Chris Finlayson wroteMarkit, [COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]See in Green below[/COLOR]
I am grateful for your practical and experienced advice. I am aware of the "honey trap" you warn me of. I come from Vermont, a poor rural state in the US with a big four-season tourist industry. Whenever there are two groups of people interacting where one is much richer than the other, you will find the same kinds of relationships. The attitude of the locals to the rich visitors is "If the good lord did not mean for sheep to be fleeced, he would not have made them so woolly." So I expect to be hustled and don't mind the "surcharge", within reason. So far, my experience is that the Balinese hustle is much kinder/gentler/more modest than anywhere else I've been.
[COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]I've found being generous to those that are generous to me the best method of keeping the peace. Friend of mine goes way out of his way to help and support almost anyone he meets. While a very noble attitude it seems to draw predominantly vultures. You need to state what you are giving and for how long and the nature of the "loan" or gift i.e. repayment plan...[/COLOR]
As far as working, if I only pitch in to help (pro bono) when asked, I should be okay, right?
[COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]This is largely an agrarian society, where it's not tourist driven, so what do you envision doing? Rice planting, waiting tables? There is effectively no other economy here. I'm told Bali has a roaring trade in rebuilt Vespas. There are certainly some about but they can probably be renovated by a gifted pre-schooler. [/COLOR]
A small bamboo hut/cottage/bungalow with a broad shady porch sounds about perfect for me. Indigenous/renewable building material built by local tradesmen using traditional techniques. Can you give me a very rough idea of how much such a thing might cost? Say something about 5/6 sq. meters with 2-3 meter wide shady porch around all four sides.
[COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]Rent/lease a small piece of land with good road/water/electrical access where ever you wish (no prices and there's a huge difference depending on nearness to good roads/beaches/major centers) but around me it's 3.5 million/year/per 100 meters squared with 25 year leases. [/COLOR]
The Green School looks interesting - perhaps I could teach there part-time in the upper grades. [COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]Forget it, the immigration do harvesting runs through there on a regular basis an unless you have the correct paper/visa work you are out of the country post haste. [/COLOR]
I have a tendency toward solitude, which can get out of hand, so something that regularly gets me out into the world and human society is a good thing. [COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]Chasing small brown women, traveling the islands on a scooter, drinking huge quantities of beer and gorging prior to long naps in a hanging mat sounds good to me?[/COLOR]
Thanks once more for your thoughtful advice. I will look forward to meeting you in person after I arrive in a couple of weeks.
Chris
Come try it for a few months before you give up the day job in the USA
