How has your life changed in Belize

Life in Corozal, Belize has been very good to me. I have been here a little over 4 years. My story here is probably different then many that come here. I do not recommend others do it the way I did, unless they have a similar mindset.
I came down to Corozal on a week’s vacation. On the third day I purchased my lot. I liked what I saw and did not hesitate.
Most people will tell you to rent for 6 months or a year, before you buy. That is a good approach for those that are not definite on their approach to their life. My philosophy has always been, Bloom where you are planted. I planted myself here and I will flourish.
After being here a year I went for a checkup with blood tests. Everything was fine. I take three meds. When I came back I cut two of my meds in half, and took those daily. I do not advise anyone do the same. I am master of my own body.
I went back the next year, blood test came back fine. I started taking the one half pill every other day. One of the meds I take every third day. I feel great and will cut them even more this next year.
I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and feel what they give me is much better than meds.
I have been retired for 7 years but do not sit around. I still will throw dirt, and use a pick when needed. I work in my garage workshop on a daily basis. I am not a svelte as I could be, but I figure at my age, I will eat and do what I want.
I designed and had my home built. When I am not working in the yard or garage, I am on the computer. I do a lot of work on the computer. I have my home for sale, not to leave the area, just to downsize. I would not have to keep a house and yard.
My life here has been very good. I learn more and more each day. Life has slowed down considerably from the fast pace of city life. I have many friends, ex-pats and Belizeans.
Belize is my home. I have very little draw to move back to the states.

Great post "skistrail", very inspiring and a good story.  We're headed down the end of April to "test" Caye Caulker for 12 days.  If we like, the house in CT will be up for sale when we get back and our plans are to be in CC by October, 2017.

We are taking a day trip to the Corozal/Consejo areas, and have looked at some properties and land to look at when there, as a back up, should CC not prove to be what we want.  After spending considerable time researching that "neck of the woods", we feel very comfortable that the Corozal/Consejo (there must be something about "CC" that's drawing our attention!) will be a great back up plan.

Best Wishes on the downsizing!  Who do you have your current home listed with?  Maybe we've perused it while looking at properties in the area.  Send us a PM if you don't wish to reveal it here.

CorozalBZHomesandLand.com

I moved over 13 years with 10 animals and 2 teenagers--- to San Ignacio and can say that it has been  blessing as to the quality of life and the deep friendships i have been gifted with here. I started by Buyers agency office and have enjoyed making friends with people like me, who also wanted to move to Belize. I split my time between the islands and inland as we have offices in both areas and love that i can live in a Country that lets me feel like I am on a holiday !
kind of magical to live somewhere , where others come to vacation !!
Most of the issues i have seen people have is trusting everyone- and thinking Belize is like the Country they moved from. I appreciate the melting pot of folks we have that live here, the fresh fruits and veggies and the quality of life. The things that are a challenge is at time the Heat an ares with crime, 
( although this is a world wide issue, coming from D.C. )..
Highly recommend Belize, even if it just as a test drive !!

Our lives are so, so different. It's not what I thought it would be. It's not a panacea. It's not for everyone. It's not perfect. But it's perfect for me. I think Belize is the most beautiful place on earth. My life is so much more relaxed here. It's my own. It's been a challenge to figure out income, and we could have done a way better job planning, but I get up when I want and go to bed when I want. I take breaks when I need to, and best of all, I spend a lot of time with my kids. My life has improved dramatically.

Our lives in Belize obviously have changed in so many ways. We live healthier by eating fresher produce and breathing cleaner air, less  stress to a certain degree. We are by far materially better off and the cost to build is far cheaper than Europe.Is fabulous waking up to the warmth and birds singing,  We Perhaps regret not moving to the coast to a more cosmopolitan area if there is one outside of San Pedro as San Ignacio is not for us. we miss having good food in the restaurants and there are few in town. also a good club outside of Belize City.  Making real friends have proved surprisingly very difficult and we feel isolated  although we are outgoing people, as to voluntary work I think I am over qualified in many areas and on thinking maybe seen as a threat to peoples jobs?    Maybe We will move on in time to another more progressive part of the Caribbean as one major factor is traveling outside the Americas is so costly and difficult or return to Europe. We are a cosmopolitan family but feel sexism is keeping the progress of women back and this Machismo that operates is bad, I feel  Belize is a mans country and as I am hot on equality I don't like what I see, Incest and pedophilia seems to be entrenched in the area we live and not much is done about it, people dont want to talk about it and ignore its happening, so we want to eventually get away before our brains too rusty and we get too cynical, perhaps we are too deep!.

Mangoman, I am right there with you on sexism here. I think coming from the US, my standards may be a bit lower as to what I expect from people, but I was a women's studies minor in college, and I'm a woman and the mother of two girls (and two boys as well), so this is an important issue for me. We, as a family, also take issue with the rampant homophobia. I've little tolerance for it, and my teenage kids have even less. I started coming to Belize in 96 as a student, and I fell in love with the mellow culture, the spiritual openness, and the relative racial harmony. For me, I love the country as a whole and want to work to change the things that bother me. Like I said, coming from the US, there's way more there that's out of whack with my personal beliefs there than here. I have already begun speaking out against violence against women, children, and gay people, and I have plans to amp that up. I'm hoping to start pflag type organizations in Placencia and mango. And I'd like to do more than just speak out against violence against women and children too. I just haven't figured out how to navigate that.
As far as food, clubs, etc. I think Placencia has more going there. As for friends, I hear you. It's been a challenge for us too.

Yes there is a lot of work to do here, but it will be very difficult to change a culture of a country if there is no will from the top.. and religious institutions. The teachers in the surrounding villages are oppressed females themselves and they project that behavior onto the kids of both genders. The girls are taught how to make paper displays and lack literacy skills. Man where do you start! I spoke to the Women's unit in Belize City but they couldnt be bothered. As for homophobia its like that in most of the developing world. Round here Belizian gays are tolerated but cant get married, there are a lot of American lesbians living in this area and they are left alone. I suppose they are not seen as a threat. Well this thing is bigger than me so I just try to make a small difference when and where I can......

It's a challenge, but when I was a student here, I was introduced to some agent of change type people, so I at least feel like I have a framework, but in the end, wherever we are, we are only doing what we can. I definitely see less hassle for lesbians than gay men, but I feel a strong need to do something there. As for women and girls (and education in general, for that matter), I am hoping to link with some of the strong women leaders. There are a lot of them, but they're fighting an uphill battle to be sure. I think we're in a time of great change all around the world right now, and I think it's good, even when it isn't always pretty.

Happiness is a choice, not an event.

Hi Skistrail!!     great post.. and way to go to you for just jumping in with both feet and doing it.    I have to admit, I KNOW we'll get there one day and live.. but I am a bit of a fence sitter right now..  so the transition to Belize might be slower..  BUT who knows.. maybe one day it'll just hit us and we'll sell everything and just GO!      I can only imagine how much the blood pressure will drop...and how good the healthy will be.. sigh....       
I was also wondering.. you mentioned you have your place for sale..   could you by any chance send me more information...   links to it etc..  that would be very appreciated!!   who knows.. maybe this is the kick in the butt to get there sooner!!        have an awesome day.. and ttys..     Sheila

My home and lots of videos are at my website for the house. my home for sale in Corozal Belize website

Awesome!!!!!!  thank you..  I'm off to check that out right now!!!

Nice Place fellow Coloradan, I would like to find a Half Acre with power close proximity to the Ocean and Driving distance to the Rain Forest. I read on some other threads that the Tariffs are outrageous on vehicles. So what if someone wanted to check out Belize with a Newer Pickup Truck and Travel Trailer? Is this feesable? Thanks Robert.