BELIZE - LIVING IN PARADISE
REFLECTING BACK (Thoughts from "Big John")
For as long as I can remember, I have always tried to do the right thing. Yet all of us at some point in our life, feel that we have missed something, perhaps something of real value. We work 40-60 hours a week, to pay the mortgage, buy the insurance, make the phone calls, do the follow up, pay the bills, answer the emails (and in the end), we feel tired and often ask ourselves, "Just exactly where am I going?"
That question starred at me, dead center back in the year 2005, when I took my wife to dinner and we both looked at each other and asked ourselves where are we going? So we got on a plane, came to Belize and soon realized, that a whole new world was about to open up to us. We found that living by the ocean, in the Caribbean sun, brought with it a sense of consistency, and stability, that we were not getting from living in the United States. Here, the only real variation in the weather is the presence of the occasional rain shower or rolling clouds. You can walk on foot, almost anywhere in town, in just about 10 minutes or less.
I have forgotten what it is like to have to worry about merging traffic on the highway, flat tires and traffic jams. I buy my fruits and vegetables from a local street vendor across the street, I pay my water and electric bill, often standing in line next to my neighbor and my friend. Everyone I know, waves to me on the street and a stranger isn't a stranger here for very long.
There isn't anything better than a cold rum punch in hand, and a cool trade wind blowing across my face. I find it a joy to read a local newspaper, that is only about10-12 pages long, where the only real news is local community events and birthday announcements. I am touched by the feeling, that my doctor expresses joy in having me as a friend. I love the feeling, that the only real movie playing here..............is the one you see ocean side every night, where entertainment can be defined as spending the evening visiting with family and friends.
So when you ask me, what living in paradise is all about, I will tell you that it has brought to me, a deep inner sense of satisfaction and tranquility.
That question starred at me, dead center back in the year 2005, when I took my wife to dinner and we both looked at each other and asked ourselves where are we going? So we got on a plane, came to Belize and soon realized, that a whole new world was about to open up to us. We found that living by the ocean, in the Caribbean sun, brought with it a sense of consistency, and stability, that we were not getting from living in the United States. Here, the only real variation in the weather is the presence of the occasional rain shower or rolling clouds. You can walk on foot, almost anywhere in town, in just about 10 minutes or less.
I have forgotten what it is like to have to worry about merging traffic on the highway, flat tires and traffic jams. I buy my fruits and vegetables from a local street vendor across the street, I pay my water and electric bill, often standing in line next to my neighbor and my friend. Everyone I know, waves to me on the street and a stranger isn't a stranger here for very long.
There isn't anything better than a cold rum punch in hand, and a cool trade wind blowing across my face. I find it a joy to read a local newspaper, that is only about10-12 pages long, where the only real news is local community events and birthday announcements. I am touched by the feeling, that my doctor expresses joy in having me as a friend. I love the feeling, that the only real movie playing here..............is the one you see ocean side every night, where entertainment can be defined as spending the evening visiting with family and friends.
So when you ask me, what living in paradise is all about, I will tell you that it has brought to me, a deep inner sense of satisfaction and tranquility.
