The Decision

When I first told my friends and family I was moving to Colombia , South America astonishment was the look I got, the question that came next was expected. "Isn't it dangerous there?" No, it is no more dangerous than any big city in the United States.One year ago Christmas day 2010, I visited Colombia for the first time and fell in love with the beauty, the people, and the lifestyle. I had always wanted to retire to a farm in my long held dreams, but the state of the economy and my personal life made that dream seem unattainable. I held my dream close to my heart, during a divorce that( seemed) would never end, and the tragic death of my daughter in the middle of this horrific divorce. I would get up everyday and look around wondering where I would be in a year, would I be able to afford a home, and keep my five animals with me. Really, I could barely think of much else. I guess that is why I endured, I did not want a whole lot at this point, except peace and to be able to grieve my daughter without some nasty ploy by the opposing counsel being thrown at me. When I actually was divorced, and saw my settlement, I knew that a condo in a neighborhood that was full of high rises, one in an undesirable location, was all that I could afford in the United States. I new I would struggle with bills. I still did not think much about my future, because I was still in my marital home  trying to sell it, and my life consisted of one day at a time. 

Enter a good friend who lived near me, gave me a lot of support,loved animals (especially mine) as much as I, and is a dual citizen of the USA and Colombia. "Hey lets visit my family at Christmas , it is such a beautiful time of year there"! I jumped on that idea, as Christmas was not going to be a great time for me, considering the death of my daughter, my divorce, the uncertain future. As a retired flight attendant, I am no stranger to travel, so the trip was planned. We arrived in Bogota on Christmas day 2010, and stayed longer than scheduled, my future looked brighter. I now saw what I wanted, but was unsure of how to do it. Another trip was planned for February as we talked and discussed options of actually moving to Colombia. The second visit, cemented my dream to reality. I now had a vision, a goal! I also had to figure out how to pack up a huge house, ship my animals, and start my life in another country. Somewhat difficult, but not unrealistic.

I researched becoming an ex patriot on the internet, printed out all I "thought" I needed to know and went for it! I actually did quite well, as I arrived with all my belongings on April 12th 2011. My animals and I are living a wonderful adventure, complete with great climate and beautiful surroundings. I will be sharing on my blog what I have learned along the way, and what you can do to follow your dream of living a lifestyle that is no longer available in the United States. A decision I will never regret, one that has given me peace after years of turmoil and pain. We all have dreams, but often think they are not realistic. I hope by following my blog, and personal journey, you will see that you can also make your dream come true through perseverance, hard work and determination.