Profile: We are the Christensen family aka The Runaway Family! A family of six who ran away from the rat race and have been running toward us since 2019. Three years ago we literally said goodbye to a whole lifestyle we thought we wanted. In fact, we’d worked our tails off for that life. We were spending most of our time working and the rest of it running around to activities. We reevaluated our goals for our family and decided to take the leap! We sold everything, bought plane tickets, and started a life of full time travel!
Originally from: Highland, Utah, USA. Four seasons. Rad outdoor adventures. And some of the nicest people in the world.
Arrived in Bali: February 2022
What made you decide to MOVE TO Bali?
We spent 2 months in Bali in 2019. From the moment we left, our hearts have wanted to come back. Our family is ready for a home base after full time travel, and Bali checked all the boxes! Gorgeous, off the charts adventure opportunities, some of the kindest people, awesome eats, and super affordable to boot!
How long do you plan to stay in Bali?
We don’t have a firm end point. We have committed to a year, but we will stay as long as it feels right for our family.
Where is home in Bali and why did you decide to live there?
We settled in Canggu. We are beach lovers and were looking for a villa close to the beach. We love the fun restaurants and convenience of living in this area. Most importantly, we wanted to find community for our kids and Canggu has tons of opportunities for them.
What have the settling in challenges been for you and the family?
We are still working on finding community. We haven’t tapped into the ‘family networks’ yet, but we know that just takes time when you are new.
Driving in Canggu is also completely bonkers. Our family is too big to get around on motorbikes alone, so we mainly use a car when we go places together. There is no room for distracted driving here! Griff’s got it down like a boss, but you won’t find me behind the wheel anytime soon.
How are the children being schooled? What activities do they like to do?
We have been homeschooling while we traveled full time. We plan to finish out the year homeschooling, and then we’ll evaluate our options for the coming school year.
Right now Jack is playing chess and rugby. Colt is surfing. Ririe is doing gymnastics. Maverick is taking swim lessons. I’m sure our activities will change and grow as we settle in. Our favorite thing to do is adventure together as a family.
What does your daily routine look like? What are your favourite things to do together?
We homeschool our kids. So we wake up most mornings and jump right into it. Griff and I tag team helping the kids through their lessons, as well as working on our own projects. A few days a week, the kids have activities in the community. On the off days we love to adventure! Beaches, waterfalls, whitewater rafting, snorkeling, you name it. If it is outside, we’re in!
How do you find healthcare? Do you feel safe?
I am a physician assistant in the United States with most of my experience in family medicine and urgent care. So for the most part, I take care of most of our heath care needs. However, we have had great experiences with the medical teams we have encountered when we have had to go in here in Bali. We definitely feel safe here.
What advice do you have for other families making the move to Bali?
Just take the leap! We jumped when we had the opportunity, and we have never regretted trying a different path. What the last three years of travel have taught us is that you should never be afraid to leave something good to find something better. Take the risk, pick up the pieces when you fail, and glory in the moments when you don’t.
Is there anything else you would like to share that I haven’t asked?
This may not be the best way or the only way to push reset on a family, but this is our way! We ran away from the rat race and have been running toward us ever since. We believe that building a stronger family will build a better world.
