Name: Ann Kuffner
Age: 58
Nationality: American
Living in: Ambergris Caye, Belize
In February 1999, my husband Mike and I embarked upon our first Belize adventure. We joined a small group of adventurous International Living members headed for a tour of the country. As our 10-seater turbo-prop skidded to a stop on San Pedro’s small town runway, we had no inkling how much our lives would change.
It is fair to say that Mike and I are an IL success story. Within a few action-packed years of this Belize tour, we designed and built both a home and a chic health club in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. It’s been a wild adventure, and is still a work in progress.
I first learned about Belize when I was in my 20s. In those days, I was still scuba-diving in the dark, frigid waters off the northern California coast. By the time I reached the age of 30, a trip to the Virgin Islands was within financial reach. After my first dive into the warm, crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea, there was no turning back.
From that point on, I fantasized about owning a little piece of paradise somewhere in the Caribbean. The natural beauty of the region and the laidback attitude appealed to me. For many years my Caribbean dream was but a fantasy. I was busy building a career in marketing. However, that urge to live near the sea, where I could swim and snorkel every day, always lurked beneath the surface.
At that time, Mike was a contractor in California’s Bay Area, where we lived. He was increasingly frustrated by the day-to-day hassles of his contracting business. IL recommended Belize as an attractive place to retire and open a business…and I studied every article they wrote about this country with growing interest.
Finally, I made reservations for IL’s “Discovery Tour” to Belize. To this day, we have fond memories of that trip. Our charted flights shuttled us between San Ignacio, Placentia, and Ambergris Caye, the most popular expat areas. We heard from expats, local politicians, real estate brokers, and lawyers. Each person entertained us with personal stories and valuable insights into living and working in Belize.
After the tour ended, we returned to San Pedro. We decided to perform our own detailed research. Intrigued by Ambergris Caye, we considered it the best place to invest. And, of course, it offered outstanding dive operators, a strong expat community, great restaurants, and many activities.
The Pros of Living in Belize
There are some things I miss about living in California. Mainly, I miss family and friends, the diverse fresh food, and foreign flicks and culture. Not much else, though.
Our overall cost of living is about 33% of what it was in California. It is hard to let go of all the “things” we had. But we can get by on a lot less here.
I love the balmy weather, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 85 degrees most days. The aquamarine water and nearby reef are stunning. The breeze coming off the Caribbean Sea has a cooling effect, so we hardly ever use our air-conditioning. It is comfortable to swim all year round, and nature is ever present.
Every day we see and talk to our neighbors. It’s a small town and everyone is friendly. I walk to the beach, where I run into friends.
Mike and I work most days in Belize, but it doesn’t feel like work. Our hours are flexible. We hold meetings by the pool or at a beach café. Our normal attire is shorts, shirts, and flip-flops.
We walked the beaches, quizzing local expats about their experiences in Belize. By the end of the second week, we reached the tipping point and invested in property. We could always sell the property later—if we decided it wasn’t for us….
Early in the trip, Mike was consumed by doubts about Belize. But as we headed back to San Francisco, he enthusiastically began designing Mi Casa, our first home in San Pedro. He was thrilled that he could apply his creative talents to a new and interesting project.
Mike had a blast designing and building Mi Casa. He integrated Mayan and other local architectural influences into the design, including exotic Belizean woods. He learned to deal with different types of workers and government processes. The final result was fantastic. I loved staying here during my vacations.
Mike was spending longer periods of time in Belize, while I still worked full-time back in the States. But I wasn’t about to ditch my secure corporate career until I had a satisfying alternative path. Living separate lives was taking a toll, though.
Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less
If you are looking for a place with a Caribbean climate, an English-speaking population, and low property prices, then you should look to Belize. IL’s new report, Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less gives you the lowdown on living in this tropical paradise. See: www.internationalliving.com/belizereport.
So we began evaluating potential businesses. After considering many options, we found one that struck a chord with both of us. I’d been an aerobics enthusiast and dancer for many years. But the only gym in San Pedro had clearly been “submerged” a few times. We recognized the need for an upscale tennis and athletic club—preferably in a country club setting.
Mike’s next project was designing and building a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a three-tiered pool. The San Pedro Family Fitness Club opened in early 2003.
I finally left my corporate position behind for good and moved to Belize in June 2008. Now I work out at the club almost every day. Our most recent venture is the Grand Baymen Belize condominium development. Mike and I are both immersed in the design, sales, and construction oversight of this development. It is being built on the property that adjoins our fitness club.
I’m content with my day-to-day life in Belize. I can swim every day or walk the beach with my dogs. We have a full, active social life, and I’m developing skills in new and interesting professional areas. We have made many friends here in San Pedro. There are always opportunities to get together at local hangouts.