Behind The Scenes At Live And Invest Overseas

Feb. 1, 2012, Panama City, Panama: Kathleen Peddicord and Lief Simon are supported in their Panama City-based Live and Invest Overseas office by a staff of both Panamanians and other expats from around the world.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

Lief and me you know.

But we're just the front guys. Here in our Altos del Golf office in the heart of Panama City, we're fortunate to be surrounded and supported by a growing team of hard-working folks, some Panamanian, others who've somehow landed here in the Hub of the Americas.

Karen and Gary Moseley are a couple of Americans from North Carolina, where they raised three children and Gary enjoyed a long and successful career in the private utilities industry. Children grown and the situation in the States changing dramatically for the worse, from their point of view, a couple of years ago, Karen and Gary began looking around for options.

Make Your Own Reality

Dec. 29, 2010, Baltimore, Maryland: Beyond the media view of the world is another one, where every turn brings not worry and fear but discovery and adventure, and this other world is way more fun.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

Standing in line in Target last weekend, our cart overflowing with super-discounted stuff we'd decided we couldn't live without and had to buy to carry back to Panama with us, Lief asked me the question that we can't help but return to from time to time:

"Why do we choose to continue living overseas? Wouldn't it be easier and maybe even cheaper to move back to the United States?" he wondered.

Fresh Snow And Sleigh Bells—The Best Of The Season In Stowe

Dec. 28, 2011, Stowe, Vermont: Stowe, Vermont, is one of the most beautiful, delightful places in the world to travel for Christmas.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

There may be an un-nice person in Stowe, Vermont, but we haven't found him or anyone who's heard tell of him. The folks in this part of the world are as genuinely welcoming, gracious, and helpful as any we've met anywhere.

Our families thought we were nuts, but, last Thursday, we left sunny, sultry Panama and traveled north to Stowe, with the kids, in search of a white Christmas. When we arrived, all was green, and temperatures were relatively warm. Then, Friday morning, we awoke to flakes falling and thermometers dropping. All's been frozen and white ever since, just as we'd hoped.

Arriving in Stowe village this time of year is like being dropped inside a Christmas garden. Every house, church, porch, lamppost, streetlight, timber fence, and wooden bridge is dressed with fresh wreaths, white lights, pine garland, red bows, and sleigh bells. It's Norman Rockwell come to life.

Our Favorite Panama City Taxi Driver Speaks The Truth

Jan. 31, 2012, Panama City, Panama: The monthly e-zine the Panama Letter is the best real-time, real-deal, from real expats resource for living, retiring, investing, and doing business in Panama available anywhere.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

Taxi drivers can be one of your best sources of information about a place. They're connected to their city at the street level. They know their way around, of course, but, more than that, they also know how to get things done.

Our favorite taxi driver in Panama City is Alberto. Though, to clarify, Alberto is no longer a taxi driver. He retired from that business six months ago and now works as our full-time personal driver.

Alberto knows all the shortcuts and back entrances from one end of Panama's capital to the other. And, while he drives us to and fro, navigating this increasingly crowded, congested city, he entertains us with colorful commentary...