I am totally happy with where I live in Melbourne at the moment.  6 libraries are nearby; especially 3 are in short walking distance. And only a 20 minutes’ walk or  catching a free tram which takes me to the tourist spot Queen Victoria Market where I can buy the most fresh seafood, meat, vegetables, nuts, fresh flowers on Saturdays. There are numerous restaurants close by from family run to the best professional ones. The another thing I enjoy as it’s so convenient  access to trains or trams which take me to the beaches or gardens, national parks just a few shops, by the way, the salsa foundation, my dancing place is only 10 minutes’ walking.

You may wonder if it is a noisy place, the answer is “no”. As my balcony is face harbour side, so I can’t hear much noise on the weekends and most of the nights. The only problem it is very windy sometimes. I have broken lots of umbrellas within one year though they were the most durable ones.

Inside my room, it’s nice and warm. In winter, I don’t have to turn on the central-heater like most of houses do. Only in summer, for a few hours, when my glass-doors are exposed to the sun directly, it makes me feel like staying in the oven, but once the sunset, when the breeze coming through, the temperature will cool down within a second, and I have to use a blanket or a quilt at summer night. Looking outside the door, the harbour view is spectacular, boats, cruises and tropical trees, colourful lights at night, what a peaceful scene.  The best part I enjoy is the autumn and winter sunset with its breathtaking colours.

 Looking back 9 years ago, in 2007, I was applying for a place to stay within a good public school zone so that my daughter could come over study. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a proper one. Whenever there’s one open inspection, 20 more people were in the queue, and I have never got a chance as I told them I have just finished degree with a casual cleaner job to do. After a few months, I was really upset about not finding a suitable one because most of those apartments were pretty old with mouldy bathroom walls, oh, disgusting, I thought. You can imagine how limited the supply of accommodation that time in Melbourne, no one wanted rent to me. By the way, there are too many new apartments and houses being built up recently, and fewer students come, so it’s totally opposite, it’s not as easy as previously for the tenant to rent out, some of them are stay vacant.

 Then one day, I visited one classmate who has bought a new apartment just inside the school zone where I would like send my daughter to study. When I left, I wasn’t remember much, except one thing was on my mind, “My god, how beautiful the view was; it’s absolutely amazing!!”

 I kept searching the accommodation, one day a Malaysian guy called me: “Hey, would you like come over, we have one spare room for you.” “That would be fantastic.” I was really happy. When I arrived there, the guy asked my bank statement and said: “Well, there’s another person looking for it, but we would like rent to you if you like.” I looked around; it’s ok except bloody dark inside. When I turned round:  what the hell, the view was completely blocked by the building in front, how awful!!!! I was hesitated about renting it or not, I told the real estate agent guy: “I will let you know later.”

What a coincidence, on that day, I received a phone call from an Aussie lady: “Hi, are you free today, we have a room for you, someone’s just moved out.” I realized it was in my friend’s building with exactly the same price as the one the Malaysian guy offered. Definitely I would go for it. When I arrived there, I was immediately falling in love with the apartment, that’s it, that’s  the one I liked, I felt I was moving to a 5 star hotel nice and clean compared to the house I lived temporarily was damn cold in winter, I immediately made a contract with the lady, there’s no way for me lose it.

I was annoyed by the rental price increasing each year and the room inspection twice a year for the cleanness and home contents damaging thing. Actually, I was very cautious about it, I used to spend more time in keeping rooms clean than my own apartment in China.

 After 2 years, when the apartment pricing almost reached its lowest point, I checked the price history, it was cheaper than previously years and AUD dropped sharply, so I settled down the mortgage, after paying 20% deposit, it was almost as much as I was paying for the rent.

 I didn’t realize being a commitment for buying a property sometimes could drain me out. Like most of the Australian ordinary families, after paying mortgage, food and endless bills: body corporate, water rates, council rates, electricity, internet, telephone, insurance, transportation etc., my account balance was almost close to “0”.  Fortunately, I’ve got a bit support from family which reduced my pressure.

Very luck, probably it related to my patience and consistency for doing investment in the Chinese stock market, while a lot of others are losing money, I made 3 times stocks in the past 7 years, when the stock price reached the highest point last year; I sold out some and paid back the entire mortgage.

 So now I feel free about my financial thing as long as I have a job, it’s enough for me pay the bills, food, clothing or travelling etc.

In Australia, if you have a proper full time position without paying rent or mortgage, the salary would be sufficient for you enjoy most of things you like, otherwise, life might be tough, rental and mortgage occupies very big percentage from what you earned unless you share a house with 4 people, that wouldn’t cost much.

I am content with what I have as I am living in a place which suits me most, that’s the choice I made, I would not compare with someone who lives in a mansion or has a cruise or owns lots of investment properties. I am happy as I can be more independent for paying all the bills with the salary I get.

Spectacular sunset view outside my apartment