June 25, 2009
Panama City, Panama
"I just want to say thank you, Kathleen, so
much, for all the help and encouragement you
have given me over the past year. Based on
the information and the basic reading
material you have supplied, I have made the
decision to retire in Mexico. I leave
July 3. I know I will enjoy it, because I am
an adventurer. All I needed was someone to
provide information on what it is really
like to live in a foreign country, and
that's what you've done. I will now use the
invaluable info that you have provided on
how to pack and what to pack for the move,
for example. That was a real problem for me
until you advised what to pack and what to
give away.
"I will keep you posted on
this new phase in my life. Look for reports
from my new home."
-- C. Ancrum,
United States
Congratulations on
your decision, dear reader. Please do stay
in touch. We'll look forward to hearing from
you from the road.
***
"We would like to take this opportunity to
thank you so very much for the recent
Live and Invest in Panama Conference
last month, Kathleen. Our minds are still
reeling with all of the information
presented. All of the presenters were very
knowledgeable about their respective fields.
We also enjoyed talking with the other
'expats-in-waiting.'
"We live in the
snowy part of Washington State. Last year
was very snowy and cold. Needless to say, we
would love to spend at least our winters in
Panama instead.
"After the conference
we spent a little (and by that I mean too
little, only another six days!) time
visiting areas around Panama City and El
Valle. Although our Spanish is at best
rudimentary, we were able to talk with
people. We ate great food, saw incredible
sights, and were able to appreciate a bit of
this wonderful country.
"We are
going to stop in Panama again in December,
but only for a day while our cruise ship is
docked. We definitely plan to return and to
spend more time in the country, though. Next
time, we want to see the areas around
Boquete and the area you wrote about
recently,
Santa Fe.
"Do you have any other
suggestions? We'd like to rent before
buying.
"Thanks again for all of your
hard work in putting together the
conference. For anyone considering a move to
Panama, attending your next event should be
on their must-do list."
-- Mike
and Diane D., United States
Santa
Fe is my current top pick for retirement off
the radar here in Panama. It's a beautiful,
safe, friendly, super-cheap little town
that's ideal as a part-time retirement
choice.
Boquete, on the other hand,
is home to an established expatriate
community, as well as little restaurants and
shops and other infrastructure that helps to
make day-to-day life more like what the
average retiree might be used to "back
home." The downside to Boquete is that it
can be rainy and chilly, depending on the
season, and, as it's become increasingly
discovered, it's also grown relatively
expensive.
If you want mountain
living, El Valle, Boquete, and Santa Fe are
the top choices in this country. For beach
living, the most common choices are the
beach resorts nearby Panama City. I'm not a
fan. The beaches aren't great, and the costs
(for rentals, for example) can be high,
because you're competing with Panamanians
from Panama City, who escape to these nearby
beach areas every chance they get.
My
favorite beach pick in the country is the
west coast of the Azuero Peninsula. Still
undiscovered and undeveloped, this is virgin
coast, dramatic and beautiful. An
infrastructure is emerging. The main beach
road is paved. Electricity runs the length
of the coast. You can get cell coverage at
certain points. You can have satellite
Internet for about US$200 a month. And you
can spend the night at Robbie's Cabanas de
Torio for US$24. The electricity may go out.
You may not have hot water. But the company
is congenial and interesting, the beach is
but a few minutes away, and the food in the
restaurant is fresh and tasty (dinner costs
about US$4 or US$5). I highly recommend it.
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