Ambergris Caye Archives - Sonia Marsh

I Can’t Believe I Have John McAfee As a Facebook Friend

November 15, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 5 Comments

Yes, you heard me right. John McAfee, the anti-virus pioneer who is being sought for questioning about a murder case, lives on the island of Ambergris Caye, where my family lived for one year.

Thanks to a mutual contact on the island, I became “friends” with him on Facebook.

It’s not like I ever wrote to him on FB, however, today with US News covering the scandal with John McAfee, it no longer surprises me to read about crime, gossip, guns, drugs and dog killings on the island where we lived. Even the Telegraph has an appropriate title: John McAfee: sex, drugs and anti-virus software.

John McAfee moved to Ambergris Caye, a popular island in Belize, after we left in 2005. We did not know him personally, however we did know the murder victim, Gregory Faull. He lived a few houses north of ours on Ambergris Caye. Greg was a contractor from Florida who was building his retirement home on the island. We invited him for a beer in our house, and nick-named Greg the “lobster guy.” I shall never forget when he told us he caught thirty lobster in about an hour or so, while my son Steve and his dad caught only one puny little lobster in two hours. We were all so envious of his lobster-catching skills.

Greg was a fun guy who spent half his time building houses in Florida, and then the rest building his own home on Ambergris Caye. He invited us inside his house to show off the huge rooms he built. (Read page 193 of Freeways to Flip-Flops, and you’ll find him. I changed his name to Mitch.)

Life on the island of Ambergris Caye was both scary and exciting. For such a small island, there was always something going on, and for those of you who have read my memoir: Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, you might recall certain chapters where I expressed fear once in a while about living on Ambergris Caye.

Here is one excerpt about a drug boat from Columbia:

I strolled along the beach to get away from the bustle of golf carts, taxis and bikes on Front Street. The next Island Ferry was scheduled for 11 a.m., so I collapsed on the wooden step in the shade, thinking about how much our lives had changed in just two months. Curiosity led me to the end of the boat dock, where some locals had gathered. They were pointing at something in the distance, and when I saw what they were looking at, my heart skipped a beat. A boat had capsized and six men holding long poles were attempting to flip it over. “Oh, my God, Duke must have lost control of the Island Rider,” I thought, straining my eyes to see if a Cubs baseball cap was floating in the water.

“Mario, what happened to the boat?” I asked. Mario was one of the Island Ferry’s boat captains.

“It’s a drug boat from Columbia,” he said.

“Does this happen often?” I asked.

“Yes, lots of drug smuggling from Colombia to Mexico.” After years of living in my safe Orange County neighborhood, I suddenly felt vulnerable. When I reached home, I hurried upstairs to tell Duke about the capsized boat.

Another excerpt about my fear of being alone with my two younger sons on Ambergris Caye when Duke left for California.

My ears were on high alert for any unusual sounds, so we watched a comedy I knew would make Josh laugh and me forget my fear for a while. “Can I sleep in Steve’s bed?” Josh asked, snuggling closer to me than usual on the couch.

“Of course,” I replied. At least that way, I wouldn’t be all alone downstairs. Alec would sleep upstairs with Cookie.

I hid a solid mahogany rolling pin underneath Duke’s pillow and tucked a machete behind some books on the shelf next to my bed. I regretted not following Lucy’s advice – she was a 70-year-old woman from Michigan who lived alone in town – “Keep a bullhorn next to your bed. It’ll scare the heck out of any thief or rapist.”

So this time Belize is making national news due to a scandal involving a famous American businessman: John McAfee.

What a small world.

From Frugal to Regal thanks to Buick

October 6, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

My cell phone rings, “We’re here to deliver your car,” the guy from Page One Automotive says. I have no idea what to expect, and run down the hallway to open my garage door. There, parked on the street, sits a gorgeous silver 2011 Buick Regal Turbo Sedan. A little intimidated, I stop half way down my driveway. The delivery guy hands me the remote, requests my signature on his paperwork, and within seconds he’s gone. Now it’s just me and my luxury car for the next four days.

Buick Regal Turbo charged — Buick Regal CXL Turbo charged

It takes me a while to pluck up the courage to check her out. First I have to get my heart rate back to normal and make sure my hair and make-up look just as polished as Regal, before I take her for a spin. Her flowing lines and sculpted body deserve to be seen, so what better place to take her than the upscale Newport Beach Library, where I’m editing my travel memoir.

As I roll my computer case through the garage, my Kia Rio looks concerned. “Don’t worry, you’re still mine,” I say.

Regal is outside, waiting for me, and as I click on the remote to open her trunk, I realize, “OMG, I lost the key.” I back track through my garage, eyes focused on the cement floor but I can’t find it. I ask my 23-year-old son to help me look for it. He inspects the remote and all of a sudden, this metal prong ejects. “There’s the key,” he says. Now I feel dumb.

Buick Regal retractable key — The silver button releases the metal prong key

I head back to Regal, open the doors and slide into the soft leather seat. I already feel pampered, wondering if this seat will start pulsing and kneading my back like the one at the nail salon. I insert the key and the engine purrs ever so smoothly.

Everything is elegant inside, from the leather steering wheel to the ebony trim with its piano-black accents. But like any woman, I need music to get in the mood, so I play with the sound system first.

I’ve never been inside a car with a seven speaker sound system, and once I discover XM Radio, I’m hooked. I find my favorite dance hits on “The Groove,” and start wiggling to the beat, reminiscing over my night club days in Paris where I’d dance to Donna Summer and other disco hits. Now I’m relaxed in my elegant interior when I hear a tapping on the window. It’s my neighbor from across the street.

“Got a new car?” he asks.

“GM offered me a car to drive to Speed Fest this weekend,” I reply.

“Looks great,” Jim says.

“I love it, but I can’t figure out where the hand break is.”

“Let me take a look.”

I get out and Jim gets in.

“See the red light with the P?” I say “Well, does that mean the brake is on?”

Jim fumbles around with various buttons, then pulls out the manual from the glove box and thumbs through to the correct page. He reads the instructions.

I’ve never heard of an electric park brake before, and once Jim figures out how to release it, I take off and start jammin’ to Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio playing, “For those who like to Groove.”

As my foot pushes down on the accelerator, I feel the turbo kick in, giving me the boost I need to pass a slow Lexus before the on-ramp to the 405 freeway. I’m in my own cocoon, happy and enjoying a luxury I’m not used to. What a difference from six years ago when my family lived a simple life on the island of Ambergris Caye. We would take our kids to school by boat.

My husband can’t wait to drive Regal to Speed Fest.

“Here’s the address,” I say, handing him the paper.

“Why don’t you enter it in the navigation system,” he says.

“I’m not sure how it works.”

It’s not as easy to figure out as I thought so I pull out my tablet for navigation. Too much technology to keep up with, and we’re running late.

The ride to Coronado is smooth, turbo-powered and luxurious. I head over to the Chevy booth where they are celebrating 100 years of Chevy + 100 years of Naval Aviation, and thank Dave Barthmuss and Sara Leeper for offering me four days of luxury driving.

Sara Leeper and Sonia at Chevy Speed Fest booth — Sara and Sonia at Chevy Speed Fest booth

Not long ago, I contributed to a blog post on GM’s the future is electric blog and was offered a nice car to drive, plus 8 tickets to attend Speed Fest in San Diego. Since my youngest son, 17, enlisted, I have been involved with Cell phones for Soldiers which Chevy is also helping raise funds for. Please contact me if you have a use cell phone you wish to get rid of.

Photos of Buick Regal above

Do you enjoy driving? What features are important to you in a car?

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement

May 19, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Although many of us may be far from retirement, we need to start asking ourselves these 5 questions before we retire. Bob Lowry from Satisfying Retirement, kindly agreed to share his expertise on this subject. You may recall his previous post on my blog entitled: “4 Important Keys to Prepare for a Happy Marriage After Retirement.”

Answer These 5 Questions to Have a Satisfying Retirement

Guest Post by Bob Lowry

from

Satisfying Retirement

There is nothing simple about retirement. Everyone has a different path and a unique set of circumstances to face. But, there are some basic decisions that must be made. If you can answer these questions you are well on your way to a successful retirement.

1). When do I want to stop working? A goal without a timetable is simply a wish list. You don’t need to pick the exact day at some point in the future. But, you do need to commit to something: late spring of 2013 is fine. Now you can visualize the finish line and do what must be done to get ready.

2). Is my financial house in order? If nothing else the last few years have made many of the “rules” obsolete. Even the wisdom of owning your own home is up for review. Take a fresh look at all parts of your financial plan. Is the 6% annual rate of growth you were counting on realistic anymore? Is there a chance Social Security payments will be means-tested in the future? Once you retire, it is a little late to ask these questions.

3). How are my health and health coverage? Both will have an important impact on your life. Do you have health challenges now that might limit you in some significant way? Does your spouse have a disease that is chronic? How about your insurance? Do you keep full coverage after you stop working? Can you afford Medicare Part D or supplemental coverage? If you need to buy a new policy will anyone sell you one at a rate you can afford? I believe the costs and direction of our health care system will have a bigger impact on retirees than anything else on the horizon.

4). Where do I want to live? This is a biggie. I strongly urge you to not make a move soon after you retire. There is too much upheaval in your life as it is. A move away from friends, family, and the familiarity of the area should not be undertaken lightly. You may be sick of winter and snow. Your grown children and grandchildren may live quite a distance from you. Throwing away your winter coat sounds heavenly. Being closer to the kids would be wonderful. You may be absolutely right. But, being far from everything that gives you roots has its own costs. Don’t rush this decision. It will have a major impact on your happiness and health.

5). What will I do to stay busy and motivated? It is the rare person who can answer this question with much assuredness before retiring. You will have ideas and wishes. But, until actually living the life you won’t really know what might unfold. My suggestion is to make plans. Get excited about doing the things you have not done during your working years. Then, remain flexible. Be prepared to make corrections in your direction. Be OK with deciding one thing you thought you’d love isn’t the answer, but something new you just discovered might be.

From Building Your Satisfying Retirement-How To Make The Most of This New Phase of Your Life

You can download Bob’s free e-book, on Satisfying Retirement.

I find Bob’s questions 4 and 5 easier to answer, what about you?

(I could see myself living 3-4 months out of the year with a view like this. A pier on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A great place to inspire writers.)

Please leave your comments below for Bob to answer.

The Satisfaction of Enough

April 18, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

[Photo credits: guitars: fotobicchio and shoes: Orin Zebest]

“That’s so cool. That’s awesome!” an irritating squeaky voice kept repeating. She looked no more than six, her cell phone glued to her ear.

I stood behind her, waiting my turn in the “15 items or less” check-out line, still on a high from all the choices of breads, cereals and vegetables at my local grocery store. My family and I had just returned from our year on Ambergris Caye, an island with only 11,000 people in the Caribbean. We were lucky when Superbuy carried fresh milk, and in heaven when we found ice cream. Our choice of bread was white, or white with brown food coloring. Writing a shopping list became pointless. In Belize, the store ruled, and the customer learned to appreciate what they offered.

Back in California, I felt like a kid in a candy store. So many choices, too many in fact that my head was spinning. I’d smile at people and they’d quickly turn their head sideways to avoid eye contact. Many treated me as some kind of weirdo, because I did things differently. I would take my time and get out of their way when they pushed their shopping carts like NASCAR drivers. I would let them get in front of me in line. Men, women, even children looked tired and stressed out. No one seemed to understand how lucky they were to live in a country with everything you could possibly want and need.

“No hay!” the Spanish phrase for “there is no” became a daily phrase which my kids and I learned to accept without getting flustered. If they don’t have beef, we’ll eat chicken. If they don’t have lettuce, we’ll go without. Imagine the outrage of people in a U.S. supermarket if they were told, “No fresh milk today. Maybe next week. No hay!”

“That’s awesome! The blond, skinny, six-year-old repeated for the twentieth time on her cell phone. With small feet inside a pair of glittery high-heeled sandals, a baby-size Luis Vuitton purse, and her cell phone still glued to her ear, she reminded me of a mini Paris Hilton. Her mother glowed in admiration of her daughter’s pretentious mannerisms. She would glance around to see if others paid attention to her “cute” daughter.

I wrote this in my journal in 2006, and now realize I’ve changed. It’s easy to start taking things for granted when you live in a society of abundance. Now I allow myself to buy a pair of earrings or a top, more out of a want than a need, however, the guilt stays with me.

So when I shop, I make sure to ask myself, “Is this a want or a need?” And we all know the answer to that.

I made a list of how Belize has influenced my daily life:

I turn off the faucet in between brushing my teeth and rinsing.
I use paper towels sparingly; never to dry my hands at home though.
I only use paper plates when we have more guests than I have plates.
I use Ziplocs over and over.
I turn off the lights whenever I leave a room.
I always close the fridge door as soon as possible.
I never turn on the air-conditioning until it becomes unbearable.
I always bring my own bags to the grocery store, even Costco.

The satisfaction of enough, is something that I think about whenever I’m tempted to buy a want rather than a need. What about you?

Blogs I follow that help me re-focus on a simple life:

Leo Babauta from Zen Habits, has many ideas on living a more frugal lifestyle.
Lori from Groovygreenliving, offers tips to simplify life, and not waste.

Reese Whitherspoon honeymoons in Belize

April 11, 2011 by Sonia Marsh

Photo by newsmia.com

I don’t normally write about celebrity weddings, however when Reese Whitherspoon and her husband Jim Toth were spotted in Belize, I was curious to find out if they had stayed on Ambergris Caye, the popular tourist island where my family and I lived for one year.

Olivera Rusu Photography

Reese Whitherspoon, Jim Toth and Reese’s two kids aged 7 and 11, were dressed in casual clothes and according to an eyewitness quoted in UsMagazine, “They didn’t ask for any VIP treatment, walked off the plane like regular tourists, waited in the immigration line and waited to get their bags from the baggage carousel.”

I visualized them getting off the plane, remembering the uneven steps on the metal staircase on wheels which two Belizean guys would push towards the front door of the plane. Did her kids trip on the first step down? I was familiar with that step; it was much lower (or higher) than all the others, and even with my long legs, I found it to be a challenge. What did they say about the weather? “Wow, it’s really hot and humid here.” Did Reese feel like a microwaved, hot towel had slapped her in the face? Did they remember to fill out the two forms for immigration? Were the officers smiling? Did they say, “Welcome to Belize? Are you staying more than 30 days?”and then proceed to stamp their passports as though competing for the “loudest stamp award.”

After collecting their suitcases, did they go through customs, turn left through a door where the local puddle jumpers wait to transport locals and tourists to Corozal, Placencia, San Pedro, and other places? Did they fly on Tropic Air or Maya Air? Was Jet there advertising his bar? Jet, the short, friendly guy with a shrill voice announcing drinks at Jet’s bar inside the small terminal. Did Reese and her family sit on the hard plastic chairs waiting for their puddle jumper like we’d done so many times before? How did they feel when they walked onto the tarmac to board a small Cessna with about 13 seats on board? Where her kids scared like mine were the first time they sat in this propeller plane?

All five gorgeous photos are taken by Olivera Rusu Photography

Known for its eco-tourism, Mayan ruin sites scattered on the mainland, fantastic scuba diving, the world famous blue-hole, and much more, Belize has become a popular destination for weddings and honeymooners.

Now, you can even have your wedding on the Mayan ruins! Olivera Rusu, a friend who lives in Belize and is a professional photographer, offers beautiful photos of weddings on the island, or on the Mayan ruins, something I had never seen before.

More information on Belize FYI

Where they vacationed is a secret. Belize is a small country the size of Massachusetts, located on the Caribbean coast of Central America. It is south of Mexico and is flanked by Guatemala to the south and west. This bio-diverse country, is rich in wildlife, tropical rainforests, has over 550 species of birds, compared to 700 in the whole of North America. So much beauty in such a small country.

So if you want a special vacation, or a unique wedding or honeymoon, please get in touch with Olivera Rusu for your photography. She’s fantastic, as you can see from her photos here and on her Mayan ruins weddings website.