HELL 2.0

That was the theme of my morning journal entry today, 12 Oct 2022.

Two-point-O, you ask?

Well, let me take you back to my blog post on the very last day of 2016, "Worst Year, EVER!" I'd call 2016 (technically the end of Nov 2015 through Oct 2016) "HELL 1.0!"

I lost my car and my license that year. I lost my job, then after a summer with my grieving father, it took me until the end of September 2016 to regain employment. That's when things finally began leveling off, but then I had to face the first anniversary of Mom's death over Thanksgiving Weekend. Needless to say, Thanksgiving is no longer a holiday for me. I could live without the reminder.

I don't remember 2017 being a whole lot better, then 2018 kinda sucked, until I moved back in with my girls post-Hurricane Michael in mid-October '18. Christmas was ok, though I think the girls spent the full two weeks out of school with their Mom in PCB. As I recall, 2019 was a blur with patches of homelessness, where I slept out on the street. That year ended with several of my friends struggling to kick flu-like symptoms FOR WEEKS (HELLO, COVID-19!!!), which our government tried to cover-up until the following Spring when the outbreak COULDN'T be ignored! So 2020 began with COVID, then George Floyd and racial unrest, but I was quarantined with my girls so the first half of that year sucked LESS than the previous four.

So why HELL 2.0 for the current year?

Well, let's back up to October 2021.

I get a call from my sister the morning of 4 Oct 21 that Dad's COVID-induced pneumonia seems to be letting up, he's breathing better than ever and seems to have turned a corner. He'd been hospitalized a few days with breathing difficulty. BUT by later that day, he nosedived and his condition was worse than before. That night, around 8:30, he was dead. "Turned the corner???"

Through the great kindness of a wonderful, new friend in Boulder, CO, I was able to fly home the following afternoon. Officially, the year of hell had begun.

We memorialized Dad, but not without major drama from some former siblings, one of whom I had to take to court to send a message. I'd rather not elaborate for fear I might throw this laptop out this second-story window!

By the time Christmas 2021 rolled around, I'd had enough. I was preparing my return to either Boulder or the beach. Then, in a state of unwellness, I did the opposite and stayed in Indiana, rekindling what I believed to be an old flame. Turns out, I was just horny.

That misstep led to FIVE MONTHS of misery. THAT's how my year, 2022, started. I was living in the trash heap of Evansville, IN, trying to make the best of it, pouring myself into genealogical research and visiting nearby family--that was the lone bright spot of the Winter/Spring 2022. But in that time, I burnt through most of my meager inheritance from Dad. I, again, had nothing--no car, no home...

I had to escape that frying pan for the fire at my sister's house. ABSOLUTE CHAOS!

I knew this about my sister's living situation, but what was I to do? Go immediately back to Boulder?

My relationship with my girls was already on life support...I don't know why, honestly. That left me no real reason to go back to Boulder...so BEACH it was!

Only my sister needed me...and begged me to come back and make some semblance of order out of her chaotic existence. It was above my paygrade. I failed. That's not a word that's been part of my lexicon much since 2001. I don't like it. I like even less to have to admit failure. But that's what 2022 has been--one after the other!

I was looking to escape to Fort Myers Beach as early as June of this year. I floundered, began struggling again with depression, barely able to grieve my father's death for MONTHS! I was miserable.

It's worth noting here that being ORPHANED, no matter your age, is no easy thing to wrestle or come to grips with. I turned 54 in September. I hate being an orphan!! I lost the parents who not only raised me, but we GREW UP TOGETHER! And to make matters worse, I have no reliable siblings now, either. I'm a man without a family. And since my girls have ghosted me--at 18 and 21--I really feel like a ship without a home and without a rudder.

I'm adrift...

Adding to that helpless feeling, my beach, the one I was to go back to in June, then August, then September? IT WAS DECIMATED BY HURRICANE IAN ON SEPT. 28TH!!! How's that for a kicker???

I was literally looking at transportation costs on the day of my birthday, exactly two weeks earlier, then Ian hit...OF ALL PLACES!!! FMB took the brunt of 12-15 feet of storm surge and brutal 100mph+ winds, sustained. The beach now lies in ruins. I had my best friends down there ride it out in their stilted home. It barely escaped destruction. Their business was not so lucky.

I still plan to go back there, but there is no water, no power and parts of the island are inaccessible due to massive piles of debris, downed trees and power lines. It could be a month before power is restored.

Yeah, this year (Oct 2021 - Present) has sucked JUST AS BAD as 2016!!!
I cannot imagine Hell being much worse.

Signed,
Rudderless in 2022

The Human Toll of our Stupidity

The two words which came to mind in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian a week and one half ago. We can blame these Great American "values" for the massive human toll, which at this point ranks second ONLY to the 1935 Hurricane. That hurricane claimed 485 lives. The death toll from Ian is still being tabulated.

WE WANTED IT. WE TOOK IT!

In the news segment here, you'll hear from a scientist how the removal of natural dunes in the name of progress created the effects we saw of massive storm surge. These natural barriers between sea and civilization were bulldozed many decades ago.

The images, alone, provided by NASA are alarming...but more alarming are the harmful effects of unfettered capitalism, greed and growth that allowed the building of so many unsafe structures RIGHT ALONG the coastline...and this happens ALL OVER Florida!

The arrogance of planners and developers to think that we (mere mortals) can somehow stop the rising seas, we can resist the natural flow of water (see the Everglades) or in any other way FUCK WITH Mother Nature is pure insanity. Yet, we do it everyday. We restrict or impact in some way the flow of waterways, we introduce foreign objects, substances and species (plant and animal) and otherwise screw up the natural state of our planet, and expect the Universe to comply with OUR wishes. It just does not work that way. The Universe DOES NOT revolve around humankind!

The Army Corps of Engineers and the planners in Lee County believed they could manufacture islands to build a causeway that would withstand the terrific force of the Gulf of Mexico. Likewise, they filled in a swamp, then drained the neighborhoods they manufactured with endless canals and sold it to retirees as "Cape Coral." It was swampy marshland just inside Pine Island and should have been left to the manatee, the blue herron and the gator. But just like the concrete jungle in South Florida, we created a veritable paradise for mostly white people.

Why? Because we could...and developers profited greatly.

Time is about to show how much Mother Nature and the rising seas, due to a global crisis, care about humankind's plans--their avarice and hubris mean nothing to Her. Miami will one day be swallowed by the Atlantic, becoming my great-great descendants New Atlantis.

And as Hurricane Ian showed, we cannot sustain this type of growth along the barrier islands on the Gulf side, either. You can't resculpt islands, removing the barriers nature put in place, then put unsafe structures on the new landscape and expect Mother Nature to respect that. She won't. She doesn't.

And yet, in SWFL, just like in post-Andrew Miami, we'll see the tightening (in this case, enforcing, FINALLY) of building codes from the early 2000's. They'll ignore the lessons of history and rebuild on the exact same duneless beaches, just stronger, more fortified houses and condos. Hell, Fort Myers Beach was in the process of building the mega-structure Margaritaville when Ian struck!

But who will be able to afford to live in this new paradise? Only the mega-wealthy!

All that money and "sustainable" growth is still no match for the power of nature. Those islands WILL one day be claimed by the rising seas! Just as the above video shows us, nature already took a little of it back with her after Ian.

My post-Ian, anti-American Rant

 

I don't wax political too often on this blog. But here we go...

I have NEVER been a big Joe Biden fan! I voted for him, yes, just to get the Orange Twatwaffle out of office, who I don't even recognize as the "Former President" (FPOTUS). I believe he's an orangey stain on the history of the Oval Office...one from which we may never recover. That's why I refer to those four dark years (2016-20) as "45." Just like Colbert, I won't utter the name, T***P. Fuck that guy for what he did to this country!!! Grifter and shyster extraordinaire, lined his and his family's pocket while squatting (or attempting to in Jan 2021) in OUR White House! Enough on him...

Not a fan of Biden, or any old white men who've made a career living off the federal taxpayer's dime. We've had enough of his ilk (also grifters). He was the lesser of two evils in November 2020.

STILL...

He's done some good things since taking office. Yesterday, the country got one step closer to decriminalizing (and hopefully LEGALIZING) marijuana, a harmless herb. But I guess against the backdrop of 45, ANYONE WHO ACTS LIKE AN ADULT IN THE OVAL OFFICE would look QUITE presidential!

#DankBrandon he's being called. Cute.

He's fighting for reproductive rights. He's fighting on the right side of climate change. He's implementing his policies and they seem to be having a net positive effect on Americans. Sure, poverty and inflation are out of control. The wealthiest one-percent still have Americans by the balls. Our two party system has, by and large, failed us. But I can give Biden credit where credit is due.

Look at the #HurricaneIan recovery. It's been swift and bipartisan (though ALL GQP Congress Members voted AGAINST relief funding). He's worked with #DeathSantis to get the job done and look how far they've come in one week since landfall!

The guy is old. I don't want to see him run for a second term.

I don't want Bernie to run, same reason.

Old, white men are the reason we've gotten to where we are. Just ask Gen Z. They'll tell you. "FUCK THE PATRIARCHY!" and by that, they mean people like Biden, McConnell, etc... It's hard to argue. Our country is on the precipice of Civil War (sorta).

It's a war of ideas--Progressives v. Conservatives.

Why are so many hellbent on taking us BACKWARDS? Because an ancient relic, called The Bible, dictates morality and how we should legislate it??? I've got a bridge to Sanibel Island I'd like to sell you, along with some snake oil...

The answer isn't in either party. Most Democrats aren't progressive enough and they ALL serve the same master--GREED! Power and greed are the base of American politics. Neither party serves the common American. They all bow down to corporations, feasting at the capitalist tit! WE PAY FOR IT!

I'm seriously done with it. I'm about done with being an American. My ancestors came here GOD KNOWS WHEN. The Doyle lineage gets pretty sketchy somewhere about the turn of the 19th century in Western PA.

But this country still REEKS of Colonialism. We still shed a tear when the Queen of England dies. We still hold onto the ideal of Manifest Destiny. Just look at us! We're white. The world OWES US!

NO THANKS!

That's why I'm seriously considering upping my move to Central America. I was going to spend part of the next decade in SWFL...Fort Myers Beach to be exact. Mother Nature just put the BIGGEST KINK in that plan...

Belize, you ready for this expat?

In the meantime, you'll find me on Twitter railing against capitalism, fascism, MAGAts and all things wrong with Colonial America...just to MAYBE get a few people to wake up.

Yep, I'm just about done with this country. Thanks for listening.

Fort Myers Beach is Forever Changed

This video taken of the Times Square/Pier area and north end of Fort Myers Beach gives you the grim picture of the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. This monster storm seems to have unleashed it's fury on the seven-mile strip of beach. A good portion, I can't even venture a guess percentage wise, of the structures have been totally demolished.

This recovery effort is going to take MONTHS! I remember the truckloads of debris taken from the central panhandle after 2018's Hurricane Michael. That storm leveled Mexico Beach. Ian nearly leveled Fort Myers Beach. The removal of debris alone is a MASSIVE undertaking that will not happen overnight. Debris has to be cleared from roadways, so that inches to feet of sand can then be scooped away. Then structures will have to be secured or demolished, depending on the level of damage. Infrastructure will have to be repaired or rebuilt, and all of this will happen simultaneously over the coming months. It will not happen overnight.

That's months just to gain some modicum of normalcy. Businesses may or may not decide to rebuild. The impact on small businesses is HUGE, as is the impact on the shrimping and tourism industries. It could take years to rebound.

I don't know what the future holds for me and my family. I have friends, like family, who run the Baptist church and retreat center on the beach. They've suffered a near total loss. Will they stay and rebuild? That's the question facing so many people, businesses and organizations.

Fort Myers Beach will never be the same.

I'm not sure if I'm going back there. This storm just altered my future.

Fort Myers Beach Decimated

'Absolute devastation' about sums up the aftermath of Hurricane Ian to my island paradise, Fort Myers Beach (FMB). I posted yesterday about the threat posed to the 7-mile island. Well, it became a worst case scenario. As Ian gained strength over the warm waters of the Gulf, he curved northeastward, nearly imitating the track of 2004's Hurricane Charley. He went right up Charlotte Harbor after decimating Lee County's barrier islands.

The problem for Fort Myers Beach is that they escaped the eye. There was no respite from the winds and waves churned by Hurricane Ian. It was a constant barrage from the approaching eyewall, which first inundated Sanibel to the north. But as the cyclone scooted east, it brought the southeast quadrant of the eyewall over FMB. And once hurricane-force winds were onshore, it never let up. FMB remained in the eyewall even after the storm made landfall. While other areas, like Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte got the reprieve of the eye, FMB did not. It was a constant barrage.

The reported 16-foot storm surge did most of the damage. High winds took care of the rest. It really was absolute devastation. The aerial footage that has come in all day, from drones and helicopters, has shown the breadth of the damage. It's breathtaking. It took me half the day to wrap my brain around it.

The pier is gone (left). Yesterday morning I was watching foolish beachgoers navigate the rough surf under that pier. The downtown area known as "Times Square" along the shoreline at the pier is also gone. The area I frequented, the outdoor plaza where my band played several "sunset festivals," is a mass of debris and empty foundations.

One of the town's councilmen, interviewed on CNN, said, "There's nothing to come back to."

But back is where I was headed. Back to my beach, my happy place, my home.

Now?

Will they rebuild? Will corporate resorts take over the town now?

It's lost all of it's character and small town charm. My favorite beach bars are gone. The locals who staffed them will go elsewhere.

Coast Guard helicopters have hovered over FMB all day looking for those needing airlifted to safety. Everyone's car is flooded, damaged or gone. And even if residents DID have transportation, the roads are impassable. The island is a literal dump heap of debris...and boats...lots of boats.

On the approach to Matanzas Pass Bridge, aerial coverage shows the Shrimp Fleet all piled up on the east edge of the bay. Like toy boats, these large vessels are stacked haphazardly. Besides tourism, the shrimping industry was the other piece of the beach's economic puzzle. Now that's gone, as are all the locally owned businesses.

I'm beginning to believe the councilman is right. There really is nothing to go back to.

 

HURRICANE WARNING: Fort Myers Beach

There's a reason for everything, so I've learned to just go with it.

After getting waylaid in the Hoosier State, and opining for life in coastal Belize, I found myself spending another month up here spinning my wheels. I wasn't sure why. I wanted to be in Florida.

My plan since leaving for Boulder in late 2020 was to return to "my beach," Fort Myers Beach (FMB), where I'd transitioned from a married man to a divorcee back in 2012-13. I fell in love with that place. I FOUND MYSELF on that beach!

I couldn't figure out if I wanted to go back there anymore or head straight for Belize. Well, Mother Nature may make the decision for me. Over the next 48 hours, my beach may take the brunt and brute force of a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.

Hurricane Ian, ripped across the Western end of Cuba overnight, and set it's sights on Southwest Florida, a little south of it's forecasted trajectory. That's where I would have been the last couple weeks had I gotten my way. But for this reason, I was held at bay. How much would it have sucked getting down there, just getting my bearings again and having to evacuate mandatorily. That call came from local government at 7:50 a.m.

Now my island--that seven-mile stretch of postcard paradise dressed in ivory sand--is in the crosshairs of this dangerous storm. What will be left after 10-plus feet of storm surge?? The elevation there is all of THREE FEET! They'll be underwater.

We saw what Hurricane Charley did in 2004. That Cat 4 storm entered the States at Charlotte Harbor, well north of FMB. It cut Captiva Island into three sections, three smaller islands now connected by bridges. That was an indirect hit. FMB is similar in contour and just south of Captiva and Sanibel islands. I doubt it'll fare much better than did Captiva in '04.

I'm worried about my friends down there. I'm also worried I won't have a beach to enjoy anymore. But I am thankful I didn't head down there prematurely.

Maybe Belize IS in my short-term future. Who knows? Time will tell.

I guess the point of all this rambling is "just relax, live in the moment, don't resist." That's a lesson the Universe/Life has been trying to teach me of late. I was resistant to staying here in Indiana. I was eager to get back to my happy place! ALL IN GOOD TIME...and now is not a good time to be on Fort Myers Beach.

Favorite YouTubers and YouTube Culture

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about Life as a Dance and Where I'm Going. Days before that, I wrote about Reality TV/Vlogs. Well this is a continuation on those thoughts.

While I've been staying at my sister's house in Acton, IN, I've spent a lot of my days replacing cable TV with YouTube and two of my favorite channels are women living off-grid--Stephi Lee and VanWives, Crystal and Jaz.

Stephi Lee's Channel (click here)

Vanwives (click here)

Stephi recently converted from Van Life to a home of her own and focuses on her inward journey, as well as her outward. That includes her struggles with Cystic Fibrosis and Mental Health. She's a nomad and an artist, so I just love her vibe...and her honesty about her struggles is refreshing. Steph is not the typical "look at me living my best life" YouTuber. She's more honest, authentic and real! Check her out.

The Vanwives also converted from Van Life to a cabin in the woods of Nova Scotia in the last year. Their transformation of the land they own has been an amazing DIY project. They are living totally off-grid in a self-sustaining vegetarian-style lifestyle. It's rustic and remote and totally amazing! Check them out, too. Also, their Australian Shepherds are ADORABLE! (You gotta love dog people!)

But my transformation to almost exclusive YouTube watcher, with an occasional Netflix doc or news show on Peacock, has some pitfalls of it's own. I have NO MORE patience for repetitive commercials. Thankfully, most YouTube ads are no longer than :15 each (the non-skippable ones, anyway). And I've gotten so conditioned that I find myself getting impatient with the microwave! I'll be reheating my coffee for :30 and looking for the "Skip Ads" button. :D :D :D

That's mostly a joke...but not really. I hate ads. I started watching "Escaping Polygamy" for free on PlutoTV, but their ads are so frequent and so repetitive, I had to find the episodes on YouTube and watch them there!

But as with most social media, when you're following some "internet celeb" on their YouTube channel, you've got to take their "reality" with a grain of salt. I always find myself asking how these non-traditionalist/off-gridders actually make money apart from monetizing their channels. I haven't looked into ramping up my own and monetizing it. Who'd watch it anyway??

The point is, there is an alternative way to receive news and entertainment these days...what with streaming and the Internet. I get most of my infotainment and news from YouTube and other social media.

Now, with my Facebook getting hacked and suspended, I'm spending more time on Twitter and YouTube. Those have become my primary sources of late.

I've still been following Martijn Doolard and his cabin transformation in the Italian Alps, the Bus Life of RegretLyss, who I've discussed before, and occasionally I'll watch The Cottage Fairy's channel. She's got a book due out any day. If you're looking for something different, I'd recommend watching, even subscribing to, any of these channels.

There are ways to watch YouTube ad free, either through purchase of YouTube Premium, or add-on extensions through Google Chrome. I'll put up with the "Skip Ads" button and the shorter interruptions. I'm okay with those...but if you start cursing your microwave because there is no skip button, well, it might be time to get outside and take a break. I think today I'll take a bike ride :)

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #1 BEACH PARADISE

OK, Sports Fans!!! WE'VE ARRIVED AT NUMBER ONE!!! In Top Ten Reasons Belize is on my "retirement radar."

It's like a postcard...every image you see when you Google "Belize Beach" or "Belizean Beaches." Take the above, for example, just three of the images that came up this morning.

IT LOOKS IDYLLIC!!!

Everything that I loved about Fort Myers Beach, FL, just without the hassle of beach traffic, local politics, high rises and all the things wrong with America!

I've known since 2011 I was meant to live at the beach. At my core, I'm a BONAFIDE BEACH BUM, meant to live at a slower pace, a higher frequency and very minimally. Belize offers all of that and more!

Just give me a hammock in the shade of a palm tree with some cold beverage and a book. I'll be content as a clam!

I didn't realize how badly I wanted to escape the toxic (and increasingly violent) political climate of the U.S. The divisive rhetoric reached a crescendo in January 2021 and it's devolved into threats of civil war. Is that what America has come to? Is this the fate of the 200+ year American Experiment? Then COUNT ME OUT!!! (The "American Dream" was never for me, anyway!)

As alluring as The Florida Keys are to me, I'd rather just escape our borders to the safety of a third-world Central American country. I can fly under the radar there, live in my happy place (THE BEACH!) and live as a minimalist in nature. 

There are only 400k people in the tiny country on the Caribbean! And Placencia residents DON'T EVEN HAVE ADDRESSES!!!

What we called "Snowbird Season" in Florida exists there, too. An influx of tourists during the winter months, then the calm after the storm all summer long!

I won't need as much to support myself, so finding work locally should suffice. I'll only be responsible for me, myself and I.

And I can breathe the fresh air of Placencia and fill my lungs with the life-giving sea breezes. I can get back to ME!

After the hellstorm of the last year, that sounds QUITE DIVINE!!!

It's not going to happen immediately. I don't even have a passport, yet. This will be my first adventure across the border...but I CANNOT WAIT!!!

In the near-term, you'll find me recuperating and saving up, getting my affairs in order (including my first-ever passport) and living the beach life in the familiar white sands along the Gulf. But the BEACH IS MY HAPPY PLACE and I intend to get back there.

Belize is a veritable BEACH PARADISE and that's REASON NUMBER ONE I'm moving there!

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #2 English-Speaking

Alright, folks, we've come to the TOP TWO reasons I'm moving to Belize! 

I need to get out of the U.S., but I am unilingual. You'd think after all my years in Florida, I would have learned some Spanish, at least enough to carry on a simple conversation. But, alas, no. I picked up some things here and there, words and phrases, but I never made the effort to learn Florida's second language.

And I didn't have my sights set on Central America. In fact, until recently, I hadn't even considered it as a destination. My sights have been on Fort Myers Beach or The Keys in Florida since living in the former 2011-2014. As I've mentioned previously, and those that know me, know this--THE BEACH IS MY HAPPY PLACE! I've also mentioned other coastal locations, outside the U.S., I had considered, like Cuba or the Bahamas. Those places are outside the contiguous States, but close enough to be a short flight or boat trip away. Heck, people have swum the 90-mile Florida Straits between Cuba and The Keys.

But a big consideration was that I find an English-speaking country. I didn't want to be fish-out-of-water in a Latin American country where I didn't know exactly what was being said. I didn't want the language barrier to cause me confusion or trouble. So I began a search for coastal destinations where English is the primary language.

Two countries that I never even considered came up in the Top 10--Panama and Belize. Nothing about Panama, other than it's proximity to the equator, appealed to me. Belize, being a little closer and a lot less political/military, became my top choice. The fact that it's economy, like Florida, was run on tourism (and the exchange rate is great/easy) was another minor factor.

It actually surprised me that language would be such a big consideration. But I was looking for ease of assimilation and this fact draws a lot of expats from northern countries, like me. I initially looked into Corozal on the northern coast. But a little more digging soon revealed that Placencia is more my speed, though much further south.

These people, diverse as they are, can understand me! I won't struggle so much to fit into this melting pot of cultures, people and dialects. That is a HUGE plus, especially considering a move outside of the comforts of home.

In my last blog post, I recapped the other eight reasons that led me to choose Belize. I won't repeat myself here...but it did surprise me that FOOD did not make the top five. Coffee, sort of an afterthought at #10, would normally rate higher, as well. But ease of assimilation by knowing the "native" language--and Belize was a British colony in my lifetime--is more important than I would have expected. The Bahamas and Cuba, due to their proximity and the former also being ruled by the UK, were other places where assimilation would be easy...but they aren't BELIZE! Also, the corruption in Cuba was a major concern.

And while I've read all the fears about crime in Belize. It is localized and central to southern Belize City where gang activity is high. My sister also worries about traveling through Mexico and the proximity to drug cartels, but as I've told her, I'll simply steer clear. I've done my homework and Belizeans are warm, friendly and welcoming. Even the gangs don't usually target tourists or expats...it's more brown-on-brown crime...and in the city.

I'm sure I'll eventually travel into the city, the main airport is there, and the port for cruise ships, but I will stick to the well-known, well-lit streets...and would probably go with a local who knows the area. But English-speaking Belize IT IS!!!

Belize Recap - 8 REASONS WHY!

If you've been following along on your scorecard, we've reached the TOP TWO, but before we go any further, let's recap. These are the 8 REASONS I've come up with SO FAR...

It's super economical to live there.

It's very comfortable, climatologically speaking ;)

There's CULTURE!

FOOD!!!!!!

Diversity's a plus.

And that goes for the ecology, too. Plenty of natural wonders there to enjoy.

It's not too far from home -- same continent, same hemisphere!

And the coffee is DIVINE!

As Billy Banks would say, "BUT WAIT!!! There's MORE!"

Stay tuned as we dive into the top two reasons I'm moving to Belize (pun intended).

 

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #3 COST OF LIVING

 Here's a short video on the cost of living in Belize.

As you can see, one can live comfortably in Belize on about half as much as you'd need in America. Housing, food and other necessities are much less in the Central American country. There are more pricey coastal areas, but upon researching several such videos, most agreed that Placencia offers beach life at a lower price. That sealed the deal for me!

CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE: Currently 2-to-1 Belizean dollars to USD! 

I won't need a boatload of cash to move to Belize and live on the coast. I can find affordable housing, and if I eat locally, which I explained in #6 - FOOD, I can eat on the cheap, as well. Oh yeah, and in my food blog I FORGOT TO MENTION CHOCOLATE! Nothing compares to Central American cacao! That's why it was so central in Mayan culture. And I like it extra dark!

Since 2006, and even more earnestly in 2012, I began downsizing my accumulation of things. I learned how much less I could live on and began looking at minimalism, minimalistic living and tiny houses. I went extreme in 2018-2021 and realized even how much less I needed to SURVIVE! It was an eye-opening experience. So part of moving to a third-world country is my search for a simpler life. I just want to make enough money to support a minimalistic way of life. Even if I never build the tiny house boat I've dreamed about, I could invest in land cheaply there! Belize is looking more and more like a long-term solution to me.

Here's another video from a group who planned a 5-day trip and ended up staying more than a MONTH! Now, they were living LARGE, but you don't need the most expensive beach home on the coast or that many paid-for activities to make a life there. Still, this video couldn't have been better produced by the Belize Tourism Board.

SO A BIG DRAW TO BELIZE IS IT'S AFFORDABILITY! Stay tuned for the TOP TWO...

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #4 Climate

TWO WORDS: SUB TROPICAL

Okay, it's actually one word, but it means "perfection." If you can deal with humidity, bugs and rainy seasons, this climate is IDEAL! The mean temperature in the "cold" months is 74-degrees. There are two seasons--dry and rainy, no winter, summer, spring and fall. And that suits me just fine!

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "Trade winds blow onshore most of the year, and from September to December northerly winds bring cooler, drier air." So it's not humid there ALL the time. Onshore breezes, consistently warm, pristine blue-green waters...need I say more??!? SIGN ME UP!!!

This place looks like paradise to me.

I mean every coastal scene I've found online looks like a postcard. I've watched videos--pros and cons of living there--from people who've made the move, and everyone is more enticement for me.

I've already written about nature and the birds, the sea life, the forests of Belize. It's location in the subtropics, it's coffee and it's food...these can all be attributed to the moderate climate of the region. This subtropical climate is not only amenable to birds, iguana and sea life, it's super amenable to humans who love warmth, humidity, sunshine and rain. Some people prefer mountainous terrains, snow, a change of seasons, and that's great. I've lived in those climates, too. I'm just one who likes a more temperate climate with less change and lots of sunshine.

It's proximity to the equator gives it an ideal climate--not far latitudinally from the Caymans or Jamaica, with the same Caribbean vibe. As a beach bum at heart, the climate of Belize and it's beautiful beaches make it my top destination!

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #5 Culture

"English-speaking and Creole-dominated, Belize has more in common with its Caribbean island neighbors than its bordering Spanish-speaking countries. With a laid-back ambiance of swinging hammocks, large swaths of impenetrable jungle, and an underwater world of twisted corals, neon fish, and gentle manatees, Belize is a tropical treasure." SOURCE--https://www.adventure-life.com/belize/articles/history-and-culture-of-belize

I couldn't have said it better myself. Sub-tropical, laid back, colorful, diverse, Caribbean...are just some of the words I could also use to describe Destination: Belize.

From coast to jungle, there's so much to love about Belize. One piece of their history, dating way back before the common era, is Mayan Culture. I can't wait to go explore the ruins there!

"There was still a large Mayan population in Belize when Cortés arrived in 1519," according to Belize History at this travel site. Then in 1660, the Brits arrived to set up a logging camp. That began Belize's long history of colonization. They only became an independent country on September 21, 1981. That's the day they celebrate their independence. The democratic country is really still in it's infancy and trying to fight it's way out of third world status...tourism is helping.

Yesterday, I wrote about the diversity of their food, and before that the diversity of their people. The diversity of it's topography, history and culture is another draw. I can't wait to discover their music and customs firsthand...to play my djembe on the beach, to dance to the music of the Garifuna people and to immerse myself in the Caribbean vibe.

While there is no theater district in Placencia or local orchestra, there is still an abundance of culture available. Who has funds for an annual membership to the symphony anyway? I'd prefer a symphony of Western African hand drums, anyday!

The beach and the ruins will be my church!

Imagine meditation at this spot--Cahal Pech! The closest thing we have in The States are earthen mounds built by the Mississippian culture within Native America.

I had considered Cuba, as a Caribbean destination, for it's food, music and culture, or the Bahamas for it's laid-back, English-speaking, island vibe...but Belize offers all of that and more. It's the Belizean culture that starts my TOP FIVE reasons for moving south!

The Dance and Where I'm Going

Watch this video (listen really):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV-D2_G9w5c

I've listened to several Alan Watts' clips, but never this one until yesterday, after finding it on my new favorite vlogger's YouTube Channel.

When I blogged the other day about Reality TV/Vlogs, I didn't mean I was swearing them off. They are still my escape and guilty pleasure. And the last few days I've been following Alyssa Bean, aka RegretLyss (her YT and IG handle), who lives with her dog in a converted short bus. This off-grid, non-traditional "van life," or "bus life," has been her thing most of her adult life. A graduate of Purdue and social media guru, she travels the country and has a video diary where she delves into her psyche while sharing her solo wandering from mountain to shoreline.

Check out RegretLyss on YouTube

As a non-traditionalist, wanderer/explorer, I dig her vibe. But I've been too sedentary of late. When I was living in the foothills of the Rockies, I was exploring all the time. I was very active, hiking to peaks in the 8,000-foot range, lounging at waterfalls, exploring abandoned mines...AND MYSELF! But here in the last 10 months, I've been nearly stationary, motionless and growing more and more restless. I need to wander. That's why you've caught me dreaming of Belize.

Part of that is discontent and wanting to leave this country for good. The other part is simply my wanderlust and need to find my center at the beach, in the tropics! 

But what about "the dance," as Watts puts it?

What about my day-to-day existence...my presence on Planet Earth? I haven't been dancing; I've been surviving. How much longer can I exist in survival mode? Even being sedentary as I have been, it's exhausting! It's taken a toll on my psyche. And I need to get back to dancing.

Thanks to Alyssa for the reminder yesterday. (I'll get back to "the countdown" momentarily, thanks for reading).

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #6 FOOD

It's no secret that I love food. A variety of foods suit my palate, including the Caribbean and Creole flavors of Belize. There is also the Mayan and Mexican influence in Belizean dishes, so just like the diversity of it's people, the flavors of Belize are just as diverse!

A staple of the Belizean diet is beans and rice with fried plantains. Now, you have to know how to order it because if you say "beans and rice" you will get a plate of slow-simmered beans, well seasoned with a side of rice. If you order "rice and beans," on the other hand, you'll get a bowl of steamy goodness all mixed together, like what you'd get in New Orleans.

Know the difference--
Rice & Beans (left) - Beans & Rice (right), often served with chicken and/or plantains

As shown above, this dish can be combined with any number of proteins, but chicken and seafood reign supreme in Belize. However, it is often eaten as the main dish--for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

A favorite way to eat "yard bird," is in a dish they call Stewed Chicken:
Although there are many variations on this dish, most traditional recipes keep it simple – just chicken, red recado, onion and water. Red recato is basically a chili paste common to the region made with the powder of ancho and annato chili seeds. Yet to try it, but it looks and sounds DELICIOUS!

Traditional Belizean Tamales are wrapped in plantain leaves and can be made with or without meat. These local favorites and the dish above, show some of the Mexican influences in Belizean cooking.

Now, the area is super fertile and lots of exotic plants and tropical fruits grow there. In fact, the trees are dripping with them! You can find just about anything at local open-air markets and roadside stands. So having locally grown produce and non-GMO meats, which are also abundant at butcher shops, is a definite plus! I can get back to healthy living/eating. It's too expensive to buy imported foods, anyway, so local is best.

And because Placencia is an old fishing village with a lagoon on one side and the Caribbean on the other, seafood is rather plentiful. I LOVE SEAFOOD (well not scallops or anything too "fishy")! And spiny lobster season runs more than half the year--July to February!

Belizean Spiny Lobster (almost always in season)

Now, I've always been a fan of lobster, well ever since I tried it at 18. And on Fort Myers Beach, I had friends that would go lobstering in the Florida Keys. If you've never had a fresh lobster, hot off the grill with nothing more than garlic butter and lemon juice squeezed over it, then YOU HAVE NOT LIVED!!! And I've seen photos of local men grilling lobsters on the sides of Placencia's "tiny main street," (a boardwalk, basically). I could live off of wild caught seafood and locally grown veggies and fruit, trust me!

These little Belizean treats, called Garnache, are another thing I look forward to trying:

They are

 fried corn tortillas topped anyway you like and they look delicious!

And this is just a SAMPLING of the foods of Belize! Ever since I taught myself how to cook (c.2001), I've been a bonafide foodie! I am good with living off the land. I could even grow my own foods--corn, beans, onions, peppers, potatoes...

I won't be eating straight starch for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but an occasional plate of red or black beans with white or saffron rice, would be doable. I'd prefer to eat seafood, fruits and veggies, locally sourced. But this foodie can make himself happy just about anywhere!

And so the 6th reason in my 10 reasons to move to Belize--FOOD!!! (and the abundance of it)!

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #7 DIVERSITY

Belize may be English speaking and close in proximity to the U.S., but it's no one-size-fits-all, WHITE BREAD (aka white bred) community. There is diversity!

Yes, you have your older, white expats who've retired to places like Corozal, but you also have THIS:

BELIZEANS:
A multiethnic amalgam of African, Asian, Caribbean, and European influences. They are a very laid-back people with their own Cajun-like form of English (think Jamaicans). As Wikipedia points out, "Colonization, slavery, and immigration have played major roles in affecting the ethnic composition of the population." So, really, you could place all of those I describe below, even the expats of European descent, under this one umbrella.

MAYANS:
Or descendants of the ancient Central American civilization that built great cities with pyramids and such. Since so much has been written about them, I won't elaborate here.

MESTIZO:
Latino or Hispanic Belizeans who make up 2/3 of the country's population. The name literally translated means mixed, as in mixed heritage. They are a multilingual people, fluent in Spanish, Creole and English. Many of them fled Mexico and practice a mix of Catholicism and indigenous religion, according to this site.

KRIOLS:
21% of the population are the Belize Creole people, like many islanders brought to the "West Indies" against their will by European slave traders, the same African descendants (mostly) who make up America's Creole population.

GARINAGU:

Or Garifuna People (singular), are considered an indigenous tribe of African-Americans in Belize and Nicaragua, though their roots are in the islands of the "West Indies," like the Kriols above. They have a unique culture and language. To read more about their history, CLICK HERE.

MENNONITE:
CNN featured this population in a story last year, calling it a secluded "community frozen in time." According to the report, they number 12,000 but began as a colony of about 3,000 Canadian Mennonites who migrated from Mexico to Belize in the 50's. They are a Christian religious sect related to the same in this country, and likewise dress very conservatively and live off the land.

As you can see, there are many distinctions among the people of color in Belize, both indigenous and immigrant. And white people make up JUST OVER ONE PERCENT of the population...so I finally get to call myself a ONE PERCENTER!!! I certainly don't mind living as a minority.

The diversity of the population there, which nationwide is only about 400k, really fascinates me. I can't wait to go down and learn more about these indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities. I love collecting peoples' stories, as a rule, but to learn something new along the way? BONUS!

America is a melting pot of cultural diversity, as well. It's just that we no longer honor it or hold it up as a virtue, like what our Statue of Liberty once represented. We've become very tribalistic, even xenophobic. It's led to a deep divide, not just politically, but culturally. If you are someone who thrives on knowledge and discovery, or tends to hold progressive ideals, you are labeled "Woke," and for a lot of the country, that is a BAD THING! How can learning and progress be bad for society??? But that's the state of affairs in America...and I can't wait to get away from it.

While I'm sipping water from coconuts on a white sandy beach, seabreeze in my hair, I look forward to learning from the people of Belize and of honoring their diversity. The people there, I'm told, are so friendly, accepting and laid back. I doubt there is a lot of tribalism or xenophobia.

Even in minority populations here at home, I've found a welcome embrace. I'm an adopted member of the brown community, partly because of my adopted children (and their cousins of mixed origin). My family is NOT straight Anglo-Saxon/European! I actually embrace diversity. I like to think I'm a bit cultured (NOT xenophobic or nationalistic).

So REASON #7 I'm drawn to Belize and looking so forward to moving there? It's DIVERSITY! Celebrate that shit!!! :D 

Reality TV / Vlogs

Taking a break from beach dreaming in my Belize Countdown...to bring you something a little different, a slice of my life, I guess you could say...and other ways I've been spending my time.

It all started, I believe, with Martijn Doolard, the Dutchman who bought a rustic, century-old mountain cabin in the Italian Alps. I was looking for entertainment, for an escape, and YouTube was readily available on the TVs in the house, on my laptop and my iPad. I'd often take the latter to bed with me and watch as I trailed off to sleep. The mountain aesthetic and slow-pace of Doolard's solitude on a hillside, remodeling the quarried stone structures on his secluded property and cooking over a firepit gave me peace. It was a bit of social media escapism.

Here's Doolard's YouTube channel, in case you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/c/MartijnDoolaard

I'm not a very handy person, so watching all the DIY remodeling and construction was fascinating to me. He pays respect to both nature and Italian Alps culture and I was actually learning something as I watched. And like I said, the peaceful aesthetic would most nights help me wind down before sleep. I binged the first 20-plus episodes shot over the last year, and at some point last month, caught up to where he is currently. He vlogs every Monday, encapsulating a week-in-the-life of Martijn Doolard.

Following the YouTube/Social Media Algorithm, several similar vlogs were recommended for me to watch. The ones with scantily-clad young woman enjoying nature were natural clickbait, so I started watching vanwives (lesbians in Nova Scotian wilderness), the Cottage Fairy (single woman living simply in the Washington mountains), Isabel Paige (living "her best life" with a boyfriend, also WA), Stephi Lee (nomad artist living in a van) and Nikki Delventhal (single with dog in Prius). There are links to all their channels below, if you'd like to preview some of their content.

What these vloggers offered was escapism and maybe a little inspiration for my minimalist, live-off-the-land ideal. That's how I'd like to spend the remainder of my days. And yes, there was a little curious voyeurism.

But let's face it, at it's core, it's simple entertainment. It's like all the "reality" portrayed on voyeuristic televised shows on cable. I was just getting what I felt was a little closer to reality on YouTube. But to be honest, there's NOT a lot of difference here. These slickly-produced 20-30 minute day-in-the-life vlogs were a big commitment (and sometimes production, involving camera people, drones, scripts, etc.). They were hardly a slice of "real life," as they try so hard to portray.

Take for instance, shoots and reshoots. As an example, we'll consider a scene in Doolard's cabin build-out vlogs. He'll take his pull-behind trailer down the narrow mountain roads with his mini-SUV. There will inevitably be shots from behind the wheel, from his property as he departs, from the destination as he arrives. Now, Martijn doesn't have a film crew following him around. This isn't a documentary in the classic sense. It's a single YouTuber with a couple cameras and a drone and some tripods. So in order to get all those slice-of-life shots, he has to set up the camera, considering framing, lighting, sound, etc., then film himself driving, then stop the car and go back for his equipment. If the camera is out of focus, the tripod falls over or the clouds suddenly obscure the lighting, he's likely to reset and refilm the shot (like in the movies). And while he might be catching raw moments in his life, they are staged and filmed. They might not have been scripted, but a lot of time and effort goes into being a one-man film crew.

These are things that normal viewers may not consider. They've been lulled into believing what they see actually happened as they see it on-screen, forgetting there's sometimes "story boarding," reshooting and editing involved, like on a reality TV show.

I'm sometimes even lulled into forgetting that what I'm watching is mostly staged. These vloggers, or content creators, are "acting" for their own camera to produce "quality" content that they can then monetize. And many of them make a decent living, for minimalist type lifestyles.

Some of them even have an interesting back story. As Jasmine Cherry points out in this long-winded video (you can skip to 13:27 for relevant content), there is an element of privilege. These vloggers have the money, equipment and time to shoot and edit and upload these 20-30 minute videos, on average. For some, it becomes a full-time job with a livable income stream as a result. Others go so far as to hock wares, even their own creations, on their channels, while still others will grovel and beg for support--through Patreon, GoFundMe and other crowdfunding sources.

And let's remember, it's SOCIAL MEDIA on the Internet...everything is not exactly how it seems! (i.e. you can't trust everything you see on the Interwebz). Take everything, even these "reality" vlogs with a grain of salt (or a pitcher of Margaritas!). Again, content creators are, in a sense, actors putting up a perception of their reality. Take, for instance, Isabel Paige (not her real last name), who was outed by Ms. Cherry, as painting a very skewed picture of her reality--living in the wilderness in a tiny home she built. In reality, her family owns a farm where they once grew weed (legally, of course) and had an ON-GRID VACATION HOME. This was never shown, of course, or explained on Isabel's vlog until she was outed. She and her boyfriend had been living large in her parent's vacation home in the Washington wilderness, about 30 minutes (not an hour, as she claimed) from the nearest town. In fact, there were modern neighborhoods nearby in her river valley. They were not roughing it in a poorly-accommodated tiny house in relative seclusion. She's one of the privileged class who had no problem downplaying her financial situation and even groveling for money to sustain her simple lifestyle. Um, grifter much?

So much for the fantasy of living honestly and modestly off the grid and off the land...

Why did I take a break from the positivity of my Belize countdown to talk about this? Because people are being duped by these new reality stars. Nikki Delventhal was once a model, hairstylist and contestant on The Bachelor. She isn't homeless and surviving nature in her car because she HAS TO. But all of her vlogs center around her "roughing it." She's a little more transparent about her privilege and doesn't beg for money, but she does have a Patreon account with subscribers who support her channel. It's just a replacement for reality TV shows, like "Survivor" or "Big Brother," shows that I cannot believe are still going decades later!

Lowest common denominator entertainment is what I call it.

I turned to YouTube as a replacement for cable. I got sucked into the "real life" drama of these people living "off grid," or untraditionally. It vibrated on my frequency...and to be honest, I got tired of falling asleep to Eckhart Tolle, Mooji or hypnotic music videos that play all night. This was my relaxing, alternative escape.

When I learned yesterday of the "real life" drama between vloggers Cherry and Paige, I was knocked back to reality. Anyway, we'll get you back to the Belize Countdown here shortly. In the meantime, check out any of these vloggers' YouTube channels:

vanwives: https://www.youtube.com/c/Vanwives
The Cottage Fairy: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCottageFairy
Isabel Paige: https://www.youtube.com/user/pinsandneedleswithme
Stephi Lee: https://www.youtube.com/c/StephiLee
Nikki Delventhal: https://www.youtube.com/c/NikkiDelventhal

Again, these are shared for entertainment purposes only...and yes, I'll admit, a couple of them were/are guilty pleasures. Enjoy!

10 Reasons Why I'm Moving to Belize - #8 NATURE

I realized in 2011, after moving to Fort Myers Beach, FL, that I WAS MEANT TO LIVE NEAR THE WATER! And from what I've seen and heard, Placencia is like the Belizean FMB--white sand beaches, crystalline waters, warmth year-round, humidity...sounds idyllic!!!

What could be better than waking to the sounds of gentle waves lapping at a Caribbean beach, or the gentle breezes rustling the palm fronds, or the cacophony of tropical birds??? Yes, the locals say that the morning greets you with a symphony of bird calls, some days as early as 4 a.m. I'm an early riser and what better alarm clock than the sing-song of various birds?

There are over 580 species of birds!

The sea, the rainforests, the sounds of birds, iguanas roaming the beachside...NATURE!!!

I'll be getting back to nature and the rhythms of beach life. Like the ebb and flow of the Caribbean tide, life comes at a lower frequency. The slow down. The ability to breathe deeply the tropical air. That's what I'm talking about.

There is nothing better than the shade of a palm or scrub oak in the fall, a gentle seabreeze and the smell of salty air when temps are hovering around 80-degrees F. Those are the perfect days in the tropics, as the humidity begins it's slow decline, the days get shorter and the temps a little lower. I can't think of anyplace more perfect to sit down and read a book, or journal or listen to the sounds of nature!

My topsy-turvy life of the last few years has been crying out for the beach. I can't wait to see dolphins and water foul again, to taste the salty surf on my lips and to gently bob in the swells of blue-green waters. I've longed to feel the baby powder sand between my toes, to take long beach walks on cloudless days when the sea is like glass and to be one with nature, again. That is, indeed, my happy place.

And when I want to escape into the jungle, take an adventure, see some Mayan ruins, I can take a day trip inland. There are just so many attractive aspects of Belize, in addition to the location and the great-tasting coffee. Reason #8 why I want to live there? Nature...and rediscovering my happy place!