Adventurer, world explorer, thrill seeker … not really. Just a guy who spent nearly 40 years writing and editing for newspapers and one really good news website.
Well, that’s over. And so is the struggle to live well and with dignity in this country.
Sure, we could stay and work until we simply can’t work any more. We could wrestle with the home mortgage, the cars, the ever-draining cost of living, the medical expenses … or … we could find a place in the world where our dwindling dollars will go far, a place with history and natural beauty, a place that will challenge us in ways wholly different from those that we know today in California.
A place without big malls and ever-bigger box stores, a place without Starbucks or KFC, or McDonalds.
A place where we can take the time to just stop in our tracks and appreciate the world and people around us.
We think we might have found such a place.
My wife, Rose, and I will be moving to Belize in early 2014. But there’s work to be done before then, and so much to learn. You’ll find out about it on this blog, oftentimes exactly when we do.
So stick around!
Bound for Belize 
August 30, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Proud of you. Love you both!
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August 31, 2013 at 1:51 pm
We love you Jon and Quinn! Hope you are enjoying some time at the house — and Tahoe! Can’t wait to see you when we return!
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November 15, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Just found your post on toilet paper and now reading thru. Seriously funny…must follow…
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November 15, 2013 at 6:43 pm
Thank you! I have been enjoying the Scoop for quite some time. Love your adventuresome spirit. You’ve got me seriously considering rerouting through Cancun and busing it to Belize!
Did I read somewhere that you are a one-time Rhode Islander? Spent quite a few years there.
Again, thanks for the note and reading! — Bob
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January 6, 2014 at 4:47 pm
[…] About […]
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January 8, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Looking forward to following your story and new life in San Pedro
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January 8, 2014 at 6:27 pm
Thanks Allan! We’re very excited for our new life to begin. Looking at your photography at “Picture Belize” (http://picturebelize.blogspot.com/) only whets our appetites more! Such beautiful images!
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January 9, 2014 at 10:22 pm
[…] About […]
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January 14, 2014 at 12:35 pm
[…] About […]
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January 15, 2014 at 8:01 am
[…] About […]
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January 16, 2014 at 11:50 am
[…] About […]
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February 18, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Hey Rob,Do you know from Campeche Mexico?
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February 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Sorry. Milkia from Campeche
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February 18, 2014 at 1:23 pm
No, sorry Rob. Not a familiar name.
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June 11, 2014 at 7:13 am
Thanks for the article! My wife and I are bound for San Pedro (from San Diego) in January 2015 for several months to check it out and your blog is a big help.
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June 11, 2014 at 7:41 am
Great, Rich! And thank you.
I’m all for more San Diegans on the island!I think San Diego is a good training ground for living in Belize.
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June 12, 2014 at 6:16 am
I was just talking to my good friend David Mollering who said he knows you. Small world. Perhaps we’ll meet when my wife and I arrive.
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June 12, 2014 at 10:00 am
Yes! David and I both worked for the Union-Tribune. One of the good guys who moved on from newspapers. Last I knew he was shooting documentaries?
Absolutely, Rich. Let’s make certain we meet up! When your itinerary is set, contact me at robertj.hawkins2012@gmail.com.
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August 6, 2014 at 6:30 pm
i HAVE III
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August 6, 2014 at 6:39 pm
I have been folling the letters you have posted my husband and I are going to move to Belize in 2015 or sooner if things come together. I have been trying to find out everything I can before our visit.we thought we would come down for a few days to see were we would like to stay. I don’t think my husband wants to live on the island, so I thought maybe Corozal. or San ignacio. Can you help us with places to stay while we are visiting I have to bring my dog also she is 7lbs toy poodle
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August 6, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Hello Ellen.
First, researching your trip ahead of time is the smartest thing you can do. Congratulations. We did the same before deciding to move to Ambergris Caye. If you want to dig into “ancient history,” some of the first blogs on this post detailed our visits to Corozal, San Ignacio, Placencia and Ambergris Caye.
While in Corozal, we stayed at the Orchid Bay, a very nice development although a bit far out from the town of Corozal. It is worth checking out if you are thinking of living in the northern-most region of the country.
In San Ignacio, we stayed at Cahal Pesch resort. Good, but there are less expensive places if you are in the hunt for a place to live. We liked San Ignacio very much and still do.
The cost of living is more favorable in both of these communities than on the island.
As for recommendations, our experience is limited, so I would encourage you to use Trip Advisor and pay attention, especially, to the comment sections on places that you might be considering.
Hope this is some help. Good luck.
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September 21, 2014 at 8:17 pm
Hello Robert:
My wife, Sharon, and I will be arriving in San Pedro around the first of October. We have enjoyed following your writings. We are returning to Belize to again volunteer in primary schools on both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. We will be making our home base in San Pedro, where we have stayed before so we can really relate to your posts. We hope to meet you and Rose during the next year. This will be Sharon’s sixth trip and my third and as of now our goal is to go for residency status after a year.
Cheers,
Clyde
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September 21, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Thank you, Clyde! And welcome back. I can’t think of a better way to get to know a people and their country than by diving into the schools. I’d love to hear more when you arrive.
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January 2, 2015 at 5:40 pm
Just stumbled upon your blog. We too are moving to belize in early 2014. Would love to connect and swap lessons learned, research, etc. my email is taunya@ktlodging.com. My husband Ken is at ken@ktlodging.com. Look forward to hearing from you.
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February 2, 2015 at 6:00 am
Very good news. Hope your move goes smoothly. If I can be of some help, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m sure you’ll discover one of the most endearing features of ex-pats and locals alike on Ambergris Caye is a willingness to help others get the information they need to get a job done. Welcome!
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September 13, 2015 at 6:12 pm
Hi Bob,
My mother and my husband (yes, that’s a strange pair) will be in Belize next month. We’ve decided to escape the rat race in Houston and head even further south, but since I started teaching again in an attempt to sock every penny I make into our Belize future, it’s up to them to find our slice of heaven without me. After reading your blog posts, a) we’re sincerely hoping you might have some time to share with them next month (dinner? lunch?) and b) we’re buying about 10 of those trash picker-upper things to take down to you.
Please let me know where we can deliver the litter-pickers and if you might have some open time you’d like to fill with an ER nurse (Brad) and a business-owner-cum-realtor (Mary).
Thank you!
Kristen
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September 15, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Hi Kristen! I’ve sent you an e-mail and will be happy to meet with your advance party!
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October 10, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Great stories I enjoy the chuckles, making my 5th visit this Xmas very serious about selling it all and making the move, got the wheels in motion selling house, business and goods hope we meet some day, will be staying at Cocotal, Cheers!
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October 10, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Thanks, Jack!
Good luck. We’re just south of Cocotal, en route to San Pedro. Don’t know the last time you were up this way but you’re going to love the new road!
See you on the island!
Bob
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November 18, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Hi Bob! I believe we met months ago at Candy Cove- I was the croc researcher who was 7 or 8 months pregnant!!! Well, no longer pregnant and back in the field of croc research on the island! Just read your recent blog vis San Pedro Sun about the trash- excellent! Take care!
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August 7, 2016 at 11:16 am
Hi there! Have you & your wife stayed at Gaia Riverlodge? Or, know anyone that has stayed there recently? Thanks!
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August 7, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Sorry, no. Anyone reading this post know anything about Gaia River Lodge? You might try also San Pedro Scoop, a very knowledgeable source for Belize.
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February 27, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Hello, I’ve been helping a friend research moving to an eco community in Belize. Most of them see to be somewhat or downright fraudulent, and/or never get finished being built? I’m very concerned he is going to put some money down, sight unseen. Have you come across any tru eco communities and/or know of anyone reliable he could speak with? I keep telling him to talk with expats who aren’t trying to sell anything! Mahalo!
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February 28, 2017 at 9:55 am
I can’t really speak to the nature of developments on the mainland but I have yet to encounter any development in Belize that is free of challenges. Anybody who lives here will tell you to come down, rent for a year or six months and conduct on-the-ground research. The country is littered with the bones of failed developments, unfinished houses, abandoned resorts — developers here sell a dream, not necessarily a finished product. The money runs out and so do the developers. Seriously, this is too big an investment to make a decision from afar.
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