Why do we live here?
So many people ask us why we live in this tiny town in the middle of the Free State in South Africa.
City folk keep asking “don’t you get bored?” “isn’t the town full of old people?”
Peeps from Cape Town always say move to Cape Town it the most beautiful part of our country. They are so biased towards CT!
The biggest question is “what do you do all day??”
So I would like to share with you why we choose to live here and what we do all day.
Yes its 100% our choice. For the first time in our lives, 17 homes later…. This is where we choose to be. It’s a powerful thing!
The number one reason is the peace.
It is so tranquil and peaceful. No city noise and drama.
It is calming. There is nothing frantic about our life style. We feel safe. Our kids can roam.
The scenery is spectacular! The mountains are majestic. Nature is on our door step.
But one of the biggest things, that you just wont get until you have spent some time here, is the people.
This little tourist village is full of quirky and wonderful people.
Only a few were born here. The rest, like us, chose to move here for their own reasons. They bring with them their talents and skills and unique diverse personalities. Some stay for long. Many are transient.
This last weekend reminded us why we live here.
We walked 30 meters to an event that was arranged by a crazy local.
He loves music and appreciates all the local musical talent that we have in our town. He did, what no one has done before. He made a plan to get 10 of Clarens musical legends, to not only play at one event, but to play together. The venue Voetstoets Music Saloon is like nothing you have seen before-beyond quirky!
One song. One stage. One movement.
Every person at the event was enthralled and stood and cheered in appreciation. We now call this group of musos The Clarens All Stars. And that they are!
During the night we talked with new locals. Old locals. Locals we knew and locals that we were meeting for the first time. We met tourists from South Africa and from abroad.
New friends were made. Stories were shared. It was wonderful.
Drinks, spit braai, dancing, good company, live music!
As the evening drew to an end… a few of the musos had an epic jam session.
Off the cuff – just brilliant!
So to answer your question, why do we live here – its about the PEOPLE!
Interacting with strangers and friends on this level, is what life is all about!
What do we do all day? We work, just as most of the locals do! Yes – we are busy.
We are entrepreneurs and run several businesses. We work hard. We love our work, our businesses, our clients and guests. Our office has the best view.
We are blessed, because when we are finished our work, we do not need to drive for 2 hours in traffic.
We simply close our lap tops and take a trundle into town or into the mountains.
If we want some company we will find it.
If we want solitude we have it.
We love our peaceful happy Gypsy Life in Clarens!
