'At 55, I realised retiring in Australia just wasn't an option. So I moved to Bali instead.'

I moved to Bali almost a year ago because, at 55, I could see the writing on the wall; retiring in Australia just wasn't going to happen. I could see myself working 'til someone found me at my computer at 88.

After raising kids full-time, I went back to full-time work at 43 with barely any super. Add to that funding two grown kids still at home because who can afford to move out? Running my own business meant I was working to pay rent and taxes, not building a future. The idea of slogging away for another 15 years just to scrape by didn't make sense. We decided to do something bold; move to Bali while we were still young enough to enjoy it.

Everyone loves the idea of living in Bali. The sunshine, cheap food, slower pace. But what people don't talk about is how much planning it takes to make it work. This isn't just moving countries; it's a complete mindset shift.

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The first thing I tell anyone thinking about it is to do your homework before you pack a single bag.

There's no 'we'll figure it out when we get there.' That's how people end up broke, stressed, or heading back home within months or starting a GoFundMe.

Start with visas. There's no simple just move and stay forever option. Unless you have a work permit (which is rare), you'll be here on a social, tourist, or retirement visa. I started with a tourist visa, which meant doing visa runs every 60 days, usually to Malaysia or Singapore. Sounds exciting, until you've done it three times and find yourself sitting in Denpasar Airport for hours with fifty other tired expats clutching paperwork. It's not glamorous; it's bureaucracy with palm trees and Nasi Goreng.

Then there's the paperwork. Bali runs on ceremonies and public holidays, sometimes three or four in a week. When there's a holiday, everything stops. The government offices close, your forms don't move, and that thing you were told would take a few days drags into weeks. You learn patience quickly, or you lose your mind trying.

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Renting is another surprise for a lot of newcomers. You don't pay week-to-week here. It's a year upfront. That's thousands of dollars in one hit before you even move in.

Inspect before you rent. Those dreamy villa photos; half of them have leaky bathrooms or dodgy wiring. Don't expect to buy property easily. As a foreigner, you can't technically own land, only lease it. Some people try to get creative with local partnerships, but it's risky. If you want peace of mind, get a proper lease drawn up by a local notary.

Healthcare was another shock. Expat insurance isn't cheap, and local hospitals vary from world-class excellence to am I in the right century? I pay more than I did in Australia, but at least I know I'll get English-speaking doctors and decent facilities if something goes wrong.

Bali's full of gorgeous Western-style cafes; the smashed avo and almond flat white are alive and well, but they cost as much as they do back home.

Local food, on the other hand, is cheap, healthy, and delicious. Once you get used to it, you'll wonder why you ever paid $18 for a salad and $24 for a cocktail.

Don't believe everything you see on an Instagram post. That's the performance side of people visiting Bali for a week. There's more to Bali than Kuta and Ubud.

Bali is beautiful, but it's not picture-perfect.

Some mornings the air smells like incense and frangipani; other days it's smoke from someone burning their rubbish pile out the back.

Street dogs are everywhere, some friendly (we've adopted two and made friends with the Gang dog, Brownie), some not so friendly. You learn quickly to carry treats and look confident or cross the road.

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The traffic looks like absolute chaos. Scooters carrying whole families, furniture, or chickens, but somehow it all just flows. It's noisy, messy, and occasionally terrifying, but it's also weirdly alive and once you understand it, you become part of the rhythm.

Bali time or "rubber time" is real. If someone says tomorrow, they might mean next week. Fighting it only makes you miserable.

Learning some Bahasa Indonesia and Balinese has been a door opener. A few words go a long way and moves you from bule (tourist/foreigner) to someone who belongs here, even just a little.

The locals light up when you try. It's like they see you're not just here for the cheap living and beach bars, but that you actually care about the culture. Saying a simple terima kasih (thank you) or selamat pagi (good morning) gets you smiles, better service, and sometimes even local prices.

Learning a few Balinese phrases goes deeper. It shows respect for the island itself, not just the people on it. You'll still always be a bule, but a friendly one, the kind who gets invited to ceremonies, waved through traffic, and treated with genuine warmth instead of polite tolerance.

Despite the quirks, I wouldn't change it for the world. Living here has taught me to slow down, to stop measuring life in productivity and social media performance and start measuring it in peace. I've swapped my commute for scooter rides and weekends exploring temples and beaches. I still work, I'm but life feels easier now, even when it's chaotic.

I thought I was moving here for a cheaper lifestyle. What I really got was a life that's filled with gratitude, a humbling sense of appreciation for how different we all are and moments that take my breath away.

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