Got a good poker face? Or maybe you have a good pinochle hand? Perhaps you long to meditate or perfect a new art in your golden years… Or maybe you’re more adventuresome… longing for open-air discovery…Whatever it is you’re looking to do in your retirement, you can probably find like-minded fellows to do it with in Belize.I confess, I’m trying to be more patient these days. After all, I retired and relocated to a place where I could leave the hectic hustle and bustle of working behind. No more rat race for me! When I moved to Punta Gorda, on the southern coast of Belize, I was more than happy to immerse myself in the laid-back lifestyle of the people there, but it took me a while to sit back. On more than one occasion I was asked, “Where’s the fire, sis?” I realized I needed to relax—and fast. No need to prove that I could get the job done in a hurry… no time clock to punch… no sign-in sheet to show I got to work on time… Eventually I learned the lay of the land, the way of the town, and slowed down to a healthier pace. Flip-flops were the order of the day, along with light clothing, to better enjoy the gentle seaside breezes that constantly reminded me that I was in a better place… and moving at a better pace. But, after a couple of months of hammock-swinging, I felt an urge for activity. I called back home and told some members of my family that there was nothing much to do in Punta Gorda… Wrong!
The more I started looking and asking around, the more I found there was to do.
I found the frequently running, low-cost bus routes and started taking advantage. Through these trips I was exposed to those wonderful places of waterfalls and lush greenery that I wouldn’t have seen staying in town. I met many more people who had some of the same interests and we began planning get-togethers to chat and chew and enjoy walks by the seaside and share our adventures.Belcampo Lodge is a 12,000-acre nature reserve right outside of Punta Gorda. It was worth the taxi ride just to go for a tour of this area… which is breathtaking. The infinity pool is awesome… the guest houses are unbelievable… and there’s a building dedicated to yoga. I rode the cable car down to the river where a boat was standing by for fishing trips. (I understand now why Belcampo’s safari-looking truck was always full whenever I saw it around town.)Another bus ride to the Placencia area was almost too much for me to take in. Some houses in this region are surrounded by moats, with a lagoon on one side and the sea across the road. Magnificent!
