As of this date we are here in Belize, but I want to take some time to catch you up with our experiences on this journey. I'll be posting a few blogs over the next week or so. The movers picked up our stuff as promised (about a month before we left for Belize ourselves) and we found homes for all the stuff we didn't take. We lived in a half empty home (we still had our fridge, couch, bed, washer and drier) up until the final few days when our friend who had purchased those items took delivery. We spent the last week on an borrowed air mattress, a borrowed card table and chairs and many of our friends had us over for dinner since my pots and pans were packed...darn.
Two things happened during this time. With all our "stuff" packed an on the way to Belize before us, we pondered if we needed such "stuff" to begin with. Second, we had to rely on our community of friends for help. It has never been easy for us to borrow things, but we learned the necessity of each other, a lesson heavily needed in Belize.
Personally, (Amanda typing) I had a rough time with the thought of moving. Everything, I mean everything was changing in my world and there was nothing I could do to stop it. This was a true leap of faith, a lesson I never am strong to learn. I'm not proud to say, but I cried many tears of fear, I was held by many friends, and prayed many prayers for strength.
With our stuff on the way to Belize, there was no turning back. Our things left on a container ship from LA, to a dock weeks later in Guatemala. From there it was transported a few hundred miles through Guatemala to Belize. I did have my worries about the safety of our possessions as we did not get moving insurance nor was it offered. We found out our earthly possessions were all transported via a Chiquita Banana Container on its way to pick up more bananas from Guatemala/Belize.
It turned out our container (minus bikes, a mattress, couch & love seat which will be here in mid-September) made it to Belize without a hitch. None of the boxes were opened at Customs and our boxes arrived a week before we did. The moving company just stored the boxes until we arrived. I would say we had a hand full of broken glasses/plates, but nothing of importance.
Michael retired from his career at same time House Hunters International was filming us for an upcoming show. We were crazy to respond to House Hunters. Dealing with the show taping, emotions, and retirement celebrations was exhausting on top of all the normal headaches of moving.
On Michael's last day of work, I met him at his office and hand in hand we walked out of the building he has worked in for 12 years. He thought it wouldn't be an emotional big deal, as he continued to have his head in "cloud nine". But he soon realized this wan't a typical day. A new chapter was starting for us, as our professional lives had ended.
The last Saturday night in Vegas we were able to hold a bon voyage gathering at our typical weekend stomping grounds...the marina. We had a wonderful turnout of friends and some surprise visitors and we will treasure the memories of that night forever. For as many years as we dreamed of moving to Belize, we have dreamed of what our going away party would be like. We hit it right on the head, a laid back gathering with good friends. Two friends in particular and very close to us, were especially hard to say goodbye to. One slipped out of the party and I didn't get to share a goodbye with, the other part of the dynamic duo, did stay and we had a hard time saying goodbye with many "monkey face" tears from both of us. I don't know which is harder to deal with, saying goodbye or not saying goodbye. But I do know this...you don't know the true depth of love for a friend until you have to say goodbye.
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