AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Is it worth the move?

I have been doing as much reasearch as possible about Belize and the dream of moving to a slower pace of life is this a pipe dream or is it possible? Where does the guts come from to leave everything and body you know and make a clean start? I truely hate cold weather and long to sit in a chair and watch water move to and fro.

How would one know unless one visited to find out if the place in question were even remotely close to being that one's idyllic abode?

lizard -- where have you been in the caribbean/C America?

JUST COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL VACATION IN APRIL MY YOUNGEST GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR SO I DO HAVE A LITTLE TIME.

NO NEITHER HAWAII AND BERMUDA

best of luck. Belize is getting expensive, but you'll see in April how hard it is to put a price on paradise.

I SEE BOTH YOU GUYS ARE FROM THE STATES OHIO AND MAINE SO YOU GO TO BELIZE REGULARLY OR DO YOU LIVE THERE YEAR AROUND

I'm just a lover of the region -- Belize considers itself more Carbbean than Latin American, but it's a little of both. I've been to Jamaica, Costa, Belize and the Caymans -- that leaves a lot to explore, but Belize is truly unique to be sure.

I AM JUST READY FOR A MOVE AND WEIGHING MY OPTIONS I HAVE A FRIEND THAT COMES TO BELIZE ON A REGULAR BASIS, I LIKE THE FACT ITS ENGLISH IN MANY WAYS WITHOUT THE DAILY GRIND I AM JUST SICK OF IT. IVE GOT A BAD ATTITUDE. ITS COLD HERE IN KENTUCKY TOO.SO MY LATTITUDES NOT GOOD EITHER.

Otter correct - truly unique, but to truly understand & capture Belize's magic, you must travel the mainland. Add to Otter's Carib/Latin America list: Guat, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, St T, St J, PR, Barbados, Martinique, Grenada, Montserrat, Mexico and none compare. Too many visits to enumerate.

My answer I regret nothing but the answer should be "stay at home'

IS THE MAINLAND SAFE? IVE HEARD TELL OF TROUBLE WITH BANDITS?

HI PEDRO IVE BEEN READING ABOUT YOUR PIZZA WHEN I COME FOR A VISIT I WILL TEST IT FOR YOU. WHY STAY HOME?

Pedro and KLC know far more than I -- they give straight talk advice. Pedro has little tolerance for those who think they know what they're getting into. This is his way fo saying keep an open mind, visit the whole of the country, then come back and talk about moving.

ever go to NYC? Miami? Cincinnati? DC? How about Louisville? Crime there?

Not to overly worry. Give into fear, you lose. On so many levels.

very well put for a mere caveman!

nothing great was ever accomplished out of fear.

if you want to make a move, find a place that feels like home...then make it so. very little in life cant be 'undone'. a move isnt one of them. if you hate it, go home.

i love it. i made the absolute 100% right choice for me, where i am right now in my life. i have no regrets. and i have met the most amazing people.

come for a visit. look at property while you are here, just so you have a complete economic picture. then decide. most of us knew pretty quickly if we were coming home or not.

whatever you do though, bring supplies for SAGA in april! they need lots!

I had been here six days and knew this was the place. That was almost 7 years ago now and I've never been sorry. I live here 6 months and there six months.

You will know in April if this is the place for you. Just remember, being here in the 'vacation' frame of mind is much different than actually living here. It helps moving here knowing you are only a 2 hour plane ride from the states. If you decide to take the plunge and move here, keep your options open in the States incase after a couple months you realize that it is not for you.

Lizard,

We made the move this year. We did at least two years of research before coming here and this is my advice to you based on our experience.

1. Be mentally prepared. Get to know as much about the country both economically and culturally before even visiting if you are doing so as a reccy to see if you want to live here. It is best to find out what you may or may not like to limit the surprises. Note I say 'limit'. Belize is always surprising.
2. Don't just visit Ambergris Caye. Ambergris Caye is nothing like mainland Belize and you really should have a feel for the whole country before deciding to move. So spend some time traveling during your visit. We spent six weeks in total on AC, Caye Caulker and all across the mainland before making up our mind. Ambergris Caye is much more expensive than most other areas of Belize and Belize is a beautiful country. Not only that but things are different in the various communities across Belize. You may find you prefer somewhere on the mainland.
3. Explore your own mind and be very honest with yourself. Are you able to cope with things not being the same as they are back home? We are constantly surprised by the people we meet who have moved here and now spend their time complaining about things that aren't like back home.
4. If you have explored and you like it, make sure you have a sufficient financial cushion. We decided that we would spend a year here before putting down roots and buying anywhere or starting a business. Lots of people don't do it this way, so I am not saying our way is right, but it has certainly helped. Either way, even if you come down and want to buy a place and set up a business straight away, these things take time and money. Be prepared.
5. The best piece of advice we were given before coming here is 'don't leave your brain at the border'. We almost were swept away with our own enthusiasm and I am so happy we came back down to earth and saw sense before doing anything silly- lots of people do do something silly. Get to know this place and its people before spending serious money here.

Hope this give you some help. As I said, I am not saying what we have done is the best way for everyone, but it has worked for us so far. Just take your time, don't rush, research and then live the dream.

Tacoboy and I came here once for a vacation and fell in love with the idea of moving here.

We are not fond of winter and being cold so we knew island life was something in our future.

It took us a while to make it back (maybe we were on Belize time before we got here lol)

If you plan to move here be prepared to wait. If you can do waiting periods for stuff then you can get through anything.

People make some good points in this thread. This life is not for everyone but for many it is the right choice.

(we had a friend in Canada who was thinking to come here and she could not wrap her head around how the rules and pretzel logic work here)

collyk - brilliant. This post should be advised for each time the question is raised about moving. Granted, I haven't a clue what I'm talking about, but it is the most down-to-earth and practical post I've seen on the topic.

lizard: I've been visiting Belize for several years. I've visited San Ignacio, Placencia, Hopkins, spent some time in Belize City - San Pedro gets the bulk of my time by a landslide. I took my daughter there on vacation with me ~2 years ago, within months she had a job & has lived on SP since. She is living the life I haven't been able to figure out how to get to. My trade is not as marketable as her trade. Dag nabbit !! Now I just have more reasons to get to Belize more often, tho.

As many have already said, Belize is truely unique.
Visiting vs living-in Belize are two very different things.
Here is an extremely helpful ebook (free):

http://belizefirst.com/documents/SanPedroCool_eBookV10f_000.pdf

I love all the advice so far and I have to say the only reason I worry about safety is because I will probaby choose to stay on the mainland I live in a city but on a very small 10 acre farm we have a nursery greenhouse business I work full time at a local factory and my husband runs the farm he is retired from the postal service. I have 2 beautiful teenage daughters so with this in mind I have to think of their safty I am kinda old I don't think they will want me. haha. I did order some books the grays wrote I hope they are helpful as well.

In 1988 my parents and I spent 8 months in Cayo, they went home, I stayed. I'll be buried here. On the otherhand, it's not for everyone. Spend some time here without burning any bridges to see if it is definitely for you. Eating at your favorite restaurant is sure different from working there.

SIN

tacogirl thanks for the advice I know this is a move I will make there are so many reasons why it will be a good move and just a few cons, Hey I am from Kentucky we don't do anything fast here I went to new york and swore I would never go back saw it twice way to fast paced for this farm girl. what kind of jobs are ther for people? could my girls go to college there without a lot of red tape?again thanks so much

that is something that is driving me and my hubby to coming there we both lost our fathers and moms in the last 3 years all siblings live out of town anyway we just have our kids our parents only live till their mid 60's so if I only have a few good years left I don't wanna work for the man till then I wanna lay by the beach doing nothing if thats what I choise.

sure I wouldn't drive in downtown Louisville in the daylight! But, Here if someone breaks in my house I can shoot them and I would be in the right, there I don't know? I am not sure of all the rules and if I would be safe thats all and why I am asking you guys for info. I ve looked at all the pics read almost everything on the threads I adapt easily to change laid back and I wanna make a difference no matter where I call home. especially to the kids.Knowing how I am I would probaby perfer the mainland because I like to explore things. and I would like a small piece of land.