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Blessings for an Amazing Holiday Season from Panama

As I toyed with the idea of publishing a blog post to wrap up the year, I could not help but think about the letter we write every year to include in our Christmas cards. I thought how simple it would be to write a post by using the letter as a reflection of our year. Our list of holiday greetings go out to about 40 friends and family by U.S. Postal Service. When I thought about that, I thought how there was no way this completed our desire to send greetings to everyone. We are blessed to have friends, and others who we consider family, all over the world now. Our core of friends and family here in Panama swell and contract with the seasons, but is tending to mostly grow now with my book on the shelf for more than a year. I continue to be amazed by the reach of the written word and how people are helped by sharing the experiences of others. I get frequent messages in my inbox from fans sharing pictures of themselves holding my book. I also have people approaching me to ask if I am the guy who wrote that book. These people have often become fast friends. I have even started getting messages from people who are purchasing the book locally since it started showing up on the shelves of El Hombre de la Mancha the first week in December. There is no doubt that this has been an exciting year, so allow me to unpack our Christmas letter below. After the letter I will make a few more observations and share some pictures.

We hope that this letter finds you all in good health and enjoying the holiday season. We are happy and healthy and still enjoying our retirement in Panama.

2021 has been a slow and unique year but filled with blessings for us. It started off with a bang as we were in Gulf Shores, Alabama to ring in the new year with our good friends, Ray and Diane Barber. Although the sun was shining every day, it was a little on the chilly side there. When we left to come home to Panama, it was a mere 34 degrees Fahrenheit. We were happy to come home to the 34-degree Celsius weather!

In January, there was a second wave of Covid in Panama, and we were put back onto restrictions. We had a special trip planned to Bocas del Toro with our travel buddies, Lyn and Ty, for Lyn’s birthday. Bocas del Toro is a series of islands on the Caribbean side of Panama. Unfortunately, our trip was cancelled due to the restrictions. We were able to reschedule it to April but, as is just our luck, we hit the beginning of rainy season there. We still
had a good time, but it was sure wet and muddy!

In May, Melinda (Greg’s sister) found us a cute little condo in Port Charlotte, Florida. We thought that pulling money out of the stock market and investing in a hard asset was probably a good move for us, so we purchased it. It became ours the first of June. We spent several weeks in the states during this time decorating and making sure the condo was to our liking. We did find time, though, to take a trip to Michigan to visit with
family and friends. It was nice to see everybody and to spend time on Gravel Lake, our old stomping grounds.

Our plan with the condo is to rent it to snowbirds for the winter months and to stay there when we visit. By the time we left Florida for home in June, we had tenants lined up for February through April of 2022. What a blessing! And it is nice to have a place to stay when we visit the states, so we don’t have to impose on family and friends (at least in Florida)! And it is also a nice place for Greg’s mom and Rich to get away from the cold of Michigan when it’s not rented.

Since coming back home to Panama in June, we have not traveled much. We went to an archeological site, which was on a farm in Las Tablas, and explored around that area. We spent a long weekend in Boquete with Greg’s writing group and did the hanging bridges tour in and above the tree line (a huge accomplishment for Jen with her fear of heights). We also decided to spend a weekend in Panama City and explore the shops, restaurants, and other tourist areas we had not yet seen.

It seems like we are not doing much, but it seems we are always busy! To occupy her time, Jen is typing transcripts for a couple different courts in Michigan. To occupy his time, Greg is working on a new project — a murder mystery fiction. In addition, he is very busy promoting his published book, 2 Retire in Panama?, which is doing well. His book was approved to be sold in the Panamanian bookstore, El Hombre de la Mancha (The Man of La Mancha). That is very exciting for us!

We are looking forward to 2022. Greg’s mom and Rich are coming to visit us for the entire month of February, and we have our good friends, Ray and Diane, visiting us for a week in April. Our home is always open for visitors. We know with Covid that travel plans are iffy and have to remain very fluid. We’ve tossed around the idea of traveling or not traveling in 2022. We’ll see what we decide next year.

Our wish for all of you this Christmas is to be able to spend time with family and loved ones, and to stay safe, happy, and healthy in 2022.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

No recap of 2021 would be complete, for me, without sharing the amazing Father’s Day celebration in Florida. This was the first time that all three daughters, all four grandchildren, my dad, sister, and I have been all together to celebrate Father’s Day. We got these special pictures and many others.

My beautiful daughters and grandchildren

Father's Day with my dad (Doug), and sister (Melinda) — Father’s Day with my dad (Doug), and sister (Melinda)

Father's Day with my beautiful daughters Jennifer, Hope, and Kara — Father’s Day with my beautiful daughters Jennifer, Hope, and Kara

They got me a special Father’s Day gift from Story Worth. Story Worth sends me a weekly prompt to write from. This goes on for a year and at the end of the year I will get a bound hardcover book of all my written prompts to share with my family. I highly recommend this gift for yourself or a loved one. This is a gift that will live on in infamy. I have attached a link below to subscribe to Story Worth. The subscription link below will give you a $10 discount while crediting me with a sale to help purchase volumes for my family.

The pictures above of our condo in Port Charlotte. It is only a couple of miles from the harbor and sits on a great location with a lake, pool, and clubhouse. The neighborhood is quiet and the area is convenient to everything. It is a bonus that it is near my dad and sister.

The pictures above are but a few more highlights from our year. The biggest highlights include friends old and new. I have around 600 subscribers now to my free weekly newsletter. It helps me to keep information about Panama fresh for friends and visitors. Readers of my book appreciate the newsletter for keeping them informed in changes to covid requirements and other government information which is constantly changing. Recent changes in immigration requirements, for some visas, caused a portion of my book to be already outdated. As we prepare for Christmas and the coming of a new year here in Panama, I remain committed to publishing updates to the original book and completing my first work of fiction.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of appearing on a podcast interview with Roberto Hernandez at Morning Tempo. My interview was very humbling. It has been my goal through the writing of my blog, book, and newsletters to help people. Through the process, I have become an influencer and a go-to guy. I did not set out for that distinction, but enjoy the feeling that people are being helped. It amazes me that there are so many people, like myself, who would rather explore Panama themselves on their own terms without being driven around on a “relocation tour”. A link to that interview is below. If you click the link you can read the synapsis or listen to the entire interview (it is 27 minutes long)

I hope you will consider subscribing to this blog and the free weekly newsletter. Liking and sharing also helps others to find it that may not see it otherwise. I have the previous blog posts listed on the right sidebar and the previous newsletters are on my Pinterest feed on the tool bar below. I often share interesting things on my You Tube channel which is also on the toolbar below. At the bottom of this post I am sharing links to several of the things that I talked about above. We love to hear from all our readers, so feel free to send us a message.

Blessings From Paradise,

Greg and Jen

#welovepanama

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Click here to listen to my interview at Morning Tempo.

Story Worth

What Have We Been Up To?

We love our home in Panama and are always waiting in anticipation for our next adventure. Having been in the United States for the Christmas and New Year holidays, another trip north was not on our radar. While we visited during the holidays, we were realizing the opportunity for investment in Florida real estate. My sister, Melinda is an agent in Punta Gorda where she and my dad both now live. She was telling us of the thousands of people who are relocating to Florida because of the positive handling of the COVID crisis and the particularly good political environment. With the huge influx of people relocating there the real estate industry has almost no inventory. I mentioned to her that we were anxious to get some of our money out of the stock market and park it in a hard asset. I asked that she keep her eye out for something that may meet our need in the way of a condo. In May she contacted us with a possibility.

The condo that she found for us was in our price range and showed pride of ownership. The systems and appliances were all recently updated, and it was recently repainted top to bottom. She immediately gave us a video tour and we made an offer. We were competing with other potential buyers, but our offer was cash with a guaranteed 15 day close. The elderly seller was happy to accept our offer which gave her a quick easy closing. We waited for the inspection report, which revealed almost no issues, and booked our trip to Florida to close on our new investment.

We did our own final inspection the day before our closing and found it to be very much what we expected. It is less than 15 minutes from my dad and my sister in nearby Port Charlotte. We found it to be very convenient to restaurants, shopping, churches, and the harbor. The community is quiet, and our neighbors were very welcoming.

We settled in and did a little redecorating. We prepared the unit for a potential tenant during the high season in Florida. We equipped it with fresh linens and replaced the small appliances in the kitchen. We purchased cookware and a couple of pieces of furniture. By the time we were through it proved to be wonderfully comfortable.

By the time we left to return to Panama we had secured a tenant for the high season and are pleased with our new investment.

While we were in Florida, we were terribly busy. We registered to vote, got drivers licenses, celebrated a couple of important birthdays, helped my dad with a project, celebrated Father’s Day, and got our COVID shots. In addition to all of that we made sure that everything worked properly in the condo. We also made a trip to Michigan to visit with friends and family.

I wanted to report on the vaccination process in Panama, but had we waited for our turn to get it here we would still be waiting. The process in Florida was quick, free, and simple. We made our appointment at Walgreens and the process caused us no stress whatsoever. By the way, it is important to note that when we were returning to Panama, we got our COVID test free at Walgreens as well. That process also requires an appointment, but it was also easy. We made the appointment on-line and were directed to go through the pharmacy drive through at our appointed time. Once there, they passed the swabs through the window, and we were instructed how to swab ourselves. Another important note here is that neither of us had any side effects from the vaccine. I know that there is much controversy regarding the vaccine, however we did our own research and made the informed decision that it was right for us to vaccinate. We got the Pfizer vaccine, and we both agree that we feel much safer having gotten it.

When we arrived in Florida it was Memorial Day weekend, and every place was hopping. The first thing that we noticed was that mask wearing was nearly non-existent. With the majority of the Florida population vaccinated the mask mandate is optional. It was not hard to get used to NOT wearing a mask everywhere. We still exercised caution until we got our second shot. I got some great pictures over the long weekend.

It was that first weekend that we celebrated my dad’s wife Renee’s and Jen’s birthdays. We went to a Carmelo’s Italian Restorante in Punta Gorda (Renee’s favorite) and had an awesome celebration with the whole family.

You may imagine that that first full week was perhaps the busiest of all with closing on the condo and getting it equipped. The truth is that it was perhaps the easiest of the 5 weeks we spent on the ground.

The second full week we flew to Michigan, rented a car and couch surfed around the state visiting friends and family. Our first couple of days we spent at my mom’s house in Cedar Springs. She and Rich were gracious hosts, and it was a thrill to have the opportunity to see their new house. Mom planned a BBQ for Hope and family which was so nice. The rest of our stay we visited and relaxed.

Hope, Jeremiah, Victoria, Nellie, and Jameson

By the beginning of the third day, we were on the road to Jen’s brother’s house on the east side of the state in Clarkston. Bill and Deb also did a great job of showing us a good time. They planned a cook-out and invited all of Jen’s local family. That gave us the opportunity to see and visit with our nephews, Cullen, Donovan, Connor, and Connor’s wife Olivia. After dinner they staged an impromptu book signing that was so cool. I remain honored by the love and support that family has shown for my book.

Check out future newsletters for some great individual fan photos that I got while on the trip. If you are not getting my newsletter on Monday mornings, and would like it, sign up here. You will see the archive page of past newsletters. Scroll to the bottom for the sign-up. I have been working hard to improve the newsletter since returning to Panama. While traveling we ran into some technical challenges that caused me to miss a few weeks, but we are back on track now.

After a couple of days with Bill and Deb we ventured to our old stomping grounds and visited with our good friends Linda, Ron, Ray, and Diane. We had a nice dinner with the four of them at Black Rock in Kalamazoo.

We had a wonderful meal and spent some much-needed time catching up. Later in weekend Diane and Ray hosted us for a great dinner and boat ride at their place. Mom and Rich came down and we all relaxed and had a great day. On Sunday we returned to Florida.

I addition to boring you all to death with the details of our month, I wanted also to provide valuable information. Post COVID, rental cars are in noticeably short supply across the United States. If you find yourself in need of a rental, be prepared for the price. Our rental car in Michigan for a week with limited mileage was nearly $500. When in Florida we were able to use my dad’s car. Our initial estimate to rent a car for the whole stay in the states was nearly $3,000. That was cost prohibitive for us. When I complained about the exorbitant rental car costs at the rental counter, the clerk would only say that they were unable to get new cars because of manufacturers shortages. She told me that they sold a lot of cars during the pandemic.

For me, the pinnacle of our visit to the states was the wonderful Father’s Day celebration. Our kids started arriving in Florida on Wednesday, and by Friday night all 3 girls and all 4 grandkids were there for the celebration. Jen and I vacated the condo and let them have run of the place.

Friday, we took everyone to the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. We did not know exactly what to expect, but I think it was a great time for all the kids. First, we went to the animal preserve where all the kids were able to get up close and personal with many of the animals. After that we had a great lunch, played mini golf, ziplined, and toured the gift shop.

Mister Tree says welcome to The Shell Factory

Quiet please…we don’t want to wake up the dinosaur.

Jameson feeds the birds while Nellie and Lucy look on.

Victoria, Jameson, Nellie, and Lucy pose in front of the Dinosaur exhibit.

Jameson, Nellie, and Lucy are hatching from dinosaur eggs.

Between all the other events we had plenty of time in the pool at the condo. We also had a great pizza party, went to Gatorz, and checked out the Peace River Wildlife Refuge. On Saturday the kids went to Gilchrist Park with a photographer to have a family picture taken for dad and I. They managed to have the pictures developed and framed to give us at our Father’s Day luncheon.

Kara, Lucy, Jennifer, Hope, Jameson, Victoria, and Nellie

On Father’s Day my sister arranged our luncheon at Laishley’s Crab House. We all had a nice time with great food, followed by a trip to the beach at Ponce De Leon Park where we grabbed some more awesome pictures. This time was super special for my dad and I as we rarely have this whole crew together in one place. In addition to the picture of the kids and grandkids, I got a subscription to Story Worth. They are sending me a writing prompt every Monday. I will be writing on the weekly prompts and returning the work to Story Worth where they will put the whole thing in a book at the end of the year. I guess I am writing my 2nd book. I am still trying to decide if any of it will end up in future blogs or newsletters. Let me know what you think! If a Story Worth subscription is something that interests you for yourself, or a gift, see tomorrow’s newsletter for a link to a valuable coupon.

When all the kids left and the dust settled, Dad and Renee took Jen and I to the Elk’s Club for Chicken and karaoke. We enjoyed the setting on the Peace River while listening to some of the most talented people I have ever heard sing karaoke. These people were so good that I almost forfeited my chance to sing. At the end of the day, I did sing as the sun was setting over the Peace River. Thank-you dad and Renee for hanging around and treating us to a great time while I waited to sing.

Dad, Renee, Jen, and I Beautiful evening on the Peace River

When it came time to go home to Panama, we were both excited to sleep in our own bed. I was asked what the first thing I wanted to do when I got home after 39 days away was. I had a hard time coming up with a response. There were so many things I missed. I think mostly I just wanted a $5 haircut from my favorite barber and to start planning our next big adventure. Finally, I think we are going to make it to the archeological site near Penonome’. Stay tuned.

If you have been enjoying the blog, but are not subscribed, please hit the subscribe button and we will let you know each time a new post is published (about 10 times per year). We will not spam you or share your information. It is really cool when people hit the like button, share and/or comment. We love you guys and hope to see you soon here in paradise.

Blessings,

Greg and Jen

Newsletter Volume 38 June 14

Do not forget…

…Fathers Day is this Sunday in the United States. We have awesome plans for the weekend with visits from our daughters and grandchildren at our condo in Port Charlotte. They are all coming in for a long weekend and a special luncheon is planned for Fathers Day. My dad is over the top thrilled that his son, daughter, and all his granddaughters and all his great grandchildren will be here to celebrate this very special day. Living in Panama makes it difficult during holidays and birthdays when many families get together to celebrate. Some people decide after a few years that living abroad is not worth lost time with family and friends. For this reason, I always suggest that these things be considered before buying a home in a foreign country. For Jen and I, video chats meet our needs as long as we can have periodic visits. Our children are at an age when traveling to our home in Panama is difficult for the whole family so these visits from us are important.

Many of you may be wondering…

…why there was no newsletter delivered for the last 2 weeks. I wrote both newsletters and have been experiencing delivery issues. For this reason, I am publishing this newsletter as a blog post. If this is our first newsletter that you are seeing I hope you are enjoying a rare case where it is being published as a blog post. While traveling we have had challenges with the newsletter app. My plan is to resume regular newsletter posts when we return to Panama in July. Newsletters come to your inbox free on Monday mornings as subscribers to our blog.

While Jen and I travel…

…the original photos that I usually share on my newsletter head are a little harder to come by. For that reason, I am sharing on the header for the next few weeks some stock photos that are from the internet, and have been shared by others. Generally, I try to credit the photographer, but these photos are just floating around and credit is unavailable. These are, however, some very cool pictures and they remind us of all the great things in the country where we choose to live.

Last week…

…Jen and I traveled from Florida to Michigan where we were able to visit with family and friends. Many of our visits were with people who we have managed to see periodically when they visited us in Panama, and many we have not seen in quite some time. We had a great time and the week went much too fast. Thank-you to all of you who hosted us and went out of your way to catch up with us.

This week’s fan photo…

…is Diane. Diane and husband Mike are expats who moved permanently to Panama a few months ago. Mike told me that he has three copies of my book, and has used them for helpful information when planning for their move. When I signed their book, I found it to be dog-eared and highlighted which delighted me. We have enjoyed getting to know both of them, and consider them to be among our best friends in Panama. They also maintain a second home in Florida, which is another thing we have in common. They are in Florida now for a few weeks and we may have an opportunity to catch up with them next week. I was happy to sign their copy of my book, and can do the same for you. I have a few copies left that I had shipped to Panama. Including the shipping cost these paperback books will cost $12. Let me know if you are in Panama and would like a copy.

I love getting original fan photos, so if you are willing, and can share a fan photo with me it would be greatly appreciated. It will appear in an upcoming newsletter.

It would also mean a lot to me if those of you who haven’t, would go to Amazon or Goodreads and leave a review. This makes my book easier for people to find.

You can get a copy of my book by clicking the link here, or the link on the blog. It is exclusively available on Amazon or Kindle. Kindle Unlimited subscribers read it free.

Blessings from paradise,

Greg

Our Bocas Del Toro Adventure

Last year when I published my book, Jen and I had not been to Bocas. Our trip last week was one of the most anticipated adventures yet, and I was really looking forward to making more great memories with our travel buddies Lyn and Ty.

I would like to share the first paragraph or two from the Bocas Del Toro chapter of my book to set the stage.

No book on Panama would be complete without a little bit about Bocas del Toro. Jen and I have yet to explore this magnificent part of the country we now call home, but I felt compelled to write a bit about it. I shamelessly stole a bit of information about it from their official web site, bocasdeltoro.com. I think that I will be forgiven.

Several friends have visited this magnificent area and most say that the average age there is much lower than the beach area where we live. They tell me that the
islands of Bocas are a continuous party. This seems to me that it may be the place to find the party crowd. Internationalliving.com describes Bocas del Toro as the
best-kept secret in the Caribbean, and that makes it a rare off-the-radar gem indeed. Part-mainland and part archipelago, Bocas is one of Panama’s two western-most provinces, right on the busy border with neighboring Costa Rica.

On Tuesday we left our home in Coronado to drive to Albrook regional airport in Panama City to catch the 1-hour flight to Bocas Town. We allowed 4 hours for the 90-minute drive to alleviate concern about morning traffic. Waze usually works remarkably well for directing us, but on Tuesday there was a protest on the Bridge of the Americas which crosses the Panama Canal. The protest shut down the bridge and we were trapped in traffic for almost 4 hours. Our flight left before we arrived at the airport. We were fortunate to be able to rebook on the 1 pm flight and settled in at the airport coffee shop to wait. Rebooking our flight was simple but cost us $50 per couple. We contacted the property where we would be staying to let them know we would miss the water taxi which was scheduled to pick us up for our adventure. Missing the already arranged transportation cost us another $30 per couple. Another water taxi had to be ordered for us.

Upon arrival at the airport in Bocas Town we were quickly processed through and a taxi took us to the dock. Our boat captain would be there in a few minutes which gave us time to walk down the street and get soft drinks and chips at a deli. Our ride on the water taxi from Bocas to our accommodations on Isla Bastimentos took about 45 minutes, so it was nice to have the chips and drinks. We had all had light breakfasts and no lunch.

It was a beautiful sunny day, and we were all dreaming of a nice swim and getting settled in our cabanas. We were met on the dock by a friendly crew who gave us a bit of information and showed us to our cabanas. We ordered drinks and changed into our swimsuits. After the day we were having the swim was delightful. We were told that dinner was at 8pm so when it started getting dark, we went to shower and met back in the dining area to play dominoes with Lyn and Ty. We also spent a little time trying to plan our excursions. Snorkeling, visiting a native village, and a tour to the organic cacao farm were all high on our list. One snorkeling adventure promised dolphins.

Dinner was delightful and we were all so hungry that we scarfed our food and went to bed. The beds in our cabanas were protected by mosquito netting. I also opted to use Deep Woods Off the entire time which proved minimally effective toward the end. We were deep in the jungle and the actual amenities were sparse at best. We had water sometimes and no outlets in our cabana except for a USB port. At least we were able to keep our phones charged. The only thing a phone is good for deep in the jungle of Bastimenos is the camera. We took a lot of pictures. We were getting a great dose of data detox. It was possible to get an internet connection with a 20- minute walk up the beach, and we did check in on Facebook and looked at e-mail a couple of times.

If you think that the end of our woes was when we missed our flight you are sadly mistaken. Once we settled into our beds under the mosquito netting it started to rain. It rained almost the entire time we were there. That gave us time to play more dominoes, card games and feed the mosquitos. Every time the rain stopped, we tried to get an adventure in, but the mud and humidity were unbelievable. I am trying to spin the positive stuff out of our adventure. The problem is that our host was very inattentive and seemed to care less that our plans were being short circuited by the rain. He kept to a strict schedule of breakfast at 8 am, lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 8 pm. Our drinks, excursions and meals were included, but getting a drink other than mealtime proved difficult. He said help yourself, but there was not much to choose from.

Now that I have climbed off my soap box let me tell you about what we did manage to do…The first excursion we took was to a native Ngäbe-Buglé village. The Ngäbe-Buglé are one of Panama’s largest indigenous tribes. The boat ride to the village was spectacular, winding through mangrove waterways and taking in the jungle all around. We were expecting an experience like the Embera Village we had visited in 2018, but what we found was heartbreaking. The village was impoverished and rundown, with most of the homes and inhabitants living in conditions like any other slum in the country. We were able to purchase some hand-crafted jewelry and paid for a tour of the village. The tour guide showed us around and told us a little about the background of the tribe. We later learned that many of the boat captains and kitchen staff at the place we stayed were from the tribe. We tried to make sure that we tipped them well when we left on Saturday morning.

Lyn and Jen buying the handmade bracelets

That is a termite nest. They live above ground here.

On Thursday we arranged to visit the organic cacao farm. The farmer had come to the island over 20 years ago to surf. He ended up buying 10 acres and a small stretch of waterfront called Wizard Beach on the surf side of the island. The piece of land is on the top of the highest hill on the island and when he bought it it was nearly bare. Over the years he has reforested and farmed the land which supplies most of the necessary food for his family and some amazing cacao. He also grows coffee and spices which his wife uses to operate a small coffee café on the site. A small shop offers spices and chocolate along with herbal soaps, shampoos, and lotions to mention just a few. We were transported by boat to the village of Old Bank and told to follow the path and the signs that said Up In The Hill. The locals knew where we were heading and were more than happy to point the way. Once we started walking it only took a few minutes to reach the end of the sidewalk. Once the sidewalk ended the hike was along a trail for about 15 minutes on a good day. Remember, it has been raining a lot. That trail was a slippery, muddy mess and we were not prepared for it. Two of us slipped and fell in the mud on the journey, but nobody let it dampen the spirit of this amazing tour. The farmer showed us how he was producing all this amazing food and spices alongside the cacao. He also showed us how he planted bamboo and trees to protect areas of the farm creating an amazing ecosystem which supports life and animals in the jungle. At the conclusion of the tour, we were invited to sit down and enjoy many of the fruits and vegetables produced on the farm. He called it a snack, but it was a meal to us. His wife did an incredible job in the preparation. If it seems that I overused the word amazing in this paragraph, I will beg to differ with you. Every time the farmer showed us something on his little farm the passion would ooze from him as he said, “it is amazing”. If you ever get to Bastimentos, follow the signs from Old Bank to Up In The Hill. The host is amazing, and the tour is unbelievable.

We finally made it. Tour begins shortly.

Amazing Farmer shows how he starts new coconut trees.

Many of the items available that are made from things grown on the farm.

We were fortunate to make it back before it started raining again. Along the way we were also fortunate to see a dolphin, although it was impossible to get a great picture. We got in a swim and cleaned up for dinner. Our shoes were all ruined but it did not really matter. The four of us managed to get in a game of cards before dinner. There was discussion about what we would do on our last day, but no decision could be made before we saw the weather on Friday morning. We turned in early with hopes of spending the day snorkeling with the dolphins at Coral Cay.

Our hopes were dashed by the wind and overnight rain. On Friday morning snorkeling was hardly advised. The boat left for the dock to pick up more guests, so we relaxed and played dominoes until it returned. By that time, it looked like it may be safe to have the captain take us on a boat tour. Right after lunch we left in the boat and he gave us a great tour of the marinas and the waterfront of Bocas Town. The entire time we were out it only rained in sprinkles, until we got about 10 minutes from the dock. It was then that we had a torrential downpour. The rain did stop by dinner. One of the highlights during dinner here was an evening visit by a monkey family. The alpha male would come into the dining to announce their arrival and then go to a little platform where mama and baby were waiting for a couple of bananas. We were able to give them bananas and take pictures. This was the first time since coming to Panama that Jen and I had an opportunity to see monkeys. With the rain having stopped, the jungle sounds were so different during the night. Jen and I had a hard time sleeping while listening to the profound sounds in the jungle all around us.

When we woke up early Saturday morning the sky was clearing, and I managed to get several pictures of an amazing sunrise. The pictures were taken from the deck of our cabana which hung out over the Caribbean. We were told that the magnificent sunrise could be better witnessed with a short walk through the jungle to the east point of the island. I opted to forgo that journey in favor of the safety of our deck. Once the sun was up, we packed in preparation for our departure.

We carried our bags to the dining area and had breakfast. Our host arranged for an early departure back to Bocas so that we could walk around town and see some of the sites. The 45-minute boat ride back was rough and the wind on the ocean was a bit chilly. Once we arrived at the dock, we could store our bags while we walked around the streets of the busy little port. Bocas Town is on the Isla Colon, and is the hub of activity for the nearby islands. We witnessed a ferry unloading fuel trucks and groceries before walking down the streets just coming alive on this early Saturday morning. After our walk about town, we returned to the dock to wait for our taxi to the airport.

La Buga Bocas. Do these people look familiar?

We made some amazing new friends on our trip. There was a family from Spain, a young couple from Poland, a couple of doctors from the Dallas area, students from Muskegon, MI, and the family from Virginia with whom we shared our Cacao farm tour. People go to the islands here to surf, snorkel and explore, as well as investigate retiring destinations.

On the flight home I got some great pictures of the Caribbean islands and shoreline. The Caribbean shore here is almost all jungle and undeveloped. Other than the north end of the Canal zone and the Islands of Bocas, the only beach communities in Panama are on the Pacific where we live.

It is good to be home and planning another adventure. If you are enjoying my blog, please, subscribe and share it with friends. Subscribing to the blog will get a notice when I publish future posts and my weekly newsletter in your e-mail. I do not share subscriber information and vow never to spam you. Also feel free to visit our Facebook page.

Blessings From Paradise,

Greg and Jen

Writing and Nature Collide

One of the highlights of my month is attending my Write Along workshop. A group of us gather monthly to write together and critique the work of one another. We have an established, safe space to work and share. The group agrees never to share the work of another writer. Privacy is the safety net for doing some great writing and enjoying the company of other great writers.

The workshops are facilitated by Lyndi Allison who is in the final stages of publishing her first full length novel. Her novel is a work of fiction that has been written for the enjoyment of young teens. It is science-fiction fantasy and will be the first in a series. Lyndi is a retired educator from Canada. She has been offering writing workshops in Panama at Tranquilo Retreat for several years. Tranquilo Retreat is a place designed to welcome writers and inspire the creative juices needed to create great work.

While the retreat is a great place to write, it was the vision of Lyndi to host a workshop out in nature. Our small group took the challenge and made a short hike to the Filipina Falls near Altos Del Maria here in Panama. The falls inspired us all to write from a different perspective. We all felt that nearness to nature was a special treat for our workshop this past week. The workshop went so well that we are talking about taking the next one to the beach.

Even in the cool mountain air I am sweating up a storm

We never expected so many dogs... — We never expected so many dogs…

Group shot from above (thanks to our special photographer)

I have to be incredibly careful here not to defy the confidence of the other writers in the group. We all write with the understanding that what is said in Write Along stays in Write Along. There are rare times when a piece is so special that the writer gives permission for his or her work to be shared. That was the case with the piece I am going to share below. Lyn Gilbert who is my friend, adventure buddy, and one of the others who participate in our monthly workshops, wrote this after being inspired by the nature all around the falls.

When we gather to write, the facilitator, Lyndi, provides us with a prompt to get things started. We are free to use the prompt provided or write something different. At times I will write something that can be used later for a blog or newsletter post. Generally, though, I write to the prompt, as do most of the others.

When we arrived at the trailhead, we were met by several very friendly dogs who lead us to the falls and spent the entire morning with us before leading us back. Once at the falls, we all settled on the rocks at the base of the falls, close enough to enjoy the cool mist emanating from the water pouring down. Lyndi brought along a batch of her incredible homemade muffins which we enjoyed while chatting about the release of her book. When the time came to write Lyndi provided a prompt. The first prompt of the workshop was a fill in the blank, I never expected…. Lyn’s piece was the one I am sharing below.

We got the chance to see Lyndi's book — We got the chance to see Lyndi’s book

I never expected it to be so all encompassing. The last year of our lives it has taken over everything, from our thoughts to our actions. Everything we do, feel, or say seems to evolve around COVID. People have lost friends and family, but not due to the actual illness, but because of uncertainty, politics, and fear. It has been the deciding factor in every aspect of our lives, where we go, when, what we do, and how we dress. But the worst of it is the feelings it has brought on…confusion, frustration, angst, fear, anger, and loneliness.

Sitting here next to this beautiful waterfall, watching the clear water with the yellow leaf floating by one can almost feel a world away from all of the uncertainty. Nature brings us back, it grounds us. We feel free and can breathe again. –Lyn Gilbert

In my weekly newsletter I explain that my feelings are each of us must take responsibility for our own health. We must do what we feel is right when it comes to going out, masking, and enjoying life. I hope you all get the newsletter and are enjoying it. I have tried to keep it short enough each week as not bore you, but long enough to pass on valuable deals and information. I have made a conscious decision to discontinue talking about COVID, including providing the weekly COVID report in my newsletter. If that report is important to you, it appears daily in the All Things Coronado Facebook group. Click the link to join the group. If you are missing the newsletter in your e-mail, perhaps you are not subscribed to the blog. It is free to blog subscribers and the archives are on the bar on the header above. If you find it interesting and informative subscribe to the blog on the right sidebar. I will never spam you or share your information.

The next writer’s event is open to anyone interested. Lyndi Allison, Diane Maxwell and I will be sharing our experience publishing our books. The event is at Tranquilo Retreat on April 1, 2021. Contact Lyndi to secure your space.

Diane Maxwell has launched her book which is available on Amazon and Kindle. She is having a launch event and signing at Picasso on March 30,2021 at 5PM.

Lyndi will launch her book on April 15, 2021 at 7PM along with another author. Contact her to register for the on-line event. lynda@thewordtour.com

Buy my book at Amazon or on Kindle by clicking here.

2 Retire In Panama? Adventures of a young retired couple is now available on Amazon and preorder on Kindle click the link to order https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYZ4JSG — 2 Retire In Panama? Adventures of a young retired couple is now available on Amazon and Kindle. Click on the link to order today. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BYZ4JSG

When an expat wants to buy a new car, the process can be overwhelming. I told my friend Marc Vargas that Jen and I were interested in upgrading our vehicle. I told him what we were looking for and our budget. I told him that I was interested in purchasing only if he could locate a good car at a good price. Marc eventually found a great car for us and we moved forward with the purchase. Buying a car in a foreign country is nothing like buying in the United States. I recommend Marc here in Panama because he can navigate the process and make sure that you are doing everything properly. Transferring the money and title, getting the plate transferred, and inspections are difficult, even if you know what you are doing.

After the purchase, Marc helped us find a new home for our Nissan. We were sorry to see the old car go, but Marc again came through and found it a new home with an expat couple who will love and care for it as much as we did.

One of the best things about living in Panama is the eternal summer. Jen and I came to Panama for the consistently great weather and desirable cost of living. Living abroad does not come without challenges, and it is not for everyone. I started writing this blog to keep friends and family aware of what we were doing in retirement. The blog has turned into something that people all over the world are looking for on a regular basis. It has inspired the book by the same title and the newsletter that comes out weekly. I try my best to provide clear concise information about living as an expat couple. Many of you find the blog by visiting our Facebook page also by the same name. Many of you subscribe by e-mail and for that I thank you. Still others just happen upon it. Please help me out by liking and sharing the blog posts. This helps others find it.

One of the greatest compliments we get is being contacted by readers. We have been contacted by numerous people who are on the same journey. Often, they pass through the area and we get together. Some have even become our friends and neighbors here in Panama. A few weeks ago, a lady contacted Jen. She had found the blog and bought my book. She asked about our hometown in the States. Turns out she was neighbors with a relative of mine and she recognized our name. They raised their family just minutes from where I grew up and their children attended the same school where I attended. They have recently retired and are making their exploration trip next month. We will be able to meet in person when they pass through Coronado. Another small world story that I thought you may enjoy.

I have been blessed to have many people share their fan photos with me, and for that I am also appreciative. If you enjoyed the book, and are willing, I would love to get a selfie from you. You can share it on Facebook or send it by e-mail. I will use it in an upcoming newsletter.

Blessings from paradise,

Greg and Jen

Our Official Update From Panama

The past 6 months have been a challenge for all of us. Jen and I have been in virtual lockdown since returning from our abbreviated adventure in Israel last March. I have been reluctant to make many blog posts as it seems everything appearing in others posts and on social media has been largely negative. I have never been a fan of spreading negativity here or in any other medias. I never want the unvarnished perspective that I present in my posts and in my book to be mistaken for negativity. Often when we have a negative experience, we prefer to refuse to return for a repeat experience rather than spread hatred of a business or vendor. People often contact us to inquire about something of which we have been vague. The fact that we have been vague about an experience does not necessarily mean the experience was bad. We have been offering endorsements sparingly, because we want to keep our blog honest and raw, allowing our readers to create their own experience. Hopefully, all the readers are sharing our experiences from afar or learning enough to help pave their own path. Today I am going to share with all of you a bit about how we have spent the past 6 months and where the country of Panama is heading as they attempt to reopen the economy here. The next few paragraphs are rooted in my research and come from various sources that I will attempt to give credit as I share.

In a previous post I detailed our experience upon returning from Israel. I will give a brief recap to bring our new readers up to date. While traveling to the Middle East we found no concern for the COVID in the airports other than in our own departure from Panama City where they were doing health checks of all passengers arriving. Our departure was early in March and we did not see any widespread concern until about half way through the first week on the ground in Israel. Nothing about our time in Israel was as we expected. After being told that the tourism industry was closing and that we should plan to leave the country as soon as possible, we began having concerns that we would not be able to return to our home in Panama. As it turned out, we just barely got home before the airport in Panama closed. Other than the numerous cancelled and rescheduled flights, and difficulty finding a restaurant opened in Miami where we had an unplanned overnight layover, the only real appearance of a world-wide pandemic was upon landing in Panama City. We were carefully screened in the airport and sent home for a 14 day quarantine. We were only allowed to leave quarantine to go for groceries or the pharmacy (only 1 of us was allowed to go). Within a few days of our return the entire country was placed under strict quarantine. Gender specific days out of the house with people only allowed out for 2 hours at a time. The time for going out was based on the last number of a persons cedula with foreign residents allowed out based on their passport number. Only people meeting the proper criteria were allowed into a grocery store or pharmacy. All other businesses were closed and any person with a special need to be out during a different time were required to have a special permission from the government which is called a salvo conducto. While none of this was particularly comfortable, we agreed that the restrictions were there to keep us safe from the pandemic. After a few weeks, some restaurants were allowed to open for take-out and delivery. I think the number one income of people in Panama for most of the past 6 months is delivery drivers. The streets have been deserted and traffic concerns dropped to nearly zero.

Wear your mask and practice social distancing

Fast forward to today…things are starting to re-open. The 2-hour time restrictions ended at the beginning of September. The gender-specific quarantine ended this past Monday with all people being allowed out Monday through Saturday from 5am to 11pm. Only those with a salvo conducto are allowed out on Sunday and from 11pm to 5am. For the past several months we have waited patiently every evening for an update on one of our Facebook groups like the one below. Our friend Karyn Saunders gets the update in Spanish from the Minister of Health, translates it, and posts it to the group. A careful look at the post from yesterday will show just how successful all this lockdown has been for Panama.

September 17th, 2020 UPDATE

104,138 total cases +672 new, 2213 deaths +15 new, 152 ICU, 731 hospitalized, 24,044 active, 77,881 recovered +1094 new, 2.1% death rate,

- 417,620 total tests, +5355 new, 12.5% positive rate, 9761/100,000
- There are over 218 tracking and tracing teams throughout the country.
- Vice Minister Ivette Berrio and her team paid a visit to the new mask manufacturing company in the Panaparkfree Zone. She is pleased to report the masks follow all the requirements needed for the medical industry (KN95 and surgical). The company is also making other equipment that will be used as PPE.

We are still on course and our numbers are going down. A great sign 4 days into our new found freedom.

Our church has been involved in a very comprehensive process to open back up. Approval has been granted, however we still have a total lockdown on Sundays. We had a service today to test the system for allowing us to reopen. Every person was required to walk across a shoe cleaner, have their temperature taken and recorded along with their cedula number and name (for tracing purposes). Attendees were required to use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes, wear masks, and exercise social distancing. 13 people were in attendance which is a long way from the average of 100 pre virus. Thank you Pastor Jon for the video of the Doxology and the picture of our small gathering.

We will continue to have Sunday service via You Tube and Facebook until things open up a little better. I am still not sure about having services on Friday to conform to the government requirements. People here are starting to feel a little rebellious with the restrictions and I am not sure why it has taken this long. Jen and I are putting it all in God’s hands and accepting that we are guests in this country. The Constitution of Panama guarantees health care to all. They have to keep us all healthy or prepare to take care of us.

Car washes were allowed to open on September 7. That is nice, but I fail to see the importance of this being put above many other things. They allowed the beauty parlors and barber shops to re-open, due to public outrage, a few weeks ago. This was done with huge limitations. Jen got her hair done the other day and her salon has enacted significant price increases.

On September 28th retail stores, restaurants, and portions of the service industry will be allowed to open. National Aviation will resume and National Parks, rivers and beaches will open. Earlier this week my friend Roberto posted a tour of the beaches near our home here on the seco arc. Roberto Hernandez writes a popular blog called The Spartacus Papers on WordPress. Jen and I have had the privileges’ of enjoying most of these beaches and I am sharing the link to his post for your enjoyment Roberto’s beach tour. After you check out the link, please use your back browser to return to the remainder of my post.

International Aviation will resume along with hotels, motels, rural hostels, other accommodations, and tourist activities. Tourism, tours, cultural industries, music and art academies, libraries and swimming pools.

NO date has yet been announced for the remaining which includes schools, colleges, universities, cinemas, theaters, museums, galleries, and closed structure tourist sites. Also remaining closed without an opening date are gyms, casinos, bars, canteens, discotheques, and carnival parades.

At our house we are anxiously awaiting the reopening of the beaches, pools, restaurants and gym. Even in our closed private community, gyms, the country club, and pools have remained closed.

We have had friends who returned to the States to wait out the restrictions. It has been hard to remain in virtual solitary confinement and that is taking a toll on the mental stability of many people. Many parts of the world have far less restrictions but the mental suffering is still a huge concern. For several weeks now we have been having a weekly lunch with 2 other couples. We have rotated the location and cooking responsibilities with an afternoon of dominos following lunch. This has given us a wonderful thing for which to look forward. Our condos have not told us we cannot do it and our friends are all happy to escape solitary confinement once a week as well. In the past, this was possibly against the rules, so I will not disclose the locations, day, or time.

Today our ballots arrived. Pursuant to the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE) we requested our ballot be sent to us by e-mail. The email ballot includes instructions for completing and returning the ballot for the upcoming election. We will be required to print and sign the ballot. It must be returned in the pre-addressed, postage paid envelope which was included with the e-mail with instructions for assembly. Our ballot must be delivered to the US Embassy no later than September 24th. They will return it to the States in a diplomatic pouch. From there it will go by mail to our jurisdiction. I learned from a friend in Michigan today that she has received 6 applications for an absentee ballot in her mailbox which she never requested. I hope that this does not cause voter fraud. Every legitimate vote counts; once you move to a foreign country, make sure you continue to vote.

When I started writing this blog post I was unsure if I had enough content. There are actually several other points that I wanted to make. I will save these for another time. Thank you for the overwhelming support of my book. If you are among those who have read it, please go Amazon or Good Reads to leave a review. That helps others find it on search engines. If you have not yet picked up the book please go to Kindle or Amazon to get a copy today. Kindle Unlimited readers get it free. As always, like and share my blog to help me build the reader base. I am considering publishing a newsletter once we have the readers to support it.

Lynda Allison enjoying her copy of my book.

Blessings from Panama,

Greg and Jen

The Launch of “2 Retire In Panama?” (the book) and more….

On July 18 friends and relatives gathered for the launch of my first book. The event was a bit rough given the whole COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. We gave a lot of thought and prayer to how we could launch the book on a virtual platform. We wanted to make the event available to the majority of our friends and family. Facebook live event turned out that the best way to make the launch event available to the most people, so that was the platform we selected. I scheduled guests who we thought would be able to join us in person from our condo here in Panama. A few days prior to the launch, we learned that the weekend would be total lockdown here and our guests had to be given the option to prerecord their greetings. We had all but one of our guests record their greetings. The other joined us in person. It looks like we had over 300 of you join us in real time or watch it later. I am sharing a replay here for any of you who would like to see it. Replay of “2 Retire In Panama?” launch event

I have also taken a little time to work on my You Tube Channel where you can find the prerecorded messages of my guests.. A visit to my You Tube channel is also a great way to see some of our adventures. Please feel free to subscribe to see future updates. The short segments of the Panama Canal are pretty awesome. These are clips that I used in my previous blog post, The Panama Canal Tour, during our first trip to Panama. There is also numerous picture video clips of our recent trip to Israel. Many of these videos I produced for my friend and author Mesu Andrews; others I made for myself. It seems that I have gotten better at these as time goes by, and I will share future adventures there. When you click on the links here just use the back browser to bring you back to the remainder of the blog post.

A look at my previous blog posts in the archives will give you all some insight into much of the content of my book. A picture paints a thousand words. My writing skills are still a bit raw and my mentor tells me to strive to paint pictures with my writing. The pictures are there for all to see in the blog posts.

Since the beginning of our adventures in Panama, the blog has been my way to share with friends and followers. During that time, I have found myself following several blogs of others living or adventuring abroad. When the pandemic started many of them used their platform to let their followers know where they were trapped and how they were dealing with it. A couple of them used their platform to complain about the situation and blame the governments of the world for the predicament. Jen and I chose not to post much about what we were going through. We recognize that the situation is all in God’s hands and how we deal with it is deeply rooted in our faith in Him. We are thankful every day that we are spending the pandemic in Panama. The government here is often criticized for their handling of it, but we have felt safe in the knowledge that they are taking extraordinary measures to keep us safe.

When we returned home from our abbreviated vacation in the Holy Land, we were quarantined in our home for 14 days. At the end of the quarantine the Ministry of Health called us to confirm our good health. It was about then that nationwide restrictions were imposed to minimize the movement of people and the spread of the virus. Our restrictions remain in effect with men and women allowed out for 2 hours, 2 or 3 times per week. These times are on alternating days based on the number on one’s Cedula for Nationals and passport’s for residents. This time is for shopping and visiting the pharmacy. All restaurants have been closed and are allowed only to serve delivery and takeout. The churches, pools, beaches, and gyms (even inside condos) were all closed and visiting friends was forbidden. Netflix and Hulu became our best friends. Most recently many of the restrictions are being relaxed and we are now enjoying our pool and gym. We have been able to have friends for lunch and a friendly game of Dominoes, as long as we follow certain protocols.

I spent the majority of the time during lockdown finishing my book. Once the rough draft was completed it went through many edits, a bit of rearranging, and formatting. I then had to develop the cover and submit it for approval at Amazon. It took a great deal of work to bring it to fruition. I was thankful for the hours of seclusion which kept my butt in the chair.

Social and main stream media are not always our friend. I spend a great deal of time on social media now promoting the book to potential readers and keeping on top of what is going on in the community. People seem to use social media to bash one another and complain about how the pandemic is being handled. There can be valuable information there; but everyone has to sift through it to find what is good and worth reading. It seems that at times the mainstream media is not in our best interest either. Daily news from around the world tends to twist the news to benefit certain political and other agendas. I implore all of you to keep yourselves safe in a way in which you are comfortable. If you have health concerns, aside from COVID, stay at home where you will not be exposed. If you must go out in public, wear your mask to protect yourself and others.

I am being asked now when I will write another book. I will not commit to anything until I see how the first one pans out, but the questions cause me to think about what I may write. Jen says I need to take a stab at fiction. I wish that there was enough content in the sunsets for a book. Every evening we enjoy marvelous sunsets. I could not share a blog post without pictures and I am choosing to share a few of the pictures that I have taken during the lockdown. God paints us a beautiful picture daily and we are thankful to be able to enjoy these gifts from Him.

I think that I have given you enough for now. I would like to point out the icons on the bottom of the post. Follow us on any of the social media platforms there. I admit that I do better at keeping up with some than I do on others. Please like and share everything I post so that I can get the exposure needed to make the book successful.

As a thank you for being readers and followers of my blog, I am offering the Kindle version for half price until noon Central Time on July 30, 2020. Buy the Kindle version here .

Blessings from Panama,

Greg and Jen

The Passion To Write

Since returning from our COVID19 abbreviated adventure in Israel I have been spending some of our lockdown time to organize photos and complete my first book. I never imagined the task of writing, editing, formatting, and creating a cover for publication would be so daunting. All of these things must fit into the parameters set forth by the publisher. The cover is featured above as my featured image. In the weeks to come I will be completing the publishing process.

In the book, which is based on the blog, I lay out in detail the immigration process and everything that went into our move to a developing country. My goal was to educate and entertain in a fact filled book for anyone considering the expat lifestyle. Everything in our life over the past two years has been an adventure and my goal was to give readers honest straightforward information for what to expect as they explore retirement options.

For Jen and I, we wanted eternal summer on the beach with a relaxed lifestyle. We wanted a location that would not break our budget and we found all of that in Panama. I found tons of information on the internet for would be expatriates. I will however warn you right up front that many of the websites, blogs, and companies promoting living outside a person’s home country are not all on the up and up. Many only want to attract the attention of investors, home buyers, and others with money to spend. A savvy researcher must glean information from those sites that will support one’s own agenda. Perhaps you have considered retiring, moving overseas, and even reinventing your life as an expatriate. I hope that you will read 2 Retire In Panama?.

In the next few weeks I will begin promoting the book. I will send the blog followers and all the others reading it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram a link to buy the electronic version or the print copy of the book. I hope to be putting a clickable link in the blog to purchase, review, and comment on the book.

I want to thank all of you for the continued support and encouragement. The writing has been a passion of mine for quite some time. My friends following the process who have read excerpts think that I have a winner; and it has been a pleasure preparing to share it.

Above all, I must thank the great God from whom all inspiration and encouragement has come.

No work is ever complete before it passes through many hands to help with the fine tuning.

I must start by thanking my patient and understanding wife without whom we would never have had any of these adventures. She also encouraged me, proofread for content, and was my first check for mistakes. She was instrumental in helping with the formatting and she never once told me that I could not do it.

The adventure partners are numerous and a group that will continue to grow. Thank-you to Ty and Lyn Gilbert who are always ready for an adventure. Thank-you also to John and Barbie Yoder who showed us an awesome adventure in Costa Rica. And a special thank-you to all the people who have visited and participated on the many other adventures that went into the writing of the book (you all know who you are).

Thank-you Lynda Allison for being that special person who mentored me, answered all the questions and was my guiding force to get the book to a publishable form.

The cover is about the most frustrating and yet important parts of a published work. I toiled over cover art and asked for help from friends and family who came up with the idea for my cover. An exhaustive search of photo sites helped me to discover photographer, Valentin Antonucci. The cover photo is his work and the book would not be the same without him. Check out his other works @NeonStdios and @antonuccival on Twitter.

Last but certainly not least…Thank-you to Vicky Ireland for the many hours spent editing and organizing the manuscript. Without her I never could have finished it. The book is immensely better with her input and finishing touches.

Once the worldwide borders and that of Panama begin opening up, and we are all allowed to move about more freely I will be blogging more frequently. Everybody here is ready to embark on more adventures. In the meantime, please scroll down to like and share. Oh…and pick up a good book. As always if you are not yet subscribed, it would be a great time to do it (the subscribe link is on the right margin). Many of my blogger friends have taken the COVID lockdown as an opportunity to rant about it. I did not feel the need.

Blessings,

Greg

Expatriating For Dummies: What the Glossy Magazines and Websites Will Not Tell you.

We follow a great blog entitled Latitude Adjustment which is written by John and Susan Pazera. John and Susan are Expats residing in Columbia. They recently published a post that is seriously awesome. A similar idea has been in my mind for quite some time. Latitude Adjustment captured the idea in my head and beat us to the punch. We have shamelessly used much of their post to create one of our own. Enjoy!

So, you have decided to try living outside your home country.

Congratulations for “taking the road less traveled”. It can be a wise and courageous choice if you approach it with an open heart and mind. If you do, you will be rewarded with a lifetime of adventures and memories.

As we approach our first anniversary of expat life let us give you our two cents on how to prepare for your expat life, step by step.

As you do your research and start to narrow down your target country, you will read a lot of glowing reviews on the internet and in magazines extolling the benefits of different locations. Many of these sources paint a rosy picture that may seem too good to be true. A lower cost of living and a more simple way of life are big motivators for people from the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and South Africa. Indeed it is possible to realize the benefit to living somewhere other than ones birth country, but it takes research, work and perseverance.

Step 1: Do your homework.

In other words, do not take the glossy magazines and websites at face value, especially the countless articles that list “the top ten best countries to affordably retire to” or take any similar approach. Quite often they are promoting these countries with an ulterior motive, and the truth may be somewhat different. Avoid any site or publications that are trying to sell property. Buying property should be the last thing on your agenda before you have had time with your boots on the ground in your target country. Try to connect with as many real-live expats as you can. Check out the online expat forums and blogs. The expat groups on Facebook can be good information sources. We spend a great deal of time on Expats In Panama Facebook page, and continue to cultivate valuable information from there regularly. The best advice we have here is to seek out legitimate information posted by people who actually live where you seek information. Our best information sources have always been, and continue to be, expat blogs written by people who know what it is like to live, day in and day out, in a given location. These blogs are often written by people like us, who benefit greatly from those who went before us and are eager to pay the favor forward by sharing information. Not only are these people very reliable, but you can expect to get an unvarnished view of their experience. Often these contacts can turn into real, live friendships and important resources once you have made the move.

When you talk to people, go beyond questions about the weather, livable neighborhoods, crime statistics, cost of healthcare, and other living expenses. Most of this information is easily accessed by way of a Google search. Instead ask what it is like to access the healthcare system. What are things you love most, and what things aren’t so great? Is the language difference really a barrier? Do you get homesick, and how do they remain connected to their family? What do they miss most about their birth country?

Here are a few links to get things started:

Cost of living comparisons

In-country expat aggregate sites

Expat.com

The World Health Organization’s rankings of healthcare systems by country

Quality comparison U.S. vs. other countries

Step 2: List the pros and cons of your target country and city.

No place is perfect. You have to weigh the options that best fit your circumstances. How is your health, and will you be able to receive affordable care and quality treatment in your new home? What is the process of obtaining a residence visa and how much should you expect to pay? What about safety and political stability? Will your new country tax you on your income? If you are moving with pets, how complex and expensive is the process, and how pet friendly is your target location? Does the area you are considering have an expat community? Is an expat community important to you?

If you decide to move to a non-English speaking country, are you prepared to get at least a basic knowledge of the language? In our first year in Panama we have learned enough Spanish to survive. We can order food from a restaurant menu, ask for directions, and communicate other basic information. We both know that this “survival Spanish” is not enough to carry on any meaningful conversations. We continue to practice our Spanish skills every chance we get. We have found that the people are incredibly kind and forgiving when we are butchering their language, and they seem to really appreciate the effort. Culturally, we see two options: jump in, feet first, and immerse yourself in your new country and its people, or take baby steps and move somewhere with a large expat community to make an easier transition. We call this the “training wheels” approach, and it’s essentially what we did when we moved to Coronado, Panama. In a place like Coronado, it is possible to live for many years without learning a word of Spanish. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it’s the “comfort zone” many people seek.

Step 3: Adjust your attitude before your move. Expatriating is not for everyone.

If you are a positive, “glass half full” person in your home country, then you have the stuff for the expat life. Trust us, you will need all the positivity you can muster!
What is your comfort zone and how much inconvenience can you tolerate? If you need things like on-demand hot water, having family close by, the convenience of shopping for anything you want, fast reliable customer service, and mail service, you might be better off staying put. You might also have to deal with infrastructure issues like power outages, undrinkable tap water, sporadic internet service, and poor cell phone coverage, just to name a few. Of course, these factors can vary dramatically from country to country, and from province to province or city to city.

Another very important factor for couples is that you and your spouse or partner need to be on the same page. If one of you are wavering, you need to address that before you make any move. Expatriating has to be a team effort. And if you’re thinking of moving as an escape – from your country’s political situation or otherwise – chances are you won’t be happy somewhere else.

Most of all, don’t go with the expectation that your new home should be more like your old one. Expecting things to happen just as fast, or be just as easy, as they are in your native country will quickly result in frustration, and – in our opinion – misses the whole point of expatriating. Sure, we have plenty of moments when we’re scratching our heads and saying things like “We could have gotten this done five times faster and easier back in the States.” Depending on where you go, expect lots of inefficiencies, government bureaucracies, and moments of sheer disbelief bordering on the comical. But we’ve learned that these moments are part of the experience. If you go with the flow and enter each situation with an open mind, you will get the job done!

Step 4: Get your boots on the ground.

As surprising as it seems, we have met people who actually picked up and moved to their new country after just one vacation visit, or even without ever having visited. We would lay odds that most of these people have already moved back home or will be doing so soon. One little visit, hitting just the tourist sites, is not enough to experience day-to-day life in the new location with all of its pleasures and challenges.
At a minimum, we recommend two or three visits to your target city, and try to spend at least two weeks at a time. Try to go at different times of the year, so you will know if you can tolerate the area’s weather extremes. Rent a small apartment rather than staying in a hotel. Buy groceries and cook in. Try to simulate, as much as possible, to feel what actually living there is like. Does the neighborhood have a safe reputation, and is it quiet? Are the locals friendly and helpful? How walkable is it, and how convenient are restaurants, shopping, transportation, healthcare facilities, and entertainment?
If you have already connected with expat bloggers in your prospective city, plan on meeting up with them. Buy them lunch and get their perspective and recommendations. They will be your best and most current information source for immigration and visa requirements, housing, transportation, health care, and other matters. Remember that information is constantly changing and what you read on the internet is often outdated.

A smartphone is your best friend. Get yourself a local sim card and make sure you’ve loaded, at the minimum, WhatsApp and some sort of navigation app, such as Google Maps or Waze. WhatsApp is especially critical in Latin America, since everyone uses it. In fact, people here are much more likely to respond to a WhatsApp message than an email or voicemail. Other highly useful apps are Google Translate and other language apps, Units Plus (a nifty metric-to-imperial tool for every type of unit, as well as a currency converter).

Step 5: Figure out money matters.

The financial aspects of expatriating should be a central element in your research. You’ll get a feel for the cost of living in your new country after your exploratory trip(s). Remember: relocating to another country involves costs: transportation, shipping, visas, furnishing a new home, the true costs of healthcare, deposits and other fees for renting, the costs of trips back home to see family, etc. If a lower cost of living is your primary motivator for moving, weigh these expenses – you might be better off staying put. And before we go any further, we urge you to live in your new home for at least six to twelve months before you even consider buying property. How will you access your money and how will you pay for things? we suggest that you get a credit or debit card that has no foreign transaction fees and reimburses you for all ATM fees. We use a Citibank card for most purchases and pay it directly from our U.S. checking account by fund transfer. This offers a less expensive means of paying for things than bank wire transfers. If you are collecting a pension or Social Security in the U.S., we do not recommend having your either deposited into a foreign bank account. It is a process to get it set up, and you may be charged fees.

Here’s one they don’t tell you about in the retirement publications! Most financial advisors will not represent you overseas. We maintain an address in the States (one of our children) to avoid situations such as this. To make a long story short, the company that has managed our retirement funds for years would dismiss our business without an address in the U.S. Make sure your investment company will stay with you if you move to another country.

Step 5: Time to make your decision.

OK. You’ve made your first fact-finding trip and you’ve been back a couple of times to try out different neighborhoods. You’ve gotten most of your questions answered and you’ve found the city/town/village that feels like “home.” It’s time to make a decision. Now your most important work is ahead of you. Find out exactly what is required for legal residency – fees, timeframes, and necessary paperwork. What is required to open a bank account, secure housing, obtain healthcare coverage. How do you get a driver’s license, sign up for utilities in your name, and get a mobile phone contract?
Which leads us to . . .

Step 6: Get an advocate.

Getting things done in another country with a completely different culture is challenging enough, but if you’ve got a language barrier, the challenges are multiplied. Even before you move, try to connect with a facilitator or advocate, someone local who also speaks your language and can help you navigate the business/legal aspects of getting settled in your new home. They are available, and are not hard to find if you ask the right questions. One of ours is a tour guide who helps with all sorts of other tasks. He helped us to purchase our car, even before we had our “boots on the ground”. The other is our realtor, who has become more than a lifesaver…she has become a lifelong friend.

Final suggestions.

We moved in 4 suitcases, 1 cooler, and 1 footlocker.

Expatriating is not for the stuff-addicted. The leaner you go the happier you will be. We know new expats that have moved with a 40 foot container, shipped cars, boats, and motorcycles, only to realize later that the expat life was not for them. Do not bring stuff, especially big, expensive stuff, unless you are prepared to sell it at a huge loss or ship it back if you change your mind. Remember also, that there may be customs duties to consider.

Here is another random thing you might not consider. Is your passport up to snuff? Many countries will not allow entry if a passport is within six months of expiring. If you are from the U.S., you might not be aware that they no longer issue extra pages for an unexpired passport that’s run out of stamping room. If you travel extensively and your passports don’t expire for a while you could run out of pages. Do not renew your passport while you are in the process of obtaining residency. A new passport number will render the residency documents worthless. If you are short on pages or within 6 months of expiring, renew it before beginning your expatriating adventure.

Other important paperwork, wherever you go, is your original drivers license, birth certificate, Social Security, proof of retirement letter or other proof of pension funds, marriage certificate, bank statements, and a copy of your last tax filing. Bring several copies of each. As you apply for residency in your new country, be prepared to present certified, notarized, and/or apostilled copies of these documents. Bring your medical records, and get a summary of your medical history translated into the language of your new country .

Have an exit strategy.

It is something you might not want to think about, after doing all your homework and making a decision as monumental as picking a new country and city to call home. But what if things go south in your new location – politically, economically, militarily? We are not trying to be downers, but todays world is a complicated place. Take Nicaragua, for instance. There are expats who built lives and homes there, and recently had to leave when the country was plunged into a civil and political crisis last year. Are you willing to pick up and leave everything behind? How much of your expatriating investment are you willing to walk away from? (It’s another argument for moving with as little stuff as possible, and for not buying property right away.) You must have a plan and funds for making a quick exit if need be?

Footnote: So why did we decide to expat?

We both were fortunate to retire early. We had one government pension between us and a healthy (not huge) savings. When we did the research we found that we could live for less per month overseas, and hopefully never have to spend the savings. We were anxious to move to a better climate, but did not want to be far from children and grandchildren, so we moved to Panama. In addition to it’s perfect proximity to the States, Panama is also an ideal location to explore from. We are meeting new people, beginning our plans for exploring, experiencing different cultures, learning new histories, beholding other worldly natural beauty, and enjoying a wonderful sense of freedom. These are just a few of the rewards of expatriating that we have and will experience. We wish the same for you!

Blessings,

Greg and Jen

Our home purchase (8 months on the ground)

Old People Ziplining

We recently entertained cousins from Pittsburgh. They were our most adventurous guests to date and we will share a bit of our adventure while they visited. Some of you who follow us on Facebook already know that my personal zipline experience was a disaster. I eluded to the possibility of my sharing that video on the blog. I am sharing my experience and that of Jen (yes she did it), Robert and Bill. I was overwhelmed with pride when Jen came zipping out of the jungle canopy even after witnessing my disastrous attempt. Robert followed Jen, then Bill. I must state right up front that none of us are physically fit teenagers, and probably should not even have attempted this adventure. The line was about a 30 second zip, none of it too far off the floor of the jungle. I will let the 4 videos speak for themselves. Our hosts barely spoke any English which complicated the experience, but overall we thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. They served us a great Panamanian lunch and gave us a nice hike through the jungle which comprised their modest property. Please enjoy the videos. If anyone would like the contact information for Kontraste Adventure, just a few kilometers outside La Chorrera send us a message.

You can safely assume that none of us took a 2nd turn on the zip-line.

We couldn’t resist taking our guests to the Ron Abuelo Rum Distillery and the Bio-diversity Museum, both of which we have explored with previous guests. Please check our archives to find out more about those wonderful tourist experiences. We also took them to the Miraflores Locks and visitor center which was a first experience for us. They have a great museum and an I-Max movie which are a must see for Panama Canal visitors.

The Visitor Center of The Miraflores Locks

A trip to El Valle is another must see for all our guests. We were able to take them to a couple of places that we have not shared before. We also repeated some favorites. We took them to the rim of the volcano for a look down into the valley. We also explored El Macho Falls, which was a treat for all our senses. The sights and sounds of the walk through the jungle were amazing. The waterfall was spectacular and the excitement of the people zip-lining the face of the falls was awesome. Our hike ended at the bottom of the falls where Jen, Bill and Robert swam in the pool formed by the waterfalls. It is ice cold; and I had no part of it.

The four of us in front of El Macho — The four Of Us In Front of El Macho

We had a busy week while Bill and Robert visited. Both are foodies, and were always wanting to explore the foods of Panama. We went for the Lobster, Corvina, Pipa Fria, and even stopped along the highway for Ceviche. They particularly seemed to enjoy the Fonda experiences. No trip to Panama would be complete without a visit to the beach and pool time.

We had a great visit and thoroughly enjoyed sharing our home with these crazy guys. Before they left, I am certain they needed a vacation from their vacation. We went full blast the entire duration of their visit. Shortly after they left Jen and I went on adventure of our own to Jamaica. We have vacationed there in the past and it was a pleasure to meet and enjoy some time with friends from the States. From Panama it is an easy 90 minute flight to Jamaica. We are often asked what inspired our decision to relocate to Panama. One of our best reasons is that Panama is a great location to explore from. We will always have great things here to share with our guests, however, once we get completely settled we will explore more of the Caribbean, Central and South America. There are hundreds of great destinations within a couple of hours by flight or car.

We never seem to have a shortage of things to occupy our free time. Church keeps us busy and we are finding volunteer opportunities that pique our interests. We have a friend at our church here, Chuck Holton, who is an independent correspondent. His reports are frequently carried by the 700 club and other Christian media outlets. He has spent a lot of time recently on the border of Venezuela where people are starving due to the collapse of the Socialist economy there. His reports are also rooted in mission work and he is always trying to help the native people. A very good friend of ours travelled with Chuck this week through the jungle South-east of here to the border of Columbia. There they set up clinics to provide medical help in five refugee camps. Missions such as these are on our radar, but for now we will be staying right here in our own community where there is no shortage of need. This week the local Rotary Club in association with Rotary Clubs in the States and our church here provided free dental care for many in the community. It was such a humbling experience to volunteer and see the people being helped by this awesome mission.

From time to time we are contacted by other expats who are interested in coming to our area. These contacts have always turned into friendships. If you are interested in becoming part of the expat community here in Coronado, make contact with us. We look forward to showing folks around and sharing our experiences. As always, if you found something entertaining or helpful, like and share our blog.

Buenos,

Jen and Greg

Category: Uncategorized

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