Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.
It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
–William Jennings Bryan

About the time that Belize started to grow on us, we parked our truck and caught a bus into Belize City, where we would take a water taxi to Ambergris Caye – a place we were going to visit thanks to an invitation from online friends – Keith and Sabina King – who live on the island.

Waiting for the bus to Belize City

A decent wait, but we finally flag down a bus that will stop for us, and climb aboard. Filing to the back where the only available seats are, it’s obvious that most of our family stands out as foreigners.

But with closer observation, it’s intriguing to see the diverse cultural mix that this bus contains.

Music in Spanish is blaring out of the bus speakers, and the driver himself looks Mexican; the man next to me also looks Latin, and speaks to me in Spanish, and English, though I have a difficult time understanding both; then there’s the rastifarians that speak Creole with a ‘Jamacian’ flair; the ‘sistas’; the Asian gentleman; the Danish Menonite farmer with ruddy skin and a cowboy hat. This is Belize.

The tunes are thumping, and we’re tapping our toes and the kids are grooving to the beat. Many others are bobbing their heads and mouthing the words. We’re feeling good and loving the immersion.

Greg taps me from behind, and yells over the music, “I love this! I love these kind of experiences.” I just nod my head and smile from ear to ear in agreement.

This is incredible, and how grateful we are to do it while we’re young, and with our family.

The cultural immersion doesn’t end with the bus ride. Killing time until the water taxi leaves, we walk the streets of Belize City, buy Journey Cakes, meat pies and banana bread.

We delight in the new sights, sounds, and flavors.

Buying produce in Belize City

A sampling of the mix of cultures that make up Belize

I’m sorry…to me, Creole (or Kriol) just seems like really poor English.

It goes from good to better as the boat leaves the mainland, and the water turns from brown to turquoise. Wow, Belize does have beauty.

An hour and a half later we reach the island of Ambergris Caye, and tropical paradise.

Due to previous challenges with Belize’s mobile internet and cell phone service, we have no way to contact our hosts. But we do have the directions to their condo.

With a big sigh of contentment, we peacefully gaze at the beauty surrounding us, while we leisurely stroll through the sand to our destination.

It’s…I don’t know, a Monday? and here we are walking down a tropical beach in Belize, watching pelicans, gazing at fish swimming in the turquoise water, observing the fisherman clean is catch while trying to avoid the sting rays that are gathering around his feet.

Kyah seems to sum it up perfectly when she turns to me and says, “Mom, I’m so glad I don’t have to go to school.”

“I’M glad you don’t have to go to school,” I reply, “because then I’d be sitting in some house in suburbia waiting for you to get home, instead of walking along this beach.”

“And then we would be fighting about doing my homework,” she responds. I just laugh. Where does she get this stuff?

But the thoughts bring a feeling of gratitude, which seep deep into my heart and gently fill it up.

Reaching our destination, we meet for the first time strangers, who soon become friends. The days that follow brings plenty of fun and adventure, and great conversation as we discuss like-minded ideas. As is common when you meet other traveling families, we ask each other lots of questions about how, where and why we’re doing what we do.

Not an ‘official’ interview, here’s a summary of my take on the conversations we shared over our week together. (Hope it’s accurate)

Why did you move to Belize?

The Kings were living in Costa Rica, and were ready for a change. Trying out the island life seemed like an appealing idea, so they came to Ambergris Caye.

Lounging by the pool at the King’s condo

Shopping in the town of San Pedro

A great place for diving, Keith King plans to get scuba dive certified while living on the island.

Walking to town to do some grocery shopping

How did you decide to move to Costa Rica?

They were living the ‘American Dream’, had an anchor, or a ‘money pit’ on a few acres in Colorado that they had remodeled and redesigned to their hearts content.

Their businesses saw some challenges during the economic downturn of 2008, and as a result they had to kind of ‘start over’. Sabina studied everything should could about internet marketing, learned to create websites and began building their current business, (which now support’s their ‘King’ lifestyle).

It was about this same time that they thought, “Oh, wouldn’t it be great to retire to Costa Rica one day?”

Then they said, “Why wait? Why not do it now?”

With only a few weeks remaining in her pregnancy before the birth of their second child, and a prayer that the income from their new online business would only go up instead of down, they packed up, rented out their house in Colorado and moved to paradise.

They didn’t make excuses, or think of all the reasons why it wouldn’t work, or couldn’t happened. They asked themselves the question – Why not now? – and then made it happen.

Business only got better, and after about 2 years in Costa Rica, they realized they were ready to become more nomadic and slowly explore more of the world. Belize was the next destination.

What does a typical day look like?

Living in Ambergris includes routines that are no different than any other around the world. Sabina’s up early working on her blog or business. Then there’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, and nap time for the kids. There’s laundry and dishes and sweeping.

But weaved into ‘normal’ is the ‘island life.’

They might chop some coconuts for a snack; walk along the beach into town; swim in the pool; wade in the ocean and spy sting rays and star fish; entertain friends and make new ones; talk to the locals (who speak a mixture of Spanish and English); go kayaking out to the reef; or maybe they’ll snorkel with sharks and sea turtles; or buy some chicken tacos or papusas for lunch. Staples in the King household are coconut water (pipa); coconut oil; bananas and pineapple that tastes like candy.

Sabina and Keith King

Three-fourths of their family, with daughter Isla Rosa, born in Costa Rica.

Commandeering the pool for our little band of pirates.

Fun-loving Sabina has an infectious laugh.

It’s tough to be a traveling mom.

What’s your favorite part about your lifestyle?

Not having to go back to ‘normal life’ like all the tourists that pass through here every week.

Being disconnected from the ‘herd’ and all the freedom that results by not feeling required to live up to social expectations. We’ve left our own tribe, back in the U.S., so we don’t have to conform to social norms. We don’t officially belong to the local community here, and their societal conventions. We’re free to live our life according to how we see best, instead of the expectations others might have for us. And we’re able to raise our kids outside of those expectations, giving them so many more options for creating their own life.

Knowing that life can be whatever we want it to be. Who knows where it will take us? (I use ‘we’ and ‘us’, because the Kings and ourselves feel the same about the answer to this question).

Looking for sting rays

So what lies on the horizon?

Who knows? Maybe a few months in Mexico; maybe Indonesia…

The Kings want to become even more nomadic and mobile, there’s so much to explore in this world…

But for now, they’re loving the island lifestyle, and there’s plenty here still to explore and experience.

Golf carts are a popular mode of transportation in San Pedro, but the King’s opt to walk.

A local restaurant that makes delicious El Salvadorian pupusas.

Three year old Grayson King plays in the sand.

There’s a unique, cultural mix on the island – Belizians, Guatemalans, El Salvadorians, Canadians, Americans and Europeans. Spanish and English are the most common languages.

Sabina is determined to try kiting before they leave Belize. Perhaps soon she’ll be doing tricks like this

Eating good, good food at friends’ house.

It’s tough to live like a King, but somebody’s got to do it… Why not you? What holds you back?

Thanks to the King family for being amazing hosts and for such an incredible, unforgettable, ‘chaotic’ time! We’ll see you in Placencia!

Follow the Kings:

A King’s Life

Facebook

P.S.

As I complete this post, I’ve just received news that my brother-in-law has passed away from brain cancer. At the age of 42, he leaves behind his wife (my husband’s sister) and their 6 young children.

I don’t think it’s possible to express the emotions I feel thinking about what their family has been experiencing during the last few months of his life, and will experience now without a husband or father. I have some small inkling of what it might be like, after losing my own father to cancer just less than 9 years ago, and seeing my mother’s own struggle at losing her husband of 25 years, and still having young children at home.

I can’t begin to explain or understand why our family is exploring tropical islands, while others are coming face to face with death and sorrow. I don’t know why things are the way they are. But I do feel a lot of gratitude. And humility.

And I do know, that not one of us is able to predict what life will bring our way – which gives us even more reason to seize this day, this hour, this moment!

How can we wait to live life the way we want to until we reach retirement or ‘someday’. Someday may never come!! We can’t wait to enjoy and appreciate life, today is all we have for that.

Live deliberately today, and everyday for the rest of our lives, because we never know how long or short they may be.

We love you Cloninger family

Physical Education/Health & Fitness

“This is a good workout, Mom.”

Snack time – healthy eating

Art

Science

Natural history

Marine biology

Observation and appreciation of nature

Math

Measuring, comparing and contrasting – Kimball with his ‘water depth’ measuring stick

Number values and currency exchange

Reading

Plus Pinnochio and Wind in the Willows on our Kindles! (LOVE the Kindles!!)

 Social Studies

Teamwork and problem solving

Communication and interpersonal skills

Don’t forget preschool

And of course, character development

Patience

Plus so much more, that doesn’t have a photo.

Getting back in the saddle sometimes produces soreness.

We spent seven ‘soft’ weeks on the shore of Bacalar. It’s only been three days ‘back in the saddle’ for us, but we’re feeling the tenderness. You could say that we’re walking a little funny.

Our ‘funny’ walk is due to the hundreds of itchy bites that cover our bodies.

Even as I type this, I have to stop to satisfy irresistible urges to scratch, scratch, scratch – the result of an attack of the no-seeums (aka jejenes or sandflies).

Sometimes the most deadly enemies are those who can’t be seen. While sleeping at the coast in Ladyville, Belize, these nearly invisible insects lighted upon us in a fury.

So small they could fit through screens, they swarmed into our tent and camper, and kept us awake with the continual snacking upon our flesh.

In the following days, the effects of their munching are terrible to behold (and they itch like the devil.)

Driven mad, we fled the scene in the dark to seek the refuge of a moving vehicle. Having no other destination, we drove to Belize City.

My bug-bitten ankle

Stopping at a park for little people entertainment and distraction, while I completed a work project, Parker (7) returned to the truck in tears, the result of a sleepless, bug bitten night, irresistible itching, and the burning Belize sun.

“I’m soooo hot and I’m itching. I don’t like it here, I want to go back to Bacalar… or Alaska.”

It was hard to say goodbye to Bacalar. (It’s always hard to close a ‘chapter’ on your life.) A feeling of melancholy hung over us like a rain-cloud as we left the place we called home for seven peaceful, relaxing, wonderful weeks.

We had to bid farewell to the beautiful lagoon of Bacalar; the quiet, peaceful mornings; to our friends, the pirates; to Nancy and her five charming children; to the family that does our laundry; to the guy who sells the most amazing shredded pork; to the tienda de helados that sells coconut popsicles for only $5 pesos each (we stopped on the way out of town and bought some for old times sake).

Saying goodbye to our pirate friends.

Leaving Bacalar meant that for the first time in seven weeks, we didn’t know where we would be sleeping each night. We didn’t know what the road looked like, where it led, or what we would find.

And we didn’t just leave Bacalar, we left Mexico, the incredible country we had explored for the past four months.

Even when it’s exciting, It’s still hard to leave the known and head into the ‘unknown.’

Now, here we were, and some of the ‘unknown’ had revealed it’s ugly face.

Besides the itching, and the heat, there were other adjustments we had to make- the closeness of tight quarters (living in our newly built camper); learning a new system for family operations (like meal times); and adjusting routines to new circumstances (where does everyone sit for bedtime stories?).

My new (still unpainted) kitchen

Learning how to make things work in tight quarters.

To top it off, Belize really wasn’t all that impressive so far. It was like leaving the crystal clear waters and entering the murky sea. It was swampy, buggy, trashy. We weren’t liking it much.

This is the sight we saw the morning we left Mexico.

This is what we found in Belize. Talk about culture shock.

When you face discomforts and challenges, it’s natural to long for what you knew- the comforts, your ‘happy place.’

Or it’s easy to tell yourself, “See, we shouldn’t have left. We left all the comforts, all the knowns – we went into the unknown, and look at the result. Just bad stuff.”

It’s okay to feel that way. We’re human. We don’t have to be cheerful about the unpleasantntries of life. We don’t have to carpe diem the crap.

Sometimes you’re just saddle-sore. Sometimes you just itch. I don’t have to feel good about looking like I’ve got a severe case of chicken pox. We don’t need to like every place we visit.

But the answer to our problem lies not in looking back at ‘how good we had it’, but to keep moving forward. It’s to ask yourself, “How can I make this work?” or “What can I find that’s beautiful about this?”

Because the unknown contains beauty too. It’s not just ‘all ugly.’

You have to look for the beauty wherever you go.

Rather than wallowing in the misery of the unpleasant circumstances, you have to look for solutions to make them better. You’ve got to believe that the ‘ugly’ is only temporary. Things will improve. And you have the infinitude to alter your circumstances. In the meantime, you make lemonade.

Recognizing this is the ultimate ‘answer’ to life. We all have to make adjustments. We all face the unknown. Life happens – new babies, job changes, moving, death, divorce.

If we can’t learn to adjust to new routines, new environments, new habits – if we can’t learn to say, “Yep, this stinks right now, but how can I make it better? How can I adjust?” “What can I be grateful for?” – well, then we might just go insane. Or die trying to keep things ‘the way they were.’

Back in Belize, we examine our options. We look for relief, from the heat and the itching. We make some food (that’s always a comfort), and made some friends (that always brings fun).

We looked for the beauty. We sought for solutions. And when you seek, you will find.

The next day our perseverance pays off. We’re rewarded with the first-hand experiences with local culture that we relish, and that give travel so much meaning.

Camped on the property of a local man, three curious girls are interested in our home on wheels.

“May I come in, please, sir?” they each ask in turn.

In the midst of eating oranges, we share some with our sweet little guests.

“Juicy, juicy, juicy, juice!”

“Oh-run-juz is sooo good!”

“And they’ze good fo’ ya, just like veg-uh-tuh-bulls.”

We laugh, we learn, we giggle and share.

Greg asks one of the girls, “Why are you so pretty?”

“Cuz my momma born me that way. Cuz my mommas pretty, not like my ugly daddy.”

We laugh, but she continues.

“It’s good to have only one daddy, cuz my daddy tried to stab me with a knife. That’s why I don’t go to my home anymore.”

And then she continues on, speaking about oranges and veg-uh-tuh-bulls, as though having your father attempt to stab you was a normal occurrence.

So simply said. So shocking. So telling of the reality for many children in the world. Such a smack in the face saying, “What do we have to complain about?” Bug bites? Cramped quarters? We’re blessed to be a happy family.

Taking part in this sort of cultural experience is like marrow to the bones of travel – it’s why we’re out here.

To learn about and from other people, to expose our kids to new languages (even if it’s a foreign version of English) and customs and lifestyles, and to gain greater insight into ourselves and our blessings.

Seeing beauty depends more on what you’re looking for, than it does on what you see.

It’s good to be ‘tight’