In Reply to: Thanks so much. Looking Forward posted by Lilone on Tuesday, 15. March 2016 at 19:22 Bali Time:
Lets not get lost in fairy tales here, there is no magic spell that will instantly transport you to your dream life in Bali. I've found what you make happen is directly proportional to how badly you want it to happen. Also, you do need "some" money, but really not that much.
I've worked three months a year in Australia for eight or nine years earning around $15 000 each working period and only spending $10 000 on travel for the remaining 9 months of the year, saving $5000 or more a year. Some months traveling I'd spend only $300 a month in places like Nepal and Northern India. The small savings each year gave me the opportunity to get a foothold in Bali without sacrificing my love of living in asia. My Balinese partner also had a small amount of money and we built a house leaving us a combined $25 000 in savings in case of emergency. We build on this slowly.
Balinese women are wonderfully spiritual, loyal, hard working, fun, gentle, caring and beautiful. I met mine on asiandating.com she is the best companion I could have hoped for. There are enormous advantages to having a local wife. If you are single, start talking to women online. Or chatting to them when you are out and about in Bali. Just to be clear - I married my wife for love, not convenience!
You need an income! You are already involved in importing from Bali, I believe. Can you operate your business from Bali possibly? Perhaps adopt a seasonal working lifestyle like myself and return for the dreaded two or three months a year. Or, bite the bullet and work like a demon for two or three years saving every penny you can from working as hard and as often as you can. You CAN live in Bali with just a little effort. I'm not sure your earning potential, but when you only need thirty or forty thousand for a little place in the rice fields, saving that amount of money isn't inconceivable over a 2 or 3 or 4 year period. Again, how badly do you want it? Stop dreaming, start doing!!
Again Bali is cheap to live in if you want it to be. Remember, most Balinese earn around $500 a month and couples buy houses, scooters and raise families on this amount.
Come for a trial! There is a difference between living here and vacationing. I know of guesthouses in Ubud to be had for $200 a month including a pancake and fruit for breakfast and it's possible to get by well on $20. Try operate for six months or a year here before committing.
On reflection, this post seems to have morphed into some sort of motivational spiel rather than cold hard advice. However, I think an important thing to consider is - we have been conditioned to believe from our western upbringing, if we haven't got a million dollars to retire on, we are on a slippery slope. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Please feel free to ask any specific questions.