It’s a country of freedom-seekers. The pirates came to ply their pirate trading out of view. The Mennonites came from Germany and the Netherlands so they could be Mennonites without anyone bothering them. The British came to do their banking in private. And the folks from the surrounding countries have made their way across Belize’s borders over the decades in search of safety.

In its introduction, Forbes’ photo feature states that, “Living overseas is different from just visiting. Before you retire to a foreign country, consider not just the weather and cost of living, but also healthcare; safety; tax and visa requirements; and how friendly the country is to foreigners. Here are some possibilities,” and then goes on to list fifteen of what it considers the world’s best retirement choices.

Mick Fleming is something of a legend in this part of Belize, a larger-than-life character who, more than 30 years ago, with $600 in his pocket, made his way to Belize City, where he met a guy in a bar who owned a piece of land in the jungle he was interested in selling. Mick bought, thinking he’d try his luck as a farmer. The farming was tough going, but, in time, Mick identified another opportunity. Travelers were beginning to find their way to this remote region. They’d happen upon Mick and ask if he had a place where they could spend the night.

English is the official language of the country, formerly known as the colony of British Honduras. In 1980 it won its independence from Great Britain and has appeared on maps as Belize (or Belice in the Spanish language) ever since.

Kiplinger.com, a Washington DC based publisher of business forecast and personal finance advice has selected Corozal District in Belize as a great place to retire aboard.
According to the article that appeared in Yahoo! Finance, Corozal Belize was selected because it offers retirees beaches and tranquility and big city amenities such as malls and museums just across the border in Chetumal Mexico.

Corozal District in Belize has been selected as one of the best places to retire outside the United States by AARP. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over to improve the quality of their lives.

So once again, retirement in Belize may not be for everyone, but it certainly is for us. We find it’s easy to stay active and healthy, and it’s affordable enough that we enjoy a great quality of life without the stresses we had up north, but it’s close enough that we have plenty of visits from friends and family. Add in my freezer full of fish and our garden full of fruit and vegies, and you’re looking at a couple of very happy Belize retirees.

As people’s retirement plans have changed the Central American country of Belize is getting welcomed attention in the international media. US News and World Report, AARP, The Boston Herald, as well as Yahoo Finance published an article on how to retire in Belize on $1,500. a month and the response has been overwhelming.

Belize is a beautiful little country. It’s a peaceful, eco-tourist retreat home to more than 540 species of birds, 4,000 species of flowering plants, and 700 kinds of trees. Nearly 40 percent of the country is protected as parkland and natural preserves. Belize boasts the second-largest barrier reef in the world. This incredible underwater resource teems with colorful fish, coral, and unusual marine life, making the waters off this country’s coast a fisherman’s and diver’s paradise.