The Back Story

I've been visiting Belize about every other year since 2001.  I'm drawn to the country by its' beauty, diversity, the wild gumbo mix of people, the Caribbean ambience and the friendly, fun loving, English-speaking Belizians.  In 2012, my mechanical engineering career had pretty much fizzled out with the tea party's brilliant government spending sequester that cost the tax payers 24 billion dollars.  It was at that time that I began to make preparations for a life in Belize's more pleasant alternate reality.

These preparations required a market ready house, a house much in need of scraping and painting as well as attention to other neglected details.  Efforts in this area resulted in a sold house after less than a week on the market.  Much time and effort was required for bulk disposal of my possessions. Surprisingly, I felt less attachment to most items than I would have thought.  There were exceptions:

So long my beautiful 2000 BMW M roadster.  Sold to friends Shelly and Keith who previously bought my first BMW, a 1986 325e I purchased new and drove for 14 years.

So long delightful 1959 Austin Healey Sprite.

Things that wouldn't sell on Craigs list, weren't taken to Goodwill or the dump were given away.

Sister and brother in law score big with living room and outdoor furniture.

There were some items that I could not part with.  These items filled my shop and required the construction of 17 crates to ship weighty machinery and tools.

The crated and boxed items will remain in storage until my new home is established or a storage facility becomes available in Corozal.

My preparations were drawn out over a period of years.   I chose to wait on the Belize move until I had aged enough to begin drawing a small pension early in 2016.  In the mean time I kept a low profile by staying home, quitting cigarettes and learning to economize.  This served me well for I am able to cover my Belize living and entertainment expenses from the small pension alone.
In 2014 I came to Corozal for the first time on a real estate scouting mission.  I stayed a week before leaving for the cayes to meet up with friends.  I must say, I left Corozal without a great enthusiasm for the place, but I did identify three lots of interest and judged the place had potent for a more interesting future.

I could continue living a boring existence in the U.S. growing ever more stagnant with ever diminishing expectations or I could throw the dice, step off the cliff and hope for the best.  May 3, 2016 I stepped off a plane in Ladyville, Belize and never looked back or experienced the slightest regret.  I'm into my fourth month here and I love it more than I ever would have thought possible.

I image above is from the table where I enjoyed breakfast during my first few days here.  Most everyday I'm stuck by the beauty surrounding me.

I've made many fun/good friends!

We've found ways to cool off and enjoy ourselves.

Trip to Sarteneja Video

This blog will document the many adventures and surprises Belize has to offer.  I've ignored the common wisdom of renting for a year before purchasing property.  Late in July I purchased a canal lot.  The canal leads to the bay that allows travel to the Caribbean Sea and earth's second largest barrier reef protecting Belize's coast line.  Just across the road are empty beach front lots.  I term my lot as future beach front.  The lot is higher than the present beach front lots that will submerge with the changing climate.  The lot is being prepared for the construction of my house, but that description will await the next "Squier of Corozal" episode.