• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

Valerie Reinvented Her Life From Toronto To The Azuero Coast

Kathleen Peddicord by Kathleen Peddicord
Dec 08, 2014
in Retirement/Living
0
Azuero Coast Best Tropical Beach Choices With Children
210
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

From Toronto To The Sun-Drenched Azuero Coast

Valerie Longstaff was born in British Guyana (now Guyana) but grew up in Flushing, New York. From Flushing, Valerie moved with her family to Toronto, where she spent most of her life.

Today, though, you’ll find Valerie in Pedasi, on the east coast of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula. Valerie loves Toronto and has retained a home there, but she’s in no hurry to return. She’s too busy with her new life at the beach and the thriving bakery business she’s established in Pedasi.

Panama Letter Editor Jocelyn Carnegie connected with Valerie recently…

Valerie, what drew you to Panama in the first place?

I was born in the tropics, and I knew I would always return. I’ve spent most of my life being cold, between New York and Toronto. Finally, I just needed to feel the sun again!

And you chose Panama?

It wasn’t that easy, I can tell you. I wanted somewhere with white sand and Caribbean water. I was specifically not looking for darker sand beaches (not black), so it’s funny I have ended up here on the Pacific coast of Panama where the sand is glorious but not bright white as in the Caribbean.

Which other countries did you consider?

I considered Venezuela, but I wasn’t mad about Chavez. The situation in Venezuela all seems a little too crazy.

Mexico was out of the question for me. It’s too close the United States. I wanted something farther afield. I went to Argentina several times, and I even considered New Zealand because it’s English-speaking option, but I decided both those countries were too far from Toronto.

Did you have any other criteria that contributed to your settling on Panama?

Yes. I wanted to be within a day’s travel of home—preferably less than six hours away—so I could leave in the morning and be back in Toronto the same afternoon or early evening.

Another of my main criteria was government stability—no coups in recent times anyway. I discovered that Panama uses the U.S. dollar and that it seemed to be much more Second World (as opposed to Third World) than I imagined.

I found that Panama ticked most of the boxes. I came here seven times before deciding to give it a try on a more permanent basis.

Why Pedasi specifically?

One of my loves is sailing. Pedasi is a fishing and coastal town with nice beaches and a boating culture. The focus, though, in Pedasi, I’ve found, is sports fishing. Sailing is actually in its infancy along this country’s Pacific coast. It’s much more popular on the Caribbean side in Colon and Bocas del Toro. There are so many islands and archipelagos off Panama’s Caribbean coast that offer wonderful opportunities for sailing.

Did you come here with the intention of working?

Not specifically, but I am very sociable and active. Can’t stand being sedentary. I can fly planes. I had two restaurants in Sarnia and enjoyed that business, so I thought about starting a small hotel. Having had experience in the catering and hospitality business, it was a natural first step.

Everything I do is considered, so I looked at what was missing in Pedasi. I came up with a shortlist of businesses: a fresh food market, a bakery, and a fish market. Pedasi is too far from the main sources for daily produce deliveries, and I am not sure I could handle the fish market smell every day. I found there were quite a lot of small hotels in the town already.

That left me with the bakery idea. There is nowhere like the shop I’ve opened in town—healthy breads and US$5 lunches!

Business is good and getting better every day. My clientele is 90% expats and 10% locals, but this side of the business is growing.

I do what’s called the second rising and have a range of healthy, German-style breads—multigrain, several cereals, light and dark rye. I cook all the pastries, cakes, and dulces (sweets) myself.

What was your main barrier to entry?

Really, it was skepticism among fellow expats and suppliers. For example, my supplier of bread mixes is German. His only outlet outside Panama City is in Coronado, which is getting very populated now. He was downbeat and unsure of Pedasi and my plans, but I said, “You have to come and see the community down here.” He came. He saw. He agreed. I ordered.

Now, I look forward to every day with too much to do. My chocolate cake is popular, made from 100% cocoa. I also do a mean carrot and orange cake and cinnamon bun.

One of the most popular things I do is a US$5 dollar lunch package. Locals and expats love these, as they do my breakfast muffin with pepper jack cheese, bacon, and egg.

Has Pedasi changed since you arrived?

Yes it has. There are many more restaurants and hotel rooms. I supply a few of them. One of Panama City’s most colorful Spanish restaurateurs, Manolo Caracol, has just opened an organic place here.

Do you miss anything living in Pedasi?

I have a grown-up daughter and two grandchildren. Of course I miss them a lot. I get back about two or three times every year.

As I mentioned, I am a very sociable person, and I miss the parties I would throw back in Toronto. There’s no comparison down here I am afraid. Although one of the reasons I chose Pedasi was for its tranquility, that sleepy coastal town feel. As it turns out, the community here is very vibrant, and I have made some great friends.

I am an avid theater-goer, so I do miss that.

How did you settle into the local community?

I rented a place for three months to orientate myself. Then an opportunity presented itself to buy my home from the Canadian couple who owned it, so I took it.

Really the local and expat community has been so kind and welcoming. I like to get involved in things, and we do things like organized litter pickups. I am surprised and pleased to see that many more Panamanians are joining in.

If you had to name a worst part of living in Panama, what would it be?

The terrible discourtesy of driving here. Even if you show them another way, they won’t do it. There is no system of priority. “It’s all about me” is the only driving code of conduct in Panama.

Bureaucracy is a pain, and it’s irritating that it’s all geared toward the government being able to squeeze a little more money out of us. Police corruption is also difficult to deal with, but it’s a lot less prevalent now, and I know this is a focus of the new administration. I am involved with a “vigilante” group (neighborhood watch) trying to make a difference to community security. The local police has been nothing but supportive to the community.

Then there’s the garbage problem. It’s endemic everywhere, up and down all the highways. People never seem to learn that their actions are having a direct effect on other people’s lives and health. We are trying to educate, and it is finally beginning to get through.

What’s the best thing about living here?

I would not have stayed if it were not for the people here in Pedasi. They have been so helpful to me. The Panamanians have been incredibly welcoming.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of doing what you did?

Plenty of people said, “A bakery in Pedasi? How stupid can you be?”

Actually, I hadn’t asked for their opinions. My attitude was always build it and they will come. I did it, and they are coming.

For me there is no grey area. One of my mottos is, “Because I can and I want to.” So I suppose my advice would be to follow your passion. There is a very good book called “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.” Anyone thinking of making a move like I’ve made should read it.

Kathleen Peddicord

 

Continue Reading: Realities Of Living In Belize

Comments

Tags: Business Opportunity In Panamaexpats in pedasimaking money in panamaPanamaretire to azuero peninsularetire to Panamaretire to pedasi
Share84Tweet53
Previous Post

Ups And Downs Of Retirement In Panama

Next Post

Panama’s Economy Projected As Fastest-Growing In 2014

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen Peddicord has covered the live, retire, and do business overseas beat for more than 30 years and is considered the world's foremost authority on these subjects. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 21, established businesses in 7, renovated historic properties in 6, and educated her children in 4.

Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets across three continents, from the East Coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland... then to Paris, France... next to Panama City, where she has based her Live and Invest Overseas business. Most recently, Kathleen and her husband Lief Simon are dividing their time between Panama and Paris.

Kathleen was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. In that capacity, she opened her first office overseas, in Waterford, Ireland, where she managed a staff of up to 30 employees for more than 10 years. Kathleen also opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France.

Kathleen moved on from her role with Agora in 2007 and launched her Live and Invest Overseas group in 2008. In the years since, she has built Live and Invest Overseas into a successful, recognized, and respected multi-million-dollar business that employs a staff of 35 in Panama City and dozens of writers and other resources around the world.

Kathleen has been quoted by The New York Times, Money magazine, MSNBC, Yahoo Finance, the AARP, and beyond. She has appeared often on radio and television (including Bloomberg and CNBC) and speaks regularly on topics to do with living, retiring, investing, and doing business around the world.

In addition to her own daily e-letter, the Overseas Opportunity Letter, with a circulation of more than 300,000 readers, Kathleen writes regularly for U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Her newest book, "How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (for Less) Abroad," published by Penguin Random House, is the culmination of decades of personal experience living and investing around the world.

Related Posts

Active senior couple riding bicycles.
How to

8 Things To Consider Before You Commit To Moving Overseas

by Heather McClenahan
March 4, 2021
0

Retirement is looming. With it comes the challenge of deciding where to live. I plan to take the next three...

Read more
Cascais, Lisbon Area, Portugal

Finding Our Dream Life Overseas In Cascais, Portugal

February 26, 2021
Azenhas do Mar, Portugal coastal town.

Portugal: The Best Place To Live Is Also One Of The Safest

February 25, 2021
Riverside in Tavira on a summer morning, Faro District, Algarve, Portugal.

Why Tavira Is The Best Place To Retire In Portugal

February 24, 2021
Cost Of Retirement In Portugal vs. Panama

Cost Of Retirement In Portugal vs. Panama

February 24, 2021
Dordogne, France.

The Challenges Of Living Abroad And How To Overcome Them

February 22, 2021
Beautiful Caribbean sight with turquoise water in Caye Caulker island, Belize.

10 Reasons To Reinvent Your Life In Beautiful Belize

February 17, 2021
Next Post
Panama’s Economy Projected As Fastest-Growing

Panama’s Economy Projected As Fastest-Growing In 2014

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.