Now that word has gotten out among my family and friends that I am planning on moving to Belize and becoming an Expatriate, everyone is asking 聯WHY聰. Some are calling me 聯Chicken Little聰, or say I am being 聯Unpatriotic聰. I thought my answers to their scoldings might help some of you who have run up against the same comment, or soon will when news gets out of your plans to expatriate.
They ask;
聯Q聰 聯Why Belize?聰
聯A聰 I understand a little bit of several languages but, do not speak enough of any to feel comfortable elsewhere.
聯Q聰 You will be so far away won聮t you miss us?
聯A聰 Sure, but I will only be an hour or so from the airport, then only a 2 hour flight back to the states.
聯Q聰 聯What about your love for good Pizza?聰
聯A聰 They have Pizza places, in fact Katz30 (a member of this forum group) and her sons have a Pizza place just down the road from where I intend to settle.
聯Q聰 聯What about you and all the Mosquitoes and other bugs?聰
聯A聰 I have been advised (on this forum) that all the Lotions that work for me are readily available there.
聯Q聰 聯Isn聮t Belize a backward third world country, with none of the normal creature comforts of life?聰
聯A聰 No. They have most everything you could need available, Fans, Air conditioners, Kitchen cookware and utensils, Laundry equipment, Soaps, Shampoos, Appropriate Clothing, Electronics, etc聟 If they can't get it for you you probable don't need it anyway.
聯Q聰 聯What about your love for building things with your hands?聰
聯A聰 Belize has everything I need to build a house, a wood project, or whatever. And if I run out of ideas, I can learn a new craft or trade from the locals.
聯Q聰 聯What will you do? Won聮t you get bored or lonely?聰
聯A聰 There is more to do then I will ever get to, Hiking, Backpacking, Cave Exploration, Fishing, Snorkeling, Sailing, Jungle Exploration, poking around ancient Mayan Ruins, etc聟. The Local people are very friendly and welcoming, glad to meet you and eager to show you around their corner of paradise and introduce you to their culture and history.
聯Q聰 聯Ok but won聮t you miss being around Americans?聰
聯A聰 Probably not, but if I do there is a huge Expatriate population all over the country, Including People from all corners of the globe; Americans, Canadians, Germans, Europeans, Africans, Asians, Russians, etc聟 the Realtor I have been corresponding with is from Missouri and the inspiration and advice for this trip was from a New England expatriate.
聯Q聰 聯What about the Government, isn聮t it corrupt and unstable?聰
聯A聰 No more than the US or any other Government. Theirs Government is based on the English Colonial System. Corruption is worldwide (look at the US Senators). Stability is relative. Their economy is probably more stable than ours in the US. No worries about your 401 tanking, housing bubbles, wall street and mega banks collapsing, maxing out your credit keeping up with the Joneses all just to have your company pillage your retirement program, lay you off and go under.
I guess bottom line is it聮s a Safe, Friendly, Welcoming, and Beautiful place to
Relax and Decompress after a life time in the Rat Race we all live.
Actually I think all their objection and questions stem from their
Jealousy and frustration that they to are not
Brave enough to take the Plung.
Let me know if these answers help.
I look forward to getting the chance to share a Pizza with you all someday in Belize!
2011 looks like the year for Me!
How About YOU!
Leonard
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