Our plans are coming together!

Barb and I have decided we need some relaxation time from what has been one of the most stressful times of our lives. During the past year we have endured family stress, a tornado, an earthquake, a hurricane, and most recently a 12 inch snowstorm. All of these issues have caused damage, some you can see, some you can't, some you can fix, and some that cannot be fixed.  We must learn to live with the things we are given.

Our prescription for this stress is to take a month off from life and return to Caye Caulker. The stress will not go away, but for that period we will be able to relax on a carribean island and forget about it. We have rented an apartment for a month and we are making plans to settle in. Renting an apartment will give us an idea of what retiring there will be like. Unlike renting a vacation home where our every need is supplied, we have to arrange for items such as bikes and cookware you know every day items.  This may not seem like a relaxing vacation to most. It will be for us. We want to get a true idea of what daily living on a remote island in central america will be like. Some have warned us that even three months is not enough to get a true idea, but this is all we can swing for now.

These plans come sooner than expected, but everything is lining up to make it a possibility...we have some savings...Barb can get the time off from work...I found a relatively cheap apartment that the owner is willing to rent for just one month. There are some adjustments we have to make in order for the plans to materialize. For instance, Barb is willing to not spend the holidays with her family in NJ (something she has not been able to do in many years)...I have never spent holiday time away from my family. We have apartments that need constant attention here, so we must plan for that and let go. Thankfully our plans coincide with a slow period in Barb's work. Most of our rentals are for students, so the apartments will likely be unoccupied during the majority of the time we are away. Holy Cow...the stress of de-stressing!

We are excited about our plans and I will keep you informed while we are away.