February had at it’s highlight the Valentine’s Day.  Anyone out there who did not receive chocolate or at least a peck on the cheek?

Same as Mother’s or Father’s day the value of those artificially created events is that we have a special reason to think about the meaning and benefit of close relations.

However, it is beyond me, why we are supposed to say ‘Happy Valentine!’ when history tells us about Saint Valentine of Rome who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire. Before his execution, he signed a letter with "Your Valentine”.  A rather unhappy ending for a good man, but sure a lovely business opportunity for the greeting card- and sweets manufacturers, and consequently dentists too.  

Certainly – Valentine’s day alone would not do to make all of us happy for much longer than 24 hours.

Let us then use this moment to quick think about happiness and life as such.  After all, is there something more important?  (besides from regularly checking Ubudproperty.com for good deals.)

Everybody wants to be happy. Therefore we might get 7.5 billion individual answers relating to ‘what is happiness?” Or maybe not?    

It often is more simple, such as - a healthy person has a thousand wishes.  A sick one only one.

You probably also agree that lasting happiness does not come from the new I-phone, or the offer to take over as the chairman of the Company.

Also a good example is this friend of mine in Switzerland. He is living in a grand house, with an all-glassed and heated winter garden and the famous Matterhorn mountain right in the center window to be admired. We call this ‘million Dollar view’.  When I said so, he answered: “ you see, I am sitting here, having my cup of coffee next to the newspaper and what creates my first emotion on this glorious day is not the mountain top over there, but the negative newspaper articles about all that is unbalanced* in this world”.     (* he used a stronger expression, which I couldn’t find in the spell checker).

Also:  Amongst four former employers of mine, all of them in the high net worth corner, there was only one indeed a happy man.  One out of four and I guess this may be even a positive ratio. There are plenty of miserable people with money. 

By the way, the happy one lives now in Argentina on a sheep farm and is organizing the planting of a million trees.       

He seems to understand: The best things in life are not things.

I know, by now you are wondering, where is the real estate sales pitch, which I have to expect?  

You see, even the property folks have sometimes a heart and not all is about business. Back to the issue-

Indeed, not all of us can plant many trees, although it would really do some good.

Tragically, there is every second the size of a football field of forest cut down. Like a giant from outer space who stomps over our world and is destroying every second our life support with his football field sized shoes. If there would be really such giant, surely Governments would unite to kill the monster.  Does anyone know if this happens??

Because I am just at it, I think of even more un-related to property investing.  A question:

 ‘Without Planet Jupiter, there would be no Ubud’! True or false?      

True!  For planet Earth to exist, a massive planet (like Jupiter) nearby is needed. The gravity of Jupiter draws away asteroids, preventing thousands of them to hit Earth’s surface, creating huge dust clouds and sending earth (and Bali) into eternal ice age.

One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life.

There is no better time than before tomorrow to look at the elements, which can be regarded as being of essence to ‘the good life’ -

Here is my choice:  

Mindfulness, love, health, own or leased Ubud home, work-life balance, sustainability, meaningful productivity, small house in Ubud, meaningful relationships, spiritual awareness, mental health, nice Ubud property, stay healthy, keep assets in their place, cultivate a kind and caring disposition, a villa in Ubud area…      

What would you add to/ change in this list?                           

It was not Aristotle, who separated a “mere life” from “the good life”.  He also could not know yet that to live the good life you better be in Ubud.

This idea has instead been adopted by many expats who have settled and since live in Ubud and it’s surroundings.

They did not arrive against their will and had the blindfold taken off when approaching Mas or Lodtunduh.  Some of them went around and searched countries, which were recommended for offering ideal retirement conditions.  Two days ago I just came from a short trip to Australia and although I love the freedom of this country, my Aussie passport and the laissez faire lifestyle, I like it still better here.

There is more to living here than the climate, the people, living expenses being still about half what you’d pay ‘over there’.  It is the presence and chance to meet likeminded people, who came for the same reason, it is the opportunity to still find your own little kingdom tucked away somewhere in Pejeng or Tegallalang, it is the option to travel one hour to the coast or up to the mountains. It is the chance to grow old and have a lovely caretaker looking after you, instead of hearing “you spilled your chocolate again in the hallway”.  On this issue - Things are looking up.  Anyone interested to join into our idea building a resort for the elderly?

We have our planning cap put on and are hoping for raised hands.

Who would not wish for a decent life, no matter which age - which in Ubud is as good as it comes, me thinks.

To good health and wealth and happiness!

Ramon

Sr. Adviser / UbudProperty