Know someone who is a ‘Halfback’? No, this doesn’t refer to a position on the sporting field. It refers to people who make a second move to areas that are ‘halfway back’ to the place they originally moved from, hence the name ‘Half Backs’.
In Australia it is possible to see ‘Southerners’ (think Victoria, Tasmania) who have moved to the warmer climate of Queensland and northern NSW, move again after a few years.
Is a warmer climate, stunning sunsets and a more leisurely pace necessarily the environment people are looking for? Not always it seems.
Why do retirees and others become ‘halfbacks’?
There are a multitude of reasons given by ‘half back retirees’ and sometimes things just don’t work out the way they had envisaged. Rather than moving ‘all the way back’, many choose to move ‘half way back’.
Some of the reasons for moving ‘half way back’ include:
*To be closer to friends and family
*They’re tired of the climate! (not enough variety/ too hot/ too humid/ too cold/ too rainy)
*Health reasons (can also tie in with climate)
*Medical facilities (lack of/ not enough choice)
*More affordable (cost of living, can’t afford to move ‘all the way back’).
*Change in family circumstances
*Nostalgia
It’s always really important to do the research and look at the facilities and utilities of an area before moving. Also, there is the question of ‘will you fit in?’, will you be socially compatible with the new area? If you are into sport in a big way, will your new location accommodate this? Likewise, you may be passionate about the arts and entertainment scene, is there a vibrant arts scene in your intended area?
In a treechange post a local, in a rural community, had commented:
‘You’re a local if there are 4 generations of your family buried in the local cemetery’.
Of course not all communities have such entrenched views. It’s worthwhile chatting to locals and finding out what makes a place tick!
What are your experiences? Let us know