Editor’s note: This story was originally published here Live and invest abroad.
For Kelly DeMele, the decision to move abroad came as a shock.
“I was 58 years old, living in Tampa, and it hit me: I wanted to retire somewhere else,” Kelly says. “I wanted Central America because it’s close to Florida where my daughter and two grandchildren live. The idea was sudden but even more so after landing here, I just said, ‘I’m going!'”
Of course, there were some push factors for Kelly.
“I work in telemedicine, so working 1099, single, and inflation in Florida at its peak, I decided to explore my options abroad.
“I looked at Panama, looked at Costa Rica. Then I came to Belize and found out it spoke English which was a big advantage, as was being able to use US dollars and make easy exchanges on the spot because the Belize dollar is pegged two-to-one to the US dollar.”
The foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE), which reduces your taxable income, was another attractive factor for Kelly, who works remotely.
easy accommodation option
belize It also has easy accommodation options. Kelly chose the country’s Qualified Retirement Program (QRP) based on his age – the QRP is open to applicants age 40 and older – and desire to be free to move around the US.
“If you apply for permanent residence, you’re locked out for a year except for two weeks because of the country’s time requirements,” Kelly explains. “I wanted the freedom to move around the US, so I opted for the QRP. To qualify, you have to show a minimum income of $2,000 per month.”
Another great benefit of QRP is that it exempts you from duty on shipping all your items to Belize.
“It’s not as difficult a process as people think,” says Kelly. “I bought a 20-foot container in the US, packed it up, and everything stayed in the container until I needed it. Then I sold the container here. It’s easy to sell it back, and you can even make money with it.”
Life in Kayo District
When it came to finding the perfect place to call home in Belize, Kelly knew what she was looking for.
“I wanted some quiet place, where there was no noise pollution, no light pollution, and no air pollution. Some quiet and peaceful place.”
Kelly found everything she wanted in the Cayo District of Belize, a land of fast rivers, untouched rain forests, Mayan ruins and wide open spaces.
The region also has fertile soil, clean air, fresh water, abundant sunshine, and food-producing communities, making it one of the best places on Earth to adopt a self-sufficient lifestyle.
The Cayo District is where you will find the Santa Familia village and is located on the edge of Carmelita GardenOne of the most significant and established sustainable communities in the region.
Residents of Carmelita use solar panels to generate electricity with a generator for backup. They cook with propane and store water in cisterns. Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown in community and personal gardens.
“In Tampa I was 100% on the grid,” Kelly says. “But Googling around I found Carmelita Gardens, and it seemed like a really good fit.”
The houses at Carmelita Gardens are modeled after Tennessee Williams’ home in Key West. The wooden structures feature exotic hardwoods, long airy verandahs and impressive attention to detail. They are completely self-sufficient but comfortable, with washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, dishwashers, and high-speed Internet.
the trick is going on
Kelly moved to Belize with her dog Baxter.
“I wasn’t really scared,” she says. “I had done a lot of research and had all my ducks in a row. When I came here I had my bank account lined up and a cottage to rent. I built my own custom house. It’s huge but a lot of it is outside space. The square footage here includes that.
“I love self-sufficient living. I don’t have to pay an electric bill, or a water bill, or a mortgage. The only downside is that if it rains for a few days you may run out of solar power. Some people have generators. I have Wi-Fi and a small battery back-up to run the laptop so I can still work. Internet has never been a problem here.
“I spend a lot of time outside. The river is very close. I’ll go there with the dog, he loves the river. It’s wonderful to sit there, read a book, enjoy nature. I also walk around on my bike, go kayaking… there are all kinds of things to do there.”
Another big advantage of life in Belize is how affordable it can be.
“My cost of living “It cuts down on your time significantly,” says Kelly. “You can live very comfortably here on $1,500 a month – even less. I spend less than $1,000.”