Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007
  • Home
  • About Belize
    • My Move to Belize
    • Living in Belize
    • Belize Tourism Board
    • Blog Press
    • tacogirl.com testimonials
  • Flights to Belize
    • Flying in Belize
    • Flights From Belize
    • Duty Free Belize
    • Aerial Tours
    • World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • Belize Vacation
    • Vrbo Belize – A Paradise within a Paradise
      • Vrbo Ambergris Caye – Sunshine, Luxury & Fun
      • Vrbo San Pedro – Food, Fun, and Adventure
      • Vrbo Placencia – A True Getaway
      • Vrbo Hopkins Belize – Experience Culture
    • Ambergris Caye Accommodations by Price
    • Belize Resorts and Hotels
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
    • Belize Vacation Deals
  • Coupon Codes
    • Big Belize Travel Deal
  • Travel Store
    • tacogirl Recommendations
    • Easy Donations
    • Eco Friendly Belize
  • Fun Activities
    • Getting Around Ambergris Caye
    • Fitness
    • Things to do in Belize
    • Belize Excursions and Tours
    • Voluntourism
  • Travel
    • Central America
    • Yucatan
  • Home
  • Belize Weather
  • Belizean Food
  • Restaurants by Price
  • Beach Bars
  • Nightlife
  • Discounts
  • Virtual Vacation
  • Belize Beach Webcam
Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right blog for Belize Resources and Information.

  • Home
  • About Belize
    • My Move to Belize
    • Living in Belize
    • Belize Tourism Board
    • Blog Press
    • tacogirl.com testimonials
  • Flights to Belize
    • Flying in Belize
    • Flights From Belize
    • Duty Free Belize
    • Aerial Tours
    • World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • Belize Vacation
    • Vrbo Belize – A Paradise within a Paradise
      • Vrbo Ambergris Caye – Sunshine, Luxury & Fun
      • Vrbo San Pedro – Food, Fun, and Adventure
      • Vrbo Placencia – A True Getaway
      • Vrbo Hopkins Belize – Experience Culture
    • Ambergris Caye Accommodations by Price
    • Belize Resorts and Hotels
    • Pet Friendly Hotels
    • Belize Vacation Deals
  • Coupon Codes
    • Big Belize Travel Deal
  • Travel Store
    • tacogirl Recommendations
    • Easy Donations
    • Eco Friendly Belize
  • Fun Activities
    • Getting Around Ambergris Caye
    • Fitness
    • Things to do in Belize
    • Belize Excursions and Tours
    • Voluntourism
  • Travel
    • Central America
    • Yucatan

Why I moved to Belize

by tacogirl 14/06/2011
written by tacogirl 14/06/2011
Belize Roads

Why I moved To Belize?
Sharon Hiebing

Ever since I left the United States and moved to Belize permanently, people are constantly asking
me, “Why Belize?” I believe they are really asking two questions.

First, what in the world made you relocate to another country? After all, how many people do you know who have done something so drastic? Among my family and peer group, I was the first.

And second, I think they do have a genuine interest in learning more about Belize, either because
they really have never heard of it and want to learn more, or maybe they’re thinking about moving to another country and want to check it out.

So answering the question is not as straight forward as you may think. The road that led me to choosing Belize was a long one. I did not wake up one day and say to myself, “Hey, I’m gonna move to Belize!” Instead, I had a goal of moving to another country one day because I wanted a change of pace, and because I wanted to experience a different culture, before I was too old to do so.

The saying is true, “Life is Too Short!” For me, to one day wake up and look back on my life and realize I hadn’t accomplished this goal would have been unacceptable.

So I moved because I wanted to learn another language, specifically Spanish. I wanted to be in control of my destiny, something that I felt was impossible in a country so full of rules and regulations (and getting worse every day).

I wanted to live where the water was a different color blue than I was used to (I’m from the San
Francisco Bay Area). Where people looked each other in the eye and greeted one another instead of
looking away or down.

I wanted to leave behind 30 degree winters and wear tank tops every day. I wanted to shop at a local market away from the glaring lights. I wanted lobster to be as common as hamburger. I wanted to be closer to other countries that I could travel easily to.

Belize offered me all of these things and more, unlike many of the other countries I investigated.

I am an American Dream Devil who put her whole life in three suitcases and did what most people
would never dream of doing. I am an example to everyone that you truly can have anything you want. It’s useless to wish that I’d done it sooner – I’m just glad that I did.

Where do you dream of living, and are you working on making it happen?

Sharon Hiebing is an American Expat living in San Ignacio Town, Belize. She is the founder of Wealth Ships’ and offers Expat Relocation Consulting Services via email, phone and one-to-one at affordable rates. She also owns the only property management company in Western Belize, Red Roof Property Management. She wrote an e-book, writes a weekly blog, and posts tidbits daily about her life and work on Facebook. She’d love it if you came and got to know her.

[today’s pics are all about the new roadwork being done in Boca Del Rio area. The road is starting just past the turning circle and I would imagine they will make it all the way to the Bridge eventually.]

karen brodie
A Little Hammock Fun by Karen Brodie Photography
dale wallace junior san pedro belize
Dale's mechanic shop in San Juan
belize food
Creole shrimp
dragonfly pottery made by belize artist ruby hand
Dragonfly pottery Artisan Ruby hand

Related

tacogirl

Laure Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

previous post
San Pedro Sailing Club Beach Party
next post
Belize to Canada

You will also like

Best Time For Official Paperwork

04/03/2021

Limited Economic Recovery of Ambergris Caye and Belize

05/06/2020

Happiness is Underrated

19/05/2020

How Many Times Did I Go Out? And...

03/05/2020

Bad Things Happen in Threes

24/04/2020

Time Stands Still – 3 cases of Covid-19...

30/03/2020

Grateful for Belize in December

05/12/2019

Busy Season on Ambergris Caye

30/11/2019

Things That Make You Go Hmmm and Sargasso...

27/11/2019

Directions? Look for the Sails

22/11/2019

10 comments

AJ Baxter 06/07/2011 - 4:00 pm

Great inspirational piece! I’m landlocked in Canada but plan on residing in Belize several months of the year.

Reply
tacogirl 07/07/2011 - 7:37 am

I know a few people that enjoy Belize from 3 – 6 months a year AJ and t seems to be working very well for them.

Reply
Peter M 02/07/2011 - 6:18 pm

By the way, I turned down that position as Deputy Chief. I figured “why should I sell my house, uproot the family, buy another and add more expenses —–When—-> I would only be staying there for a year or so.

We fully intend to take an extended stay in Belize for at least a year, then after that we will know if the lifstyle change is right for us. If not, we would have only spent a small portion of our modest savings but will have gained a life of memories. …and who knows we may stay.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL

Reply
tacogirl 03/07/2011 - 7:09 am

Nice peter. Glad you pulled your dream back out of the closet and are making plans to see it through.

Reply
Peter M 02/07/2011 - 6:10 pm

I have enjoyed reading your blogs..and until recetly never knew blogs would have been so helpful with a subject that I have thought about for over a decade.

Four years ago I was ready to make the move with my family and they were very excited. As time got closer I found that more and more reason not to leave came around. Belize was placed on the back burner and eventually tucked away in a dark closet. I thought it was all lost and I was soon back to the day to day grind of policing our streets……. Until—–>

I recently was offered a job as Deputy Chief of Police with a department about 70 miles away from my home. A great chance to enhance my career…but…I would have to sell my house and relocate. Well, to shorten up my story… While I was searching the web for houses, I clicked on a Belize Real Estate site (on purpose) and began wondering why did I really back out.

After much soul searching and talks with my wife and our 10 year old son….the dream was taken out of that closet and brought back to the table.

We are currently working on a time-line and I am shooting for late 2012 or early 2013. I think that is reasonable and should allow us to pay off the few debts that we have.

Keep on blogging——> it is one of my motivators

Thanks

Reply
al salter 15/06/2011 - 8:18 am

I lived near Russell Kansas from 94 to’01. Loved it. Big sky, nice people, meadowlarks and great chicken fried steak. And the home of Bob Dole. Water is overated.

Reply
RumShopRyan 14/06/2011 - 5:28 pm

Great story Sharon! I wrote a story a while back called “Nesters and Explorers”, it takes both to make the world go around. I am definitely an explorer like you are. I was born and raised in the land locked state of Kansas and hand coastal aspirations. So I moved to southwest Florida without knowing a soul. Best think I ever did! I’ve been here almost 10 years now and still love it, but some of those Caribbean island have started calling my name. Who knows what the future holds, but its good to know that you have the courage to follow your heart.

Again, great story, and thanks for posting TacoGirl!

Cheers!

Reply
al salter 14/06/2011 - 11:46 am

Americans move to Belize because they hate America. Canadians move there because they hate winter. After 6 years what I found through living there is that apart from bananas, sexually transmitted diseases and Marie Sharp sauce Belize has few exports and relies heavily on tourism. It is difficult for a nation with the sexual voracity of a mink in a Viagra factory to get around to work much, and Belizeans tend therefore to prefer work they can do while relaxing in a hammock. Since lying down is an activity that can be combined with their other favourite activity( and mine) Belize has billed itself as the biggest brothel in Christendom. Thats what I miss. .

Reply
Kimberly 14/06/2011 - 10:31 am

Thank you! You have put most of my reasons into words! Especially about regulations and markets!

Reply
Sharon Hiebing 14/06/2011 - 9:39 am

Thanks for sharing my experience with all of your readers, Taco Girl. I hope it entices them to at least make a visit to Belize so they can experience it for themselves!

Sharon Hiebing
Relocate Witihout Rose-Colored Glasses

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search Belize by Category

Duty Free Discount

Trip Advisor Destination Expert

Tripadvisor logo

Get Social with tacogirl Belize blog

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Flickr Youtube

 

 

 


 

Get the latest posts by email

Search Belize by Month

Find tacogirl On Facebook

Find tacogirl On Facebook
tacogirl Belize blog
tacogirl Belize blog
5.0
Based on 16 reviews
powered by Google
Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton! I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
Next Reviews

THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation.

If you have any questions or want Belize discounts, Contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

3 childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age.Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • Email

tacogirl.com San Pedro Belize © 2021 Content of this website may not be used elsewhere without permission. Sitemap


Back To Top