Canadian, Chris Applebe has been living full-time in Belize for the last seven years. Home is Placencia, a 16-mile tropical peninsula in the south of the country—a hotspot for both expats and tourists alike.
When people find out I left my life in the U.S. to move to Placencia, Belize, one of the first questions they ask is how it has changed me—and what life looks like compared to the U.S. The truth is, life is very different in Belize.
People often ask why I chose Placencia, Belize, to live and work, instead of all the other places in the Caribbean and Central America. When you first start to look at all the options, it can be overwhelming to find the right fit for you, or even to know how to start looking.
My husband David and I have a lot of people ask us these days, “What do you do all day?” On the surface, it looks pretty easy. “It” is running a boutique resort in Caribbean Belize—often doing it remotely. Sure, we still have the work that comes with running a resort: managing staff, managing bookings, and the like.
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, Bill Dejardin and Judy Lutz were used to rain and gray skies throughout the year. “The weather in the northwest can be depressing,” says Bill. “Fall, winter, and spring can range from 20 F to 60s F or the occasional 70s F.”
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, Bill Dejardin and Judy Lutz were used to rain and gray skies throughout the year. “The weather in the northwest can be depressing,” says Bill. “Fall, winter, and spring can range from 20 F to 60s F or the occasional 70s F.”
Fifty-year-old Sue Vasquez grew up in the harsh winters of the Midwest. She wanted nothing more than a life where she could spend more time with her husband, Carlos, enjoying sun and warmth.
When my husband Dave and I first visited Belize we were blown away by the island lifestyle and culture. We loved seeing swaying palm trees and white-sand beaches everywhere we looked. We loved seeing people actually enjoying their day, walking to get their groceries, the lack of materialism, and the fact that we could be outside 12 months a year.
Life here is busy, but it’s a good kind of busy. We have less driving and commuting than when we lived in Ohio…and we don’t miss traffic jams, shoveling snow, and de-icing the car in the morning, which used to take up so much time. Here, grocery shopping or paying bills involves a bike ride or a walk in sunny weather, where you can hear birds and see the beach.
Exactly one year ago, I was sitting on my couch in snowy Cleveland. At that time, I hadn't left Northern Ohio for more than three weeks at a time. I was spending my time watching International House Hunter shows and researching on every travel blog and forum I could...trying to find out if living in Central America was a realistic dream for my husband, Dave, and I.