It has now been three years since my first exploratory trips to Central America and ultimate move to Boquete Panama. I have been a bit constrained in my posts recently, my visiting daughter and our hectic schedule but the time has given me an opportunity to reflect.
One of the many reasons I sought to leave the US was financial. Even before the current economic crisis I discovered myself on an endless treadmill to just pay for living. I was trapped in the uniquely North American psychosis of living so I could work. I supported myself, a wife and four children. When I left all of my children were still in the throws of education; Law School and Undergraduate. Now three of four are fighting to survive in a very difficult economy.
I find myself wishing they could all be in Panama. Panama is a land of opportunity. It is small, underpopulated and relative to it’s neighbors, prosperous. Panama is a young country, still being born. With the election of an independent, intelligent President who wants to stamp out corruption Panama has an opportunity. In a country of under four million people changes can happen quickly and benefit many people.
This might not be James Hilton’s Shangri La but for my life it has been just that. I have not returned to the US since arriving in Panama, the important part of the US, my children visit, so I have no need. I do not miss the lifestyle at all.
There is little doubt the current US economy will at some point hit bottom and if the world is lucky refocus into a new vision of the future less tied to consumption and more toward harmony with the planet. I, we can only hope.
Reading the news I have seen articles about the Tea Party Protest demonstrations in the US; demonstrations criticizing the expanding role of government. In Panama I find myself in a country that has less governmental influence on daily life. Perhaps because my life is less tied to work and more toward community. Perhaps because the government does not try to micro-manage the lives of it’s citizens. The nature of government is to grow and assume more not less power so it is possible those benefits will erode with time here also.
At this time I look at Panama and wish I had arrived earlier or perhaps better said, younger. The opportunities abound for the educated and ambitious. The retirement community of Boquete has more and more businesses being started by retirees who cannot stop working. They are contributing to the accelerating terraforming of Panama. I suspect I am through my published ramblings doing the same.
My crystal ball is not clear and I cannot predict the future. I can say that the quality of life I am experiencing in Boquete is far healthier, happier and more fulfilling than the rat race lifestyle I lived in the US. Here I can live on less than I paid for Water, Gas and Electricity in Tucson. Here I breath clean air, drink clean water and eat local foods grow mostly in this Provence or fished form the seas.
I do not recommend Boquete to most people from the US. If you expect to find all the pleasures of home, they are not here. This is a small rural community in the mountains, my Shangri La but maybe not yours.
Love your blog. I’ve been toying with the idea of living in Panama for some time. I’m most interested in starting an Internet-based business in an area like Boquete, but I have a few questions. How is Internet service in Boquete? I noticed that most of the places for rent have access to high-speed Internet. Is there some truth to this? Also, is there a high demand for a web developer in an area like Panama City, or better yet, David / Boquete? If my family wanted to rent a two bedroom house / condo / townhouse, what should we expect to pay? Thank you for your time.
What you have describe as your reasons for leaving the USA and your joys of living in Panama pretty much some up what I feel right now. I have become so disenchanted with the path of the USA. My wife and I are looking for a place to retire in 5 years and start over with a much more simple life. We are coming to visit for the first time this coming Jan.. We are so excited about the trip. We look forward to vissiting your new home and hope to maybe meet some of you who have made a new life.
Strange, but the blog isn’t recognizing the first comment to the story. It still says “Be the First to Comment…”
You are a perfect shoe in for that place. Boquete needs more people just like you to keep supporting them. Keep up the great job.
A very interesting NYT piece on the paleontological impact of expansion of the Canal including the unique fauna, flora and tectonic structure of the isthmus. Panama is actually part S. America, part N. America and part Pacific Island with multiple tectonic plates. Read here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/science/07angier.html?th&emc=th
Hi Lee,
Another great post! My wife and I have been trying to get to our little finca in Boquete for three years and finally closed escrow on our home in San Diego yesterday (ouch). We’ve lived the endless “never-enough” lifestyle you described and are really looking forward to a change in priorities. We’ll see you in September and are truly excited about our new direction in life. Thanks for all of your information, and inspiration, over the years. Viva Panama!
Best Regards,
Dan
nice to know that someone else shares the same motivation for moving here, to get off the treadmill and save yourself from a life of stuggling to get by in the land of plenty. i had a good life in the usa, this one is much batter in so many ways. for some people it is hard to get thier minds around the happiness of having more for less. im so there.
paz- bob
Unless you live in an expensive development you will probably have problems with neighbors being noisy with barking dogs or boom boxes. If you live away from your neighbors you have an increased risk of burglary. Expect the government to not work well for you in all areas. Pay close attention to what is required to survive here. That means legal residency and self sufficiency. The immigration laws change often and without warning. For example the tourist visa law was dropped to 30 days only, twice in the last few years. It is now 90 days for US citizens. The rule of law here is very weak, meaning accountability is low. If you have a legal or crime problem things can go bad real quick. It would be like the wild west a 150 years ago. Scam artists flock to these kind of places and you really do have to watch your back constantly. New immigration and transito laws have become much stricter. Don’t expect to get away with the govt being in your face. Doing business here is a real minefield. Read as much as you can about that. Caveat emptor! I am hoping that the new President will be an improvement. It will take time though.
That is the most honest comment ever posted
Good article Lee – missed you at Amigos when we were there in May. See you next time (next year or sooner we hope). Thanks for your honesty about Boquete not being for everyone. I have always felt that our move to Panama was based on lifestyle rather than financial – I am so glad we bought our little piece of heaven in El Santuario. Regards,
Bruce
At the end of your article, you wrote:
“If you expect to find all the pleasures of home, they are not here.”
Could you expand upon this in a future blog entry?
thanks for being true to yourself and sharing your discoveries so candidly. it has been a joy reading your pages and I connect with your views on SO many levels (I am a certified yoga teacher). the world (specifically the US) could be such a happier, simpler place if we all learned to accept “living with less”.
my husband is originally from santiago, chile (fluent in spanish). he came to the US when he was twelve (NOT speaking english). valueing the importance of being bilingual, we enrolled our now seven year old daughter in a spanish-immersion elementary school who is embracing this new world of language with her peers and teachers. we have always traveled with our children to remote areas while on vacation immersing ourselves into the local people and culture as much as possible. however, we would like to begin venturing deeper into the spanish lifestyle at the same time giving back through community service. in turn teaching our daughters yet another valueable life lesson.
I would like your feedback on the spanish immersion school programs. we would like to embark on a family spanish-immersion program possibly in boquete (habla ya) with a host family perhaps? our youngest daughter, age four, would also be joining us.
muchas gracias,
suze
I have seen advertisements about retiring in Panama on a modest social security income of $600, how true is this? I was forced to take social security retirement early(62yrs) because of lack of employment. I would love to retire in Panama as I have been following the information being posted for about three years now. What are the employment opportunities? And thank-you in advance for your honesty.
Many Panamanians live on less, and perhaps you could, but it would be a challenge and would have up front costs. Costs for legal residency, locating affordable housing in an area with reasonable transportation. You would need to visit, explore and decide on based upon your experience, expectations and observations not what I or anyone else will tell you.
Hi Lee,
I just moved back to my home town of Fort Lauderdale Florida from Tucson. I had a very successful chiropractic clinic 7743 East Broadway.
I sold the business due to back problems (how ironic). Living the last 7 years in Tucson was a very stressful time for me. Everything that could of gone wrong did (lost everything in the housing market, etc). Add in runnning a business and dealing with insurance companies well like I said it was stressful. I will say though I was able to help alot of people. I thank God for giving me the gift to be able to do so.
I have been thrusted into a situation of not having alot of retirement money to live on. I have been looking into finding the right place abroad (Boquete seems to be the place) for a while now. Perhaps if this had not of happened I might of chickened out.
When I was in the military I was stationed in Germany. I was allowed to live on the economy and I loved it. I did as much as I could blend in (when in Rome do as the Romans) I never could quite master German though but I tried.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and tell you I’ve enjoyed all of your articles.
Warm regards.
Rebecca
Hi Lee,
Thanks for writing. Can you tell me if there is good internet access in Boquete?
Warm regards,
Helen