When you first move to the country, you’ll probably feel like you’re standing out like the proverbials. Wearing your good clothes for a trip into town might not allay that feeling.

Soon after we arrived here from Sydney, the greengrocer’s daughter commented that she loved my clothes. They were black and reasonably fashionable. I might as well have had “Fresh from the City” tattooed across my forehead.

After giving up a nine-to-whatever-time-you-finish job in the city, it’s a bit of an adjustment to relax about all sorts of things, including your appearance.

It was time to save my ‘good’ clothes for special occasions – occasional airings at committee meetings and whenever I wanted to make a good impression, which happened fairly rarely.

I scoured local op shops for clothes that looked like they’d been worked a bit and came up trumps with all manner of warm, comfy duds.

Since then we’ve gone the whole hog – elastic-sided boots, jumpers with holes in them, big jackets, patched jeans, beanies…

Don’t get me wrong. Whenever there’s a special occasion, the locals scrub up beautifully. When I joined a local women’s group and we met for dinner, it was a challenge to rustle up suitable glad rags to not let the city blow-ins side down.

But really, the best way to fit into a small community is to get involved. Join the CFA, Rotary, a gardening club, Apex, a book club… or put in a few hours each week at your local Vinnies or MS Shop.

Not only will you be helping someone, you’ll meet loads of new people and some of them might even become friends.

If you fancy yourself as an event organiser, impresario, promoter or publicist, you could also lend a hand at a community festival or event.

In this area alone, there’s a shirtload of things to get involved in.