I am a US citizen looking to change my life. I have been a Financial Broker in Chicago for the last 10 years and feel completely burnt out. The stress level has taken its toll on me. I worked through college as a golf pro and would like to find some type of work there. If anyone there could let me know what kind of opportunities and what life there is like, I would be very thankful.

send cash ..loattsa it
and
i'll tell yah

I know exactly how you feel... was living in Detroit (an armpit compared to Chicago) before moving to Belize. Use the search feature on this message board for hundreds of hours of reading. Describing how life is here, is too long of a task for one message.
About golf, there is only one golf course in Belize, that I know of, and its on Caye Chapel http://www.cayechapel.com/
Here are some good mesage boards on other website, but the friendliest is right here on http://www.ambergriscaye.com
Check out http://www.belizenorth.com
http://www.belize.net
http://www.belizeans.com
http://www.cayecaulker.org

--Silk
http://www.caribbean-colors.com
http://www.cybercayecaulker.com

I say: go for it, but plan well, the worst part of my life here is the part left in the states, i.e. the mortgage on a house I still have there, and getting it rented, getting money back to US accts etc. On the other hand, as the saying too often is heard here, if you want to make a Million in Belize, bring two... Don't come because you're burned out, come because its a new challenge, a new leaf. It is so incredible to live here: everyday life has turned out to be the best part of living here, not just the beach or the sun or the season, but the people, community, a shared wave as you pass nieghbors, I never regret our decision.
Chris (16 months in San Pedro, restaurant owner)

:rolleyes:

Cris, I'm sorry, I guess I'm crazy!! Anyway !! about living here, it is GREAT!! Nothing like the States!!

Silk,

There's also a golf course, sort of, near Altun Ha on the Old Northern Highway. It's where Pretty See Ranch/hotel was. Kind of a ridiculous place for a golf course in my opinion, and it's for sale for an astounding price.

--Lan Sluder

... and

To Michael14,

Lots of words of wisdom have been passed here on the subject. The almost universal advice you'll hear is to come to Belize and spend some time in the country, preferably not as a tourist but as close to a resident status as possible, before you make any decisions at all about Belize.

Over the years, I've gotten hundreds, maybe thousands, of messages, letters and phone calls from people who imagined Belize to be the solution to all their problems, even though they had never been to Belize. No place can possibly live up to those kinds of expectations, and certainly not Belize.

--Lan Sluder
Belize books and publications by Lan Sluder:
Belize First Magazine (http://www.belizefirst.com)
Fodor's Belize & Guatemala Guide (new 4th edition coming this fall)
Adapter Kit: Belize (the first and only comprehensive guide to living, retiring, working and investing in Belize -- a best-seller on Amazon.com)
San Pedro Cool (the first and only visitor guide to Ambergris Caye)
Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize -- sold out, new edition coming early 2003
UpClose Central America
Belize Book of Lists -- sold out, new edition coming early 2003
Best Hotels of Belize -- coming late 2002

Good advice Lan

I think no matter where you go on Earth, every place has it's own set of "stresses".
The key is deciding whether you can live with those particular stresses.

Before you leave the states....think long and hard on what it is that is truly important to you in life. Things you can and can't live without.
Every place also has it's own culture and you need to be able to deal with it...good and bad.

I found out after moving here, the things that were really important to me. They aren't here...
Paradise is not paradise if you have nobody to share it with.

There is more to life than just a pretty view....

Tammy

I plan to move to Belize sometime after the new year - HOWEVER - I have been there 7 times and learn something new on each trip. It was about my 4th trip and the end of a long-term relationship that got me to thinking about moving down. But I just retired and have no desire to "work" in Belize. I'm a scuba diver/underwater photographer so I can tolerate a lot of inconvenience for the pleasure of being in the water. I've also slowed down to the point that I was happy to sit on the balcony and watch the thunder and lightning and rain, day after day after day on this last trip.
Could you tolerate that?
Do your self a favor and make a trip down. Airfares are very good right now and the weather should clear up the first of November.
Since you are talking about working there PLEASE read the book "Don't Stop The Carnival." It is very funny, and so true. I stayed at the Hide Away on this trip and got to meet a lot of locals. Everyone has a story to tell.
If you have money to start a business, and willing to risk going broke, go for it.
Just remember that wherever you go – there you are.

Harriette

Hariette makes some good points.
Although coming for frequent visits gives you an idea of what to expect and what you might be up against, there is nothing that will prepare you better than being here for a long stretch. I would recommend no less than 3 months. Things happen pretty slow here, but that should give you enough time for most things that would irritate you to come to pass.

When you are here for visits...2 or 3 weeks at a time...you never get to comprehend the difficulties you will encounter by being here for extended periods. Those little enlightning tidbits come out of the blue one day when you want some insignificant thing...and you spend half the day looking for it all over town...and still go home empty handed. Sometimes it won't bug you...other days it will drive you nuts.

A good 6 months gives you an excellent grasp on what the rest of your life will be like in Paradise. Then you can adequately judge whether you can live here in complete peace...or whether it isn't your cup of tea.

Owning a business here brings a whole new set of obstacles to climb. Nothing is the same here in business except how to use your calculator....LOL
If you are looking to be a golf pro...well, I can't offer much in the way of advice. That is certainly not something we have a lot of.

Banking can be complicated and not always completely reliable. You will need to check and make sure your money is being handled and reported correctly. Don't pile your bank statements up on the corner of your desk...open them and reconcile them...immediately! LOL

Staff/Employees = Migrane headache
I'll say no more on this subject...LOL

There is a lot to be learned before considering a move here and especially before opening a business. I've learned the only way to really enjoy it here is to either be retired so you have a consistent income every month and can be comfortable...or to own a business so you are making the profits. Even then, being happy and comfortable owning a business is dependent on the type of business, being wise in your overhead expenses, location(location...location) and supply and demand(BELIZE supply and demand).

Hariette is also right about the "Belize Manual" LOL
Two pre-requisites for living here...you must read: "Don't Stop the Carnival" by Herman Wouk and
"Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" by Richard Carlson, PhD.

It helps if you hang out at BC's on Sundays and talk at length with the locals....they have all been there...and done that. LOL

With all that said...you should be in pretty good shape!

Cheers...and good luck!
Tammy