I Moved to Bali. What is your living situation like?

I decided to buy a villa. Why? In case I don’t stay full-time in Bali, I’d have an income source from renting it. In Bali villa rentals are very common, since several couples or a large family could take full command of a place. Chefs can be hired, scooters or cars rented, maids can arrive daily, etc.

Part of the beauty of living in a tropical climate is that outside and inside start to merge. The first thing to do in the morning is to open the windows and doors to let the breeze flow inside the space. At night all doors and windows are locked because even though Bali is considered safe there’s no reason to provide temptations to strangers.

With indoor/outdoor living you do get the occasional gecko wandering in, as well as a few large, flying bugs and some mosquitos. But is it worth it? I’d say as long as there’s a breeze, even a slight one, YES! There is the rare day that the air is stagnant and the heat is oppressive: its the tropics. Just find some shade.

In the evening there is a need for air conditioning your bedroom, but overall, energy use is quite low.

Property taxes and homeowner’s insurance are ridiculously low. Health insurance ranges from basic to high-end but there’s no need for out-patient coverage since a doctor’s visit is maybe $15. Medications are high but still well within reach without special coverage.

Obviously the closer you live to the beach the more you are going to pay, so having retired I’ve chosen a rice field view. Farmers actively shew the birds away with metal pans and shouts and so that becomes background “music”.

Is it paradise? I’d say the question is the same as asking if it’s perfect. There’s no such thing. It’s all a state of mind. But having a villa in a tropical setting and living a modest life: that’s a pretty sweet recipe for happiness if you ask me.