We caught up with Roger Evans, a single retired expat, who chose to make the move to Bali in mid 2019 from his hometown of Perth, Western Australia, leaving his refrigeration business of 41 years to his son and asked him to share his experience about his new life in Bali.
When did you decide to retire to Bali?
The move to Bali had been on my mind for a number of years but in 2018 I started to think very seriously to make the move. I investigated my options in Bali and made the decision to move in May 2019.
What planning was involved in preparing for you move to Bali?
I appointed my son as the manager of my business, rented my apartment, which I have now sold as I intend to stay in Bali, and looking for an appropriate villa. The planning also encompassed getting a visa for a long term stay.
What aspects most attracted you to choose Bali?
I had been a regular visitor to Bali in the past so was already familiar with Bali. I guess lifestyle is what attracted me most; it is so much cheaper to live in Bali in every respect, and it is so close to Australia for visits back to Perth when I want to go back. The weather conditions also had a big pull to live in Bali. No more miserable windy rainy days warm every day. Even when the rainy season arrives, it is a pleasure to walk outside in the rain, there’s something quite refreshing to walk in warm rain. The relaxed living conditions also played a big part in my decision to move it has taught me a lot about being more patient and relaxed about life.
What type of accommodation did you choose in Bali?
My final choice after doing my due diligence was to rent on a yearly basis a three bedroom villa.
Where did you choose to settle in Bali and why?
Sanur was always my choice to reside it offers almost a village type feel without loosing any of the choices for eating out and entertainment.
How do you finance your lifestyle in Bali?
With my savings and investments from Perth and investments in local Indonesian banks that offer amazing returns. There’s no way I could get the returns in Australia that I get here; I can all most live on my monthly returns from my local investments
What would you consider the main positives of retiring to Bali?
Lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle living in Bali allows a lifestyle I could never experience in Perth it’s just so uncomplicated.
What would you see as the negatives of retiring in Bali?
To be really honest I cannot think of any negatives, not sure you class this as a negative but sometimes I have to look at my calendar to find out the day and date, it’s because I am so relaxed.
How did you go about making new friends and acquaintances?
As I did not have many friends when I arrived in Bali, I made a concerted effort to make friends. So I joined the Bali hash Harriers where I connected with a lot of people, I also joined SKAL and Internations which connected me with a different range of people. My go to place in the mornings during my bike ride most mornings was to call and have coffee in a small coffee shop in Sanur frequented by many western people, it is a great place to interact with Westerners as well as local people. I tried never to say no when invited out somewhere and now I have a great set of solid friends who I can always rely on to have my back and a great source of information when I need some assistance with Indonesian laws and regulations.
How do you fill your time as a retiree in Bali?
I cycle most mornings along the beach walk, stopping for a coffee to chat with friends. I am a member of the Hash House Harriers; every Saturday we go on treks run/walk through some of the most amazing countryside in the hills of Bali, it is really amazing. I also enjoy reading, gardening and swimming, life’s good!
How long do you intend to stay in Bali?
I am here for good I will never live back in Australia again, it’s just too good to give up such a pleasant lifestyle.
What advice do you have for anyone considering retiring to Bali?
I guess the first step is to make the decision to move, after all, if it does not work out its easy to return to your city. After that discuss with local developers and agents your plans, there are good professional Western people here that have lots of information that you can rely on. There are developments happening soon that give retirees great options, gated secure complexes that offer so many options to add a further inducement to make the move. Life’s too SHORT!
Any additional Comments/ suggestions / Mistakes / Learning points you would like to share?
Sometimes changing one’s life can be sometimes a challenge especially as we get older, set in our ways etc, but I know after I made the move it gave me a new lease of life. With a new set of like minded people/friends it was energizing, allowing me to see myself in a different way and now I have decided to sell my apartment in Perth and now have the added feeling of release from the past, maybe even a boring and expensive lifestyle I used to lead to a new one with more energy and focus.
Making the decision is the critical first step and then finding the people you can work with in Bali.
Any mistakes - I made (and there were a few) turned out to be learning curves living in a new country and taught me how to be more patient and adjust my watch to Bali time.
Learning points - only one, life is way too short, experiencing new challenges seems to lift the positive vibes that has to assist longevity of ones’ life.
Thanks Roger for your positive insight to retirement in Bali! You certainly aren't doing badly for a 70 year old Dude!