Back in Live Oak

We have been back home a week now and still experiencing culture shock. Sleeping on a soft bed with a real pillow as opposed to the hard mattresses and lumpy headrests to which we have become accustomed is a difficult transition. Toilets and septic systems that can accomodate used toilet tissue is another change. How long before we stop looking for a waste basket in which to dispose of this material. How long will we feel uneasy and guilty when we flush it away. Here, when we turn on the faucet, hot water comes out. There is no chatter of birds to wake us as the day is breaking, no iguanas to clean up fruit and vegetable scraps. This all requires an attitude adjustment. But we are working on it.

Perhaps most difficult is remembering where we left everything before we went away. We put keys, checkbooks, etc. away where they would be safe and ready for us when we came back. Turns out we were better at hiding these items than we ever imagined. But we are working on that too.

We are looking forward to a busy summer of enjoying grandchildren, camping, kayaking, and traveling here in Calif. and the Pacific Northwest. If all goes as planned we'll be back in Belize in November. Life is good!

Snorkeling on the Belizean Reef

During the last week of our time on Caye Caulker we were able to go snorkeling with Carlos Tours. Carlos offers an exceptionally good tour in that he is an excellant guide and takes underwater pictures during the tour. I have posted some of his photos of native reef inhabitants. Included is a spotted eagle ray, turtle, manta ray, large school of fish and a transplanted California clownfish. (This particular clownfish is a mature speciman with the juvenile clownfish being more sleek and displaying brighter colors!)
Anyway, it was an excellent day!