Bert Vierstra
Welcome Darryl !
I can't tell what you should do...
[quote]Am I being disillusion and seeking an escape?[/quote]
Ofcourse !
And ofcourse not.
Try to stay here for a longer time, maybe a month or two three.
See how you feel.... 8)
(oh, beware of Javanese girls, but who knows...)
Jen
Roy
Your life in the US has no doubt allowed you to lead a very special existance in Bali. Without all the material things you mentioned, I doubt your Ubud (material) life would be so sweet.
Darryl
Last year I visited Bali three times. I'm an American and it was my first experience with both the tropics and the third world. I found Bali both hot and humid, busy, and a bit disheveled. But the people seem friendly and inviting and the pace slower than American life. As an American we do not seem to have as generous leaves as the Europeans but nevertheless I tried to make the best of the time with a two week stay as the longest. Back in the U.S. at my life draining government job I sometimes muse about living in Bali - my misgivings about the environment placed aside. I guess my question is this: Is it worth it to give up the western life for Asia? And how much does it cost to live in Bali? I saw the poll of 5 million to 10 million rupiah receiving the most votes. I have a 401k retirement plan that would be able to generate a small annuity. I see myself as living a sedate lifestyle but think teaching English to school children would be fun. I met a Javanese girl there but even if that did not work out I would stay anyway. Am I being disillusion and seeking an escape? Is there merit to wanting to drop the fast paced, materialistic, and decadent Westren culture? Or should I just forget this and stick with my life in America another 16 years (I'm 39) until eligible for retirement? Opinions are welcome!
Roy
Darryl, I gave up the Wall Street job, the Johnson and Mathey wing tips, the Brooks Brothers suits, my Mercedes, and even my bloody golf clubs many years ago when I moved to Bali. I’ve never looked back, but I often dream and wonder about my friends I left behind, stuck with glue to their corporate jobs, unhappy, disillusioned, and waking up at 6 AM every morning to the sound of that blasted alarm clock..
Sickened every morning with the look of walking dead men on the 6:45AM from Stamford (CT) to 42nd street, I fled, in fact, I ran like hell to save my life.
Now, as I recollect those years, and my actions of running like a coward, I realize that it was anything but cowardice. It was self preservation. Sorry, but no Prozac or Welbutrin for me!
Today, I own no neck ties, no suits, and only one pair of closed toe shoes…a pair of Docksiders. I wake up when I want, shave when I feel like it, and wear sarongs because they are so comfortable. Life is goooooood. NO, life is better than good, life is what it should be. It’s satisfying, enjoyable, rewarding, and better than I could ever imagine.
Yea, that 401k came in handy for me too. The trick is to not view it as a retirement fund, you know, when you’re sitting in a chair, drooling out of the corner of your mouth, but rather your “ticket” to freedom and a life away from the Zombies.
Roy
Jen, I’m a little confused. You wrote:
[quote]Your life in the US has no doubt allowed you to lead a very special existance in Bali. Without all the material things you mentioned, I doubt your Ubud (material) life would be so sweet.[/quote]
It’s anything but material things that make my life in Ubud “so sweet.” Rather, it’s the love of my great Balinese wife, our three boys, her family and our banjar that allows my life to be so rewarding and fulfilling. Those material things that once occupied all my attention and energy, (the keeping up, or better yet, passing the Joneses attitude) were all left behind. Money has nothing to do with my happiness here in Bali.
Darryl
Roy,
Thanks for your advice. We are so conditioned in Westren life in the way we live to accept it as the norm. It certainly sounds like you broke out of the mold. Obviously part of my desire to live in Bali is to leave behind the demands of my present life. Turning 40 does not help either. I just have to figure if I can make it work.
Darryl
nelis
[b]living in Bali[/b]
Hi Roy,
I fully agree with the more relaxed lifestyle you write about. We are looking forward arriving in Bali. Lifestyle is more important than money
All the money in the world will not always bring happiness.
Family live, love for each other that's the most important thing.
Greeting,
Nelis and Jogry :D
Roy
I think we are all looking forward to meeting you both. I am. for sure!
Jen
Roy
What I am trying to say is:
Your "Material" success from the States has allowed you to quit your job, buy a ticket, arrive in Bali and buy a house ( from memory you mentioned somewhere about buying a house) and lead a comfortable "Material" life.
I wasn't talking about the "Emotional" side at all. Of course the love for your family far out ways money! Geez Roy.......come on!
Its all very well saying "I chucked the corporate life away" but without that privileged life, I doubt your, (and again I say "Material" life) would be so sweet.
Sounds like you had a successful career and opportunities that many people around the world would never in a million years be able to have.
I say, embrace this, not condemn it and feel fortunate to have had the awakening and the FREEDOM to change your path.
Roy
[b]HuHa![/b]
Good grief Jen, you sound like my father some years ago. He no longer sings your songs, but he used to! You write that I should “embrace this” and I ask, why? I gave much more to the company I worked for than I ever got back, so why should I “embrace it?”
Is a high paying job something one should be thankful of, or rather expect because of their skills, developed over years of study and hard work? Is the syndrome of thirty years of the best of your life, followed by retirement and a gold watch your idea of happiness?
You call my past a “privileged life.” Let me tell you , there was nothing privileged about it. I earned it. I worked, and I slaved for it, and the point is, it WASN’T WORTH IT!
My ability to move and live in Bali has absolutely nothing to do with my past corporate life. That past was no “ticket” to move here, and in fact, if I seriously considered my corporate future, I likely would have never moved here.
I hope you understand my point. It is rather simple. I have no gratitude, nor will I say “thanks” to anyone or for any reason, any past situation that as you would say, “enables” me to live in Bali. I live in Bali because that is where I want to live, and I made the decision to live here years ago.
Angie
[b]calm down Roy[/b]
I think maybe you misunderstood Jen. She is simply saying without your previous income you would have never been able to have bought the original plane ticket to Bali. Am I right Jen? Very few Balinese, as you know. can ever travel outside of Bali so I guess we are all priveleged to have had the option at some point in our lives of changing our destiny. I don't think she is making judgements and it sounds to me like she shares similar views to you on the priorities of life and true happiness
Roy
Thanks Jen. I better understand now what you were getting at. Indeed, life is full of choices. Some are easier to make than others. I appreciate your input!
Jen
Roy
I'm not asking you to thank anyone.
I believe you are privileged to have had schooling, higher education, choice of career etc.
You no doubt worked very hard and deserve all the success you have achieved but wasn't it wonderful that you were able to say and have a CHOICE to say "No more corporate life for me, I'm off to Bali!"
Most of us Westerners can usually find work pretty easily, save for holidays, go just about anywhere, anytime, live and work in other countries & have a great ole time. This freedom of choice is what we should embrace and remember just how lucky we are.
All your hard earned money is HELPING you to have a sweet time in Bali. Half ya luck, good on you, its brilliant!
No matter where I travel overseas or live overseas or just holiday, I appreciate all it took to get me there.
To me, you sounded so burnt by your old life in the States.
matsaleh
Gurkha, Roy has not been a member of this forum for several years. The post was from 2004, nearly 10 years ago!
Adam
Gurkha wroteOK, Thanks for that, so the broken nose occurred after he left the forum?
Please explain?......
Adam
Gurkha wroteHe walked into a very large Liverpudlian fist!
Ha! Who was the fist connected to? Entirely undeserved I'm sure.......
