Brisbane

Grace has an okay reputation for moving. With most movers it depends on the crew you get for the day. Grace is a big group so if someone calls in sick they'll have replacement staff to make sure it happens that day. Buy the guys a round of macdoanlds for lunch if they've done a good job.

Stay in the US mate, we did 5 weeks there recently and I discovered Dr Pepper on tap. After 40 days of suckling at the teet of the drink recommended by your number one medical professional I am addicted. We even went to the Dr Pepper museum. I bought a hat.

Here you can only get it in cans imported from the US and after spending two months on a ship at 11ty billion degrees it tastes like a truckdrivers arsehole. There was a brief shining moment in the late 90s/early 00s when Dr Pepper was made locally with cane sugar. It came in 600ml bottles with a 1 in 3 chance of winning a freebie that you practically always got. Whenever someone gets nostalgic for the 90s that's my reference point. That and Offspring's Smash album being released.

I'm tempted to do the US trip again despite orange man and first lady musk for just 15 more fluid ounces of that sweet, sweet Dee Argh Pepper.

I can answer one of these questions 😆

Am I going to have to bring extra ketchup through customs for my kid, or is the tomato sauce close enough to make an easy switch?

A) I'm pretty sure what we call 'tomato sauce' and what USA calls 'ketchup' are the same thing - though of course there's differences between brands.

B) In any case, you can buy stuff in Australia that's labelled as 'ketchup': https://www.coles.com.au/search/products?q=ketchup

1. Even if you plan to put your kid in private school later, I'd recommend public for primary (elementary) school. Our schools in general are far better than what the USA offers.
2. The government spent 40 years telling Boomers that investing in property was "Safe as houses", so lots of them have multiple properties. Also: They allowed foreign ownership, so we have international investors buying homes here where their assets are safe.
3. Tomato Sauce is so much better than ketchup, but you can buy Heinz ketchup here if you desperately need it for some reason.
4. We don't have Mexican food. We have occasional Mexican restaurants that are good (not sure about Brisbane), but Mexican food is not ubiquitous in Australia like you'll be used to. If you love Mexican, overdose on it before you come here. I can't think of any other food examples where you'll miss from the USA.

California and South-East Queensland are moderately comparable climate-wise. You'll be right at home.