Palaceboy
In lieu of the fact that there probably aren't that many retirees on here, how do people generally fill their spare time in Bali.
spicyayam
I think you can do as much or as little as you like. The warmer, tropical weather can make you feel lethargic if you are not used to it. The relaxed attitudes of the locals around you will also have an affect on how you live your life. I don't think you can say you can get bored here, even if you are not hanging out with other expats drinking everyday. Mugwump does make a good point about health. It is easy to get lazy and not take care of yourself, eating proper meals and so forth.
Palaceboy
Great response guys and thanks. I hadn't considered walking as a major part of my life, even though my wife and I go for a 3 or 4K walk every day until we got to Bali and figured how am I going to do that here? Just been around the local park walking and taking some photos, which is something we enjoy. Cooking is definitely on the agenda, we both do that a lot with all sorts of cuisines. I also grow some damn hot varieties of Chilli back here in Melbourne, including Carolina Reapers and like to cross-breed them, so Bali could give me some interesting growing options, could be a 3 harvest a year climate?
So will broaden the question to Why did "you" move to Bali? for anyone reading this.
Palaceboy
I'm a potential retiree to Bali, having just come back and sussed out how cheap it is to live there in pleasant conditions with a pool etc. However! I found myself asking how I would fill my days there. Apparently, you cannot volunteer for things, in case you put a local out of a job. Didn't notice or ask about any bowls clubs, walking as a past time seems difficult with the limited space on the footpaths. I could see myself easily getting enticed into the social life of the local expat warung and hitting the piss to be frank. In retirement, I'd like to help people with Tech stuff, right through to learning how to set up independent solar systems in small areas like garages at first and working my way up as I acquired knowledge. I'm now fearful that would definitely break the local laws on not being able to work. So what's the alternative, how do retirees fill their days in Bali?
Nydave
There are people who live here full time,are they fully retired,perhaps they are retired from their own country but possibly doing something here to subsidise their income, ,but thats their business and not something to be discussed on here,some of them take long motor cycle trips to different islands,some divide their time by between different locations,i know of many who seem to spend a lot of time playing golf,and other sports,some have bigger properties and enjoy growing vegetables and fruits,
There are many like myself who spend close to half the year here and the rest back home,im still part of the workforce in my country and to be honest i find it difficult to have so much time on my hands with nothing to do,but im one of those people who could never retire regardless of what country i live in,i have to be doing something that keeps my mind occupied,and i feel many others are similar,
And then there are those who seem to spend a lot of time on here insulting other members over really petty things,which sometimes makes me wonder if this is a blog for adults or for teenagers ,,
My advice is don`t commit to living here full time until you figure out what works best for you,because everyone is different,
mugwump
If you have led an active life that required your own direction it is particularly difficult to retire here, and might suggest trying to do it in phases.
First for me it was to try to turn my attention to projects that could lead to self satisfaction. This is going to be different for each of us depending upon talent, interest, motivation and ability to create a routine.
You mention the limitations for walking in a given area. That is vitally important and would require finding an area to live where that isn't an impediment. Prolonging your life if you haven't present physical limitations should be of paramount interest, and obviously proper diet goes with it. Find a place where walking each day without hazards and the possibility of affording visual interests should be on your list.
As you indicate absenting booze, yet having social contacts available can be tricky and a significant factor to address.
The diet part can include gardening or at least directing affordable staff in that activity can be an end in itself, as well as possibly making cooking a new hobby if not one presently. If you enjoy it now then expand upon it to include new cuisine which is both available and affordable here.
Finally get yourself into unfailing routine. Committing oneself to routine as ritual takes up time, becomes easier with adoption and if physical activity, is life extending as well.
Good luck.
spicyayam
Maybe send a message to [USER=8399]@MikeG[/USER] who seems like a keen home brewer.
Metter
Palaceboy wroteGreat response guys and thanks. I hadn't considered walking as a major part of my life, even though my wife and I go for a 3 or 4K walk every day until we got to Bali and figured how am I going to do that here? Just been around the local park walking and taking some photos, which is something we enjoy. Cooking is definitely on the agenda, we both do that a lot with all sorts of cuisines. I also grow some damn hot varieties of Chilli back here in Melbourne, including Carolina Reapers and like to cross-breed them, so Bali could give me some interesting growing options, could be a 3 harvest a year climate?
So will broaden the question to Why did "you" move to Bali? for anyone reading this.
Hi Palaceboy,
My wife an I are moving to Bali in late January although we are going there for 4 weeks at the end of September also. We are both just 50 and whilst my wife is medically retired I have worked full time (if not more) since the age of 18 and have little interests currently outside of work. For us the weather will be better for my wife and the stress of my current job is getting to me. I always find that Bali helps me relax and slow down. We walk a lot in Bali and I seldom do under 20,000 steps and often close (if no surpassing) 30,000 without trying to excercise.
I love cooking and this will help. I do drink moderate amounts but plan to brew beer and wine with local ingredients. I will also travel back to Australia to work a week every now and then to keep my professional skills up (in case I ever decide to move back permanently). I also have a break from work for just under a year and this will help me confirm if being in Bali long term is for me without a total commitment from day one.
I am also into computers and home automation so might set my Bali house with some smart equipment, I do this using a Raspberry Pi as the controller.
Palaceboy
Metter wroteHi Palaceboy,
My wife an I are moving to Bali in late January although we are going there for 4 weeks at the end of September also. We are both just 50 and whilst my wife is medically retired I have worked full time (if not more) since the age of 18 and have little interests currently outside of work. For us the weather will be better for my wife and the stress of my current job is getting to me. I always find that Bali helps me relax and slow down. We walk a lot in Bali and I seldom do under 20,000 steps and often close (if no surpassing) 30,000 without trying to excercise.
I love cooking and this will help. I do drink moderate amounts but plan to brew beer and wine with local ingredients. I will also travel back to Australia to work a week every now and then to keep my professional skills up (in case I ever decide to move back permanently). I also have a break from work for just under a year and this will help me confirm if being in Bali long term is for me without a total commitment from day one.
I am also into computers and home automation so might set my Bali house with some smart equipment, I do this using a Raspberry Pi as the controller.
Over 20K steps regularly is a pretty fine effort. I'm lucky to get close to that. Never used a Raspberry Pi, I know of them. I set up Kodi with either VPN or Smart DNS for people here in Melbourne and solve their home networking issues. The beer and wine brewing is definitely up my street. I was toying with the idea of getting one of those Retail "Pure Stills" and getting into something botanical upon retirement. Probably not a good idea for Bali, with those tourist deaths.
mugwump
Hi Palaceboy,
You pose an interesting question that has potential for many of us, and can provide the sort of probe essential to enlivening the forum a bit.
We as members have undoubtedly varied reasons for choosing Bali as a place to reside either temporarily or for an extended stay such as retirement.
In my case the situation was twofold. First having been busy with business and heading a family in the rainy Pacific NW of the US didn't pay much attention to climate despite the fact of grey skies and drizzly weather much of the year. Facing retirement can cause re-focus.
Secondly Importing goods from Indonesia required my being here for extended periods working. Having a bad back with occasional flareups I sought a neurological surgeon for solution. During the conversation the mention of back problems being less frequent while in Indonesia came up in question to which he replied of course I was benefiting from vitamin D. Vitamin D was news to me at the time as he explained the exposure to sunshine was providing aid to my crooked spine, which was destined to worsen in time.
It didn't take long for me to envision the future far from Seattle much of the year, and consider the consequences of a second home.
I hope this brief confessional will encourage others to do the same.
Markit
Lots of people do lots of the same stuff here and call it "busy". Walking (way too fecking hot for that shit), working (ditto), fall in the bottle (why not? For while at least it's fun, just have to know when it's time to do summat else), chase young(ish) brown girls - hell yeah - try going around here for a day or two with a big-assed grin on your boatrace and you will be astonished at the resonance, tennis (way too fecking hot), golf (way too fecking hot, boring and expensive - who needs an excuse for drinking, in all honesty after a while here you'll find yourself look for reasons NOT to drink Ice cold beer but luckily they are hard to find. Run a business? Sure why not - set some local lovely up in a small warung with her fronting it and hauling your coals regularly - you have the best of both (feck, any) worlds. Get a scooter! When I came here 10 years ago it was with the solid plan to use Bali as a jumping off place for Burma/Laos/Vietnam/etc. Since you asked how many of those I've been to in those 10 years.... not a fecking one! I'd be ashamed of myself if it wasn't for the fact that buddies come and all wanna ride off here in Indonesia and see greener grass. So far been as far as Sumbawa (planning on Flores in the new year) and east Jawa up to Malang the other way. With between 13k and 17k islands (no one seems to agree) I figure I'll be ablout 1007 before I've seen the most interesting ones and can go to Burma. I could go on but you get the idea - there's as much or as little to do here as you make yourself do.
Markit
If you think you're happily married wait till you get here and see hordes, pods, swells of young, smooth, juicy young brown ladies all smiling in your direction. Course they only want your wallet but so what so does your missus of 40 years - you really think she still loves you for your looks and brains? It usually takes on average of about a year before one or other partner decides it's time to go home. Whatever you do don't try and discourage her.
Metter
Markit wroteIf you think you're happily married wait till you get here and see hordes, pods, swells of young, smooth, juicy young brown ladies all smiling in your direction. Course they only want your wallet but so what so does your missus of 40 years - you really think she still loves you for your looks and brains? It usually takes on average of about a year before one or other partner decides it's time to go home. Whatever you do don't try and discourage her.
Lol, have you ever been a relationship counsellor?
Metter
Palaceboy wrote
I assume we can bring back as much "Packaged" product as we want..... Rosella (Hibiscus) tea is the first big draw.
Not sure how nuts will go but when bringing spices back I asked customs on the way out and was advised that the ingredients must be printed in English. Never had a problem ( but never it's never been a 'marketable' quantity)
Palaceboy
Really enjoyed reading your responses guys. Its good to see polarised ideas in relation to living there. I believe Seattle and Portland have a similar grungy type style to Melbourne, so personally, I would miss that bohemian aspect of life. Albeit I believe far better weather in Melbourne, which is saying something if you know Melbourne weather. Markits answer really brought a smile to my face. I can see how that lifestyle would really appeal. Alas for me I'm happily married and have been for the past 40 years or so the Warung fronted by a young local brown lady is very appealing but ......... Also If I don't walk I reckon my gut would grow to grotesque proportions as I seem to grow in that region just on thin air.
The business aspect does appeal though, wish I could get away with it legally. That East Bali Cashew company has some great product that would be suited for a lot of outlets in Victoria. My youngest Daughter is going over to Bali in November, and I'm setting her the task of bringing us back a suitcase full of product that we will give a go down some local farmers markets here in Melbournes food and local tourist driven inner North..... (Around Brunswick for those that know Melbourne)
I assume we can bring back as much "Packaged" product as we want..... Rosella (Hibiscus) tea is the first big draw.
I must head for East Bali next time around. Seminyak reminded me a tad of Benidorm in July full of people wanting food from back home..... Italian, Greek and Mexican for god sakes. Twas almost as hard finding a proper Indonesian Warung there as a Spanish one in Benidorm.
A lot of the area around Denpasar seems to have been shaped by people from Perth and Brisbane.....Shiney and Shallow.... rather than Sydney and Melbourne.
harryopal
Palaceboy wrote That East Bali Cashew company has some great product that would be suited for a lot of outlets in Victoria. My youngest Daughter is going over to Bali in November, and I'm setting her the task of bringing us back a suitcase full of product that we will give a go down some local farmers markets here in Melbournes food and local tourist driven inner North..... (Around Brunswick for those that know Melbourne)
It might be as well to check out what the Australian quarantine view would be about your daughter opening up a suitcase full of nuts or whatever. If they are packaged and sealed it is probably okay but they may fall under some specific concern related to fungi, bugs or whatever. Better to be sure than sorry.
mugwump
harryopal wrote
What about import duties? Some countries in the past have allowed Indonesia a pass on import duties on certain goods qualifying Indonesia as a "developing nation", but it would depend upon the particular type of goods. You mention several Australian destinations indicating a possibility of marketing?
Palaceboy
Thanks for the responses guys, determined to give it another go and possibly hit somewhere more rural next time. Plus spend a lot more time there rather than just 9 days, try and get a real feel for the place.
mugwump
Palaceboy wroteThanks for the responses guys, determined to give it another go and possibly hit somewhere more rural next time. Plus spend a lot more time there rather than just 9 days, try and get a real feel for the place.
Something that has been advised many times by experienced expats here is that you list your priorities and spend some time in a variety of places throughout Bali before making any sort of commitment.
Good luck.
Balifrog
After having worked 50 y, and the last 8 in HKG madness, I came here to enjoy the weather and do feck all ! And certainly not to count how many paces I walk every day..... I swim 250m every morning, and that good enough.
Here since 1 year, and I like it. Is it paradise ? No, but pretty bearable.
And I have "moved around" a bit in my live, I can tell you.
Why Bali ? Because the last 3 y in HKG I was with my Indo g/f, so it was the logic choice. In fact she in from East Java jungle, but no way I spend more than 7 days there !
I agree with the member saying you need to impose yourself a certain routine.
For the food, well I am French, so that says it all. I aint eating shit food.
