Welcome to Pelican Pathway
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Welcome to Pelican Pathway
(We) are enmeshed in the cancerous discipline of security. And in the worship of security we fling our lives beneath the wheels of routine - and before we know it our lives are gone.
The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.
Sterling Hayden: "The Wanderer"
About Us:
We are John and Joyce McMaster, just a couple of your average Gringo baby boomers, except we didn't buy into the "cancerous discipline of Security" that has stifled the lives and imaginations of so many of our contemporaries in the USA. Actually, we did fall for the "American Dream", for a while. But we got over it!
SV Mystique
In 1989 we sold our businesses, houses, cars and almost everything else. We headed across the USA in a rickety old motor home. The trip was expected to take about 2 weeks but there is a lot to see between California and Florida and we were in no hurry. The trip ended up lasting over 4 months! When we finally made it to Florida, we bought a sailboat, a 40 foot Island Trader named "Mystique". We still owned a piece of property near San Pedro on Ambergris Caye in Belize, so that was our ultimate destination.
We were still in no hurry so we sailed around the Bahamas for a while. Mystique was a great boat, but she wasn't quit ready for a the major cruse we had planned. We sailed back to the USA in the spring of 1992 to correct a few deficiencies, returning to the Bahamas just in time to get slammed by Hurricane Andrew. We anchored in Hatchet Bay, on Eleuthera Island and spent a scary 15 hours riding the storm out in the Alice Town school house. Mystique was laying on her port side about 200 yards from the water when Andrew was finished with her. She was almost undamaged, but it cost the insurance company over $30,000 to put her back in the water and make her sea worthy.
After this experience Joyce lost all interest in sailing! About the same time, one of the business we sold in California went bankrupt, owing us a lot of money. Our options were to go back to California and rebuild the business or find work in the Bahamas. So in early 1993 we sailed into Fresh Creek, Andros Island and got jobs at the US Navy's Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center. I hired on as a Ship's Assistant Engineer and Joyce took a position as a Logistics Coordinator.
We sold Mystique and our Belize property, bought a home and built what became the hugely successful Georges Point Villas in Fresh Creek. The last thing on our minds was leaving the Bahamas, but when the new contractor at AUTEC failed to offer me an acceptable position, we put Georges Point Villas on the market. Fully expecting the year or more wait before a sale that is typical in the Bahamas, we were shocked when it sold in just 3 weeks!
Casa De Sueños Our First Belize Home
June 22, 2005 we left the Bahamas for a new adventure in Central America. We arrived in Belize on July 1st, settling in Consejo Shores, Corozal District. We obtained Permanent Residency on January 22, 2006.
Our first Belize home was known as "Casa De Sueños" (Dream House). It is located on Pelican Pathway in Consejo Shores. We moved into our New Water Front Home on Dec. 1, 2007. Casa De Sueños was put on the market at a very realistic price and was quickly sold.
Building In Belize:
The First House Finished
Our first building project was an interesting adventure. We built the house in record time without cutting any corners. There are houses under construction in Consejo Shores that were begun before we started this first project in March of 2006 that were still unfinished in June '08.
That house was sold and the new owner is extremely happy. He has done some great improvements to the grounds, adding a sea wall and building a what was supposed to be a garage but ended up a complete house.
Waterfront Improvements
Our second home building project took a bit longer to complete. It is a much bigger house and we built during the rainy season. We liked the finished house so much we we decided to sell Casa de Sueños and move in to the new house.
The house is built on a beautiful 1/2 acre water front lot on Consejo Beach Trail in Consejo Shores. It is a spectacular 3 bedroom - 3 bath house of over 3300 sq. ft. including an efficiency apartment above the a garage.
We repaired the retaining wall and built a stone sea wall creating a small private beach at the waterfront. There is a lot of yard work needed to make the grounds as inviting as the Pelican Pathway yard.
Visit our Construction Log pages and see the day to day building logs for these houses.
Why Belize?
From its Caribbean shores to its jungle interior, Belize is a unique and varied country. There are blue ocean waters with deserted beaches, inland retreats near mystical Maya ruins, spectacular waterfalls, dense rainforests, and meandering rivers.
The Bird watching is unmatched. We have seen parrots, toucans, flycatchers, and herons in their natural habitat. You can visit a jaguar preserve where you venture into the jungle in search of these elusive cats.
Belize is also a place where big brother isn't looking over your shoulder and your retirement income is not taxed.
Add to these benefits the fact that English is the primary language in Belize, the laws of the country are based on the British legal system and that property prices and the cost of living in Belize are very low. You can see; why Belize has now become the hottest destination for expats, retirees, and investors.
