Just two weeks ago, children were still doing their schooling from home, and restaurants and bars were closed.

We had got so used to it that it had, for many, become the new normal.

But now, school playgrounds are once again filled the sounds of children, as many schools opened their doors for a staged return of kids to the physical classroom.

Last weekend, many restaurants and bars opened their doors just a crack to let in limited groups of no more than 10 people, but it was a start.

And now, Gladys Berejiklian has announced the reopening of NSW's borders in time for the June long weekend.

Have Australians in this part of the country ever been so excited to cross a state border before?

It's a state of excitement that could well change the way we view travel within our own country.

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It has long been a source of angst for many that travelling in Australia is far more expensive than it should be.

It's often pointed out - correctly - that it is cheaper to travel to Bali for a week, and stay there in decent accommodation, than it is to simply fly between the east and west coasts of Australia, or from the south to the far north.

Or even, for that matter, to Tasmania. Never mind the expense, once you arrive, of accommodation and travel-related activities.

It's possible - and many hope - that the worldwide restrictions on overseas travel will spark a newfound passion for exploring our own country.

But time, so distorted since the world changed beyond recognition in March, is of the essence here, in the sense that there's plenty of it, and plenty of businesses closer to home that may well deserve our attention first.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr last week urged Canberrans to spend money locally before heading down to the coast - or to anywhere else in NSW, for that matter.

"There are a lot of local businesses that could do with your support right now," he said.

The South Coast has, for generations, been Canberra's favourite long-weekend destination, and has been crying out for support since last year's crippling drought and summer's horrifying bushfires.

Although just weeks ago, coastal business and residents were urging Canberrans to stay away during the lockdown, and keep hospitals and other services free for emergencies, now the messaging has changed again.

But, as Mr Barr points, there is an equally strong case for sticking around as the city opens up, and supporting local businesses as they gradually reopen and find their feet again.

The Canberra Times is already supporting a campaign on our Facebook page, where local businesses can share the word that they're open.

It's part of an ACM-wide initiative as Australia starts to come out of its COVID-19 shell, to encourage people to support locals as soon as possible, and to keep doing it.

The coast will always be there, and there will be more long weekends to come, not to mention holidays and, if we can see that far, the summer.

But at the moment, we can start by staying as local as possible, in the places we've become most used to in the past few months.

Staying home for so long has surely made us ever more aware of where others' needs are greatest.