable. Here’s hoping it’s for the best.

While I figure out what I’m doing with myself, I would like to put out my wishes and aims for my ideal living and earning situation when I’m settled in Australia. I know about things like The Secret and Law of Attraction, and while I’m not a wholehearted believer, I can see the merit in making your intent clear. I’ve had that happen in mysterious ways, but I’ve also had the total opposite happen (working so hard for something that didn’t happen at all) so who knows! Also, this will help me make my goals clearer, so I know just what to look for. And if you know anything that fits this description, by all means share!

Ideal Accomodation

1. Near city or surrounding suburbs, Zones 1-2 – I’m pretty familiar with those suburbs and I can navigate to and from easily. Transport costs are also affordable when maintained at Zones 1 & 2.

2. Accessible to New Farm – a lot of my things (chiropractor, naturopath, burlesque classes, circus training) are based in New Farm. It’s also bordering the city and the Valley so I have easy access to a lot of things. It doesn’t have to be right at New Farm; I just don’t want to take 3 buses and a train just to get there one way!

3. 2 to 3 other housemates – I’ve lived alone, with one other person (who was also the houseowner), and in a sharehouse of 8. None of those were ideal; it was often overwhelming and it didn’t really feel like home. I’m currently in a 3-person arrangement and it’s comfortable – there’s a close connection to each other, but there’s still the space to do your own thing and you don’t have to absolutely entertain each other. A house of 3-4 seems just right.

4. Own room of reasonable space – I’m currently sharing a room that’s really just meant for one person. It’s ok at first but is driving us nuts! I need space to relax, work, meditate, spiritually reflect, read, sleep, do my own thing. It doesn’t have to be especially spacious but I don’t want it cramped either – just enough space to breathe and live.

5. Has Internet access, all utilities, fully furnished – because I really don’t want to go hunting for my basic living needs like electricity, a bed, or running water. Also I’ve lived in houses with no reliable Internet and it was such a pain in the arse!

6. About AUD$150 per week rent inclusive of bills – That’s my budget, which is more a suburban price than an inner-city one. It’s doable if a bit challenging at the moment since places are raising rents here and there. Lower is good; I’m not sure about higher unless the place absolutely deserves it.

7. Animal-friendly – I might get a pet. That said, the last time I went to a house just because it had pets already I ended up having a bad time, so I’m willing to compromise!

8. Relatively young/young-at-spirit people with creative, interesting, meaningful inclinations – it doesn’t necessarily have to be a “theme house” (I know of a Witch House and a Circus House) though I’d be cool with that. I’d just like to have some connection with my housemates; at least friendly if not best-buds-for-life. Having similar inclinations help with conflict management and makes it easier (I feel) for us to live together.

9. Friends are OK but doesn’t have to be – I’m thinking now that I might be better off with acquaintances: we know each other but maybe not extremely well yet, so we know the other’s trustworthy but we don’t have a huge relationship at stake. I have lived with complete strangers and that’s worked out OK, so I’m not ruling them out either.

10. Comfortable, safe, livable – it doesn’t have to be super-posh (and I learnt the hard way that choosing a house based on its decor can backfire) but I don’t want a total dump either! I don’t have terribly high standards; a clean bathroom, a clear floor, and dust-free surfaces work well.

11. Fire/smoke-friendly – because I’d like to light a candle or some incense once in a while. I don’t smoke cigarettes.

12. Homestays are fine – actually they’d be great because I’d get paid to live in a house!

Ideal Income

1. Not from my parents – I want to develop my independence and have control over how my money’s being used. Parental money, while appreciated, often comes with more strings than I’m comfortable with. Special occasion gifts are OK; I just don’t want them to subsidize my life.

2. Ethical sources – so no illegal or immoral activities involved, like selling sex slaves or dealing drugs or burning Mafia cigars, that sorta thing. The ethics of the company matter a lot to me.

3. Does not involve someone’s death – I don’t want my main income to come from an inheritance from someone who died in an accident very recently! I’d rather have this income come from people who are alive! (That said, if it was part of a foundation built from someone’s death ages ago, that’s fine. I just don’t want a long lost relative being hit by a car just so I can inherit money, for example.)

4. Diverse sources of income – paid employment is my main focus, but I’d also like to get income from projects, freelance and contract work, grants and other forms of funding, prize money, ad sales, sponsorships, donations, that sort of thing. In-kind help works too. I want to keep my options open and not limit myself to just thinking “I need a job” when I could get stuff out of a lottery, for instance. Also, having diverse sources means that I’m not totally out of luck if one of them shrivels up.

5. Flexible part-time hours – I do have circus training and performance stuff, among other things, and I don’t want to spend all my time at work. I’ve calculated a budget with living, creative, and misc expenses and a typical part-time job salary is enough to cover expenses and provide a savings buffer, while still having enough hours to do my own thing.

6. Positive, respectful open working environment – this has SUCH a major impact on me, moreso than things like the pay or the exact nature of the job. I have left seemingly-good jobs because the atmosphere was toxic, and I’ve worked in many volunteer gigs where the people were fantastic

7. I can leave work at work – I don’t want to have to worry about work 24/7. My current schedule actually works pretty well; I train, I do casual work as an Aussie (assisting English classes), I work on projects, but they don’t bleed into each other.

8. Engaging and stimulating – I’ve been told that I engage really well with “meaty” work and work best when given a challenge. Something that gets my mind and body moving (so I’m not stuck to a chair or on menial jobs) would be excellent.

9. Involves people but not overwhelmingly so – I like having company and working together with people, and I also like having space for my own time and work. I also like to bounce ideas off people and get their input; collaboration is fun!

10. Does not fire me just because I occasionally check my email despite being extremely productive – enough said.

11. Casual open environment – I don’t think I can cope with a conservative corporate job. It doesn’t have to be radical, just creative and free!

12. Meaningful – whether to the end user or to the co-workers (ideally both). Something that holds part of a greater purpose, even if it’s just as simple as making someone smile.

13. Values personal time – Everyone has their own priorities; I wouldn’t be able to deal with a place that made you consider work as your #1 priority in life. Life’s greater than that.

14. Accepting of diversity – I definitely don’t fall into any specific roles and wouldn’t want to be marginalised for who I am!

15. Creative – I like to explore my creativity, whether directly or otherwise. The form is open (as long as it’s actually something I’m good at, so not drawing or programming) and I’m open to suggestion.

Comments

1. Universe! Hope you’re listening! ;)

   BTW, no 12 – I think its quite important that its meaningful to YOU as well…

   — Kakak · Mar 25, 12:31 AM · #