Our Aspirational Home

This property has always been our dream. We dedicated nearly two decades to achieving it, akin to the "dream card" in the Robert Kiyosaki game. For those unfamiliar, this card represents your ultimate goal after breaking free from the rat race. It symbolizes the motivation to make sacrifices and save diligently.

Our dream card, intentionally designed, requires minimal neighboring presence. Please don't take it personally; it’s just our preference. We’ll delve into neurodiversity later. This preference led us to a secluded location, with our nearest neighbor being over 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) away. The solitude is essential for us—no traffic, minimal noise, and the nearest town with shops is a 45-minute drive away, while a proper city is over an hour and a half away. Accessing these places necessitates navigating at least 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of dirt roads before reaching paved ones.

This tradeoff suits us perfectly. It may not appeal to everyone, but for us, it’s the "Retreat from Service" we’ve aspired to for a lifetime.

The Town Water Dilemma

The challenge with our chosen lifestyle is the absence of town water. Town water refers to the infrastructure provided by the government for citizens in well-developed regions. In Australia, this comes in the form of large underground pipes delivering treated, potable water to homes. Alongside this, there’s a government-supplied sewerage system—both of which we lack.

In contrast, we rely on ourselves for water and sanitation, much like many others around the globe, and we’re mostly fine with this arrangement.

The Choice We Made

We initially selected this property due to its historical high rainfall and reliable water sources. Being engineers, we approached our decision analytically, ensuring we did our due diligence. We believed water would never be an issue here.

However, that was prior to the onset of climate change.

The Climate Change Conversation

I recognize that mentioning "climate change" can spark controversy. My intent is not to ignite debates but to address a pressing issue we are currently facing—one that aligns closely with scientific predictions. Our civilization’s recent successes hinge on evidence-based decision-making rather than the opinions of powerful authorities.

As engineers, we tend to trust scientists over lobbyists, recalling past public health crises associated with substances like cigarettes and asbestos. It’s a straightforward assertion:

We're facing significant challenges on our farm,

AND

It’s attributable to climate change.

I won’t delve into blame; simply noting the drastic changes in temperature and precipitation is enough to provoke backlash. Yet, it’s undeniable: the climate has shifted from what we anticipated when we purchased this property merely a decade ago.

We invested heavily based on the available data, conducting thorough research across Australia and even considering international options. Alpine Australia seemed like an ideal choice, backed by rainfall and temperature data—something we reviewed meticulously.

What Lies Ahead?

Here we are now. The urgency of our situation allows me to discuss climate change openly without fear of community backlash. This is particularly poignant as certain groups refuse to acknowledge the stark reality before us:

The sky is blue! It should be filled with rain clouds and storms!

While some may consider this a trivial observation, my willingness to confront the issue has led to social repercussions.

But that’s not all...

The Floods!

The last time we faced a water shortage, we arranged for a water tanker. That incident occurred a few years back after enduring seven years of drought. The river, which has historically flowed without interruption, finally ran dry.

We assumed that such a severe drought was a rare occurrence. We planned for a recovery phase and began investing in our property again. The water tanker had been our solution.

Then came the floods—record-breaking rainfall in our region. Initially, the rain seemed like a blessing after years of drought. However, the sheer volume of water overwhelmed our infrastructure, washing away the main access road to our property.

Now, a chasm where the causeway once stood separates us from the outside world. The alternative route is too steep for a water tanker.

Rebuilding is feasible but costly. Thankfully, we’re taking proactive steps to secure our long-term water needs by installing a 3-kilometer pipeline, with support from our neighbors and family.

Concerns about the pipeline's future are valid. Our property endured wildfires in 2019, which thankfully spared our land. However, the recent weather patterns have led to a resurgence of dry undergrowth—an alarming condition given the prevalence of dry lightning in our area.

Our Dream: A Worthy Sacrifice?

You may wonder why we would choose to live in such a challenging environment. It’s a valid question. We pursued a dream of providing a better future for our children, away from the societal chaos.

However, stepping back from this dream has catalyzed change. We’ve been compelled to confront our reality: no water means no life. We were aware of the significance of water and weather before embarking on this journey.

Yet, the circumstances have shifted—factors beyond our control have emerged. I doubt we’ll revert to our previous mindset.

As we contemplate our local experiences, we must also consider the global implications. We are not alone in this struggle.

What are people willing to do when faced with water scarcity? When crops wither?

These questions will guide our future discussions.

Next time, we’ll explore the themes of abandoning dreams and discovering our true community.

Explore the challenges faced by rural communities in Australia as they grapple with water scarcity and climate change.

Join us for a culinary journey that showcases the resilience of communities adapting to water challenges in a changing climate.