SETTLING IN

Settling in has some unsettling costs that I was not aware of before because Charlotte handled them with some of the little pile of cash which we brought to Belize in 1999.Actually, they're not that unsettling -- the same thing in the States would be much more expensive. I just have to budget a little more.

WATER: Called "pipe water" here, the water supply is heavily chlorinated, so it is safe to drink, but it just doesn't taste very good. It is also very hard, so if you boil it, you wind up with a lot of scaley deposit in the pan. It cost me $85 connect fee & $50 security deposit; $135BZ. (all of these figures are dollahs, and the dollah is still 2 to one American Dollar.)

BOTTLED WATER: The bottle deposit is $25, and then a 5-gal bottle of water is $5, a little less if Crystal delivers it. (!!) You can pick up Zeta water at the store for less, but I like the idea of having it delivered. The truck comes by every day.

ELECTRICITY: The Belizeans call this "current" and it cost $185 to turn it on. ($85 installation & $50 deposit.) I describe the rate structure here but they now add a $4 service charge on every bill.

PHONE: A "gringo phone" -- with full international dialing capabilities -- requires an larger deposit: It used to be $1200, and it's down to $200. For us po' folks, they have a couple of options. Lester has an "Afford-a-phone". He pays $120 a year, all at once, and he can't make any free outgoing calls except to the emergency numbers, Fire, Police, Hospital. He does get a dial tone, and he can put in a passel of digits and make a calling card call. Lots of people are doing that now, and you can get calling cards in denominations from $5 to $500! The only inconvenience is dialing all those numbers, but I will probably set up my computer so it will do it for me. They have another option; If you have a gold Social Security card (I do) and are a pensioner, you can get a "senior phone" for $60 a year. Such a deal! However, Mr. Acosta, customer rep at the local office, decided that I'm a "rich gringo" and he doesn't want to give me that. So, I took a phone with "local only option. $150 deposit and $108 connect fee. Hopefully I can qualify as a "poor gringo" and get the $60 rate later. Right now, I'm concerned with getting in on a DSL internet connection for HALF PRICE. (Saves me about $250.) I'll let you know how that goes.

GAS: Charlotte gave me two butane tanks -- the ones off our trailer -- and all I have to do is get them filled. In due time, after I get a stove! Filling one will probably cost about $15. (Cheaper than the States.) Right now, I'm going to get by with my Coleman camp stove. A gallon of fuel is about $13. At National Hardware, I pointed out that I could get it a lot cheaper at Wal-Mart but they weren't impressed. <grin>

ESSENTIALS

Charlotte has two refrigerators and she's going to give me one. (The little one, of course.) She gave me the washer. So I need a stove, a bed and a mattress. I am going to start a charge account at COURTS -- Belize's biggest Furniture/Appliance store, just to establish some credit and see how it goes. I need: Two references; one family one and one non-family one. (The family one may be a problem.) A paid utility bill. A statement showing my income.

Then I can buy:

A Stove; a little apartment sized Mabe (Mexican brand) with four burners, a little oven and broiler. Actually very nice. $350.

A bed; I could build one of these, but I think I'll buy one, they look cute. A kiddie bed, in bright colors. $200.

A mattress; the really good, really firm one, single sized, is $354

I can finance these things for three years, two years, or ten months!! Three years gets the payments down to five or ten dollah per week, but I think I'll go for the shorter term. Three year financing would double or triple the cost. Damn old compound interest, I can hear my friend Ray saying.

So, all together about $950. If you're coming down here, and intend to settle, take heed.

POST SCRIPT

I went to Courts, and they told me they really aren't set up for anyone who's not between the ages of 18 and 65!

   "GOOD GRIEF" says rick. "YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SENIOR CITIZENS."

   "We need a letter of employment showing that you can pay."

   "I'm retired. I'm a permanent resident, and I had to have $1000US a month in revenue to get that."

   "Well, we can only open an account for you if you have a guarantor."

   "You mean a CO-SIGNER?? Oh, good grief. I'm outa here."

I was trying to open a charge account to buy a $350 dollah mattress. I found the same mattress at Cinty's -- a local discount store -- for $150. So much for charge accounts in Belize.

I was going to buy a bed frame until I realized that I can build a wooden one for under $100.

Afterword:  Ray sold me a used stove for 100 dollah.  Now if it only worked...

Afterword.  Charlotte reneged on her agreement to give me a refrigerator.  She gave me the bank accounts, which contain $400 BZ and a new refrigerator costs between $650 & $1500 BZ.  OUCH!   

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