On our first trip we knew it was home. During the ensuing year we went back and forth on"vacations" that got progressively longer and closer together. We made the decision in January and were moved by the following December. By then we'd already purchased two parcels of land - one of them is where we live today.
It took a while to dis-assemble the stateside "stuff". We had to sell a condo, two cars, get work permits, arrange finances. I spent every other weekend diligently sorting a lifetime of things and discarding as much as possible ...... I lingered over old love letters that would eventually hit the trash, wondered if I'd ever need those fabulous angora sweaters again (no). We bought a set of furniture I was sure would be perfect in our new Belize house. We sold off our city furniture. We rented a storage place and put the last of our stuff, plus furniture in it and moved down - taking with us one duffle bag apiece with clothes, and one cat carrier apiece (with our cats). A year later, house done, life in Belize in full swing, we went to inspect that storage place - gave away the furniture we'd purchased for Belize (the stuff here is so much more appropriate), donated the last of our clothes and other things we had been unable to part with before ....... packed up books and a couple of prized frying pans - and that was that. No regrets. Wish we'd done it sooner.