Getting started living in Panama

THE BEST THING TO MAKE FOR THANKSGIVING IS RESERVATIONS!!

Happy Thanksgiving to friends and family!  I am writing from Boquete, Panama and it is a beautiful, breezy day about 75-80 degrees.  Joe and I will be having a holiday lunch today with about 20 other expats in Los Molinos, the community we'll be living in as of January.  Don't know if it will include turkey, but I do know that there will be no cooking or cleaning up required, so I am all over it!!  Love to cook, but anyone who has done the T-Day feast knows that it is a labor of love and one of the best parts of the day is a quiet glass of wine on the couch after the last dish has been dried and put away.  Or maybe the turkey sandwich (with stuffing) at about 10 O'clock, yes?

VISA APPLICATION

Have been remiss on posting the past few weeks as the majority of our time has been spent doing the prep work for getting our permanent residency visas in process, setting up a bank account and most importantly, getting Joe a small motorcycle so he can tour the hillsides!

Panama has debuted several new visa options recently and the one we have applied for will give us permanent residency and option to apply for a permit to work in Panama, which we will want to do.  Primarily the new options are to attract skilled workers to Panama to provide a ready workforce for their burgeoning economy.  Secondly, to attract business investment and the creation of small businesses which, of course, will mean more jobs for Panamanians.  Besides your passports, you need an FBI report (Joe was wise and had this done before we traveled here), a local bank account, and lots of documents confirming that you are a person in good standing.  According to our lawyer, we should have our temporary residency cards before we travel home for Christmas.  This is especially good because without this card, you are required to leave the country every 6 months.

BANK ACCOUNT

Here in Panama, you have to be introduced by a local of good standing to a bank manager to apply for a bank account.  Again, you have to have several local folks attest that you are a citizen in good standing, letters from previous banks saying that you are a good customer, FBI report etc just to APPLY!  Often this process from start to receiving your account number can be 4-6 months.  We are expecting to have our account up and operating next week - time from start to finish less than one months!! Thank you, Lord.

NETWORKING

We spend a great deal of time networking and soaking up the information that so many kind and experienced expats are willing to share.  Once we are established, we will be certain to "pay it forward" and help the next newbies here.  There is SO much to know in order to make life easier, more fun and how to buy and live smart.  It takes a LOT of time, but has been invaluable.

We have been hiking three times a week with a hiking group.  Each hike is about two to three hours and you spend the time exercising while meeting new people - and it's free!  Networking is where you find out about the best place to buy or do this or that, real estate opps that are not listed, people who are looking for investment partners, home rentals and services, where to get a good haircut/manicure/teeth cleaning/dog grooming/grocery item etc.  Also, you meet folks almost everytime you eat out.  $4 for lunch and priceless amount of info - good idea.

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME

We are spending a lot of time researching casitas - plans and how to build them.  We met with a family this week who are building with pressure-treated wood and greenboard.  Totally new for Panama, where almost all construction is from concrete block.  Superior product in every way and very cost-effective too.  These would make great long-term or short-term rentals / sales and you can even purchase some of these as kits - ready to assemble on your lot.  Great idea.

Most every expat we meet is here for a number of reasons, but almost without exception, the major reason is that they see the writing on the wall for the economy back home and are looking to diversify.  The economy here, which is multi-faceted, is booming with a growing middle class.

THE PEOPLE

Even those who have very little according to US standards, and that's most people, have a lovely and friendly attitude.  Not uncommon for folks to stop what they're doing to assist you with directions or to try and understand and/or translate my terrible Spanish in a store.  Uncommon kindness is a lot more common here.

RECOVERING TYPE A's

It has taken me these last 2 months to calm down.  I never thought I was a Type A, but maybe I became over the years as job and life just kept getting faster and faster - survive or drown right?  Like someone going to AA for the first time, I am admitting to possible Type A and perfectionist tendencies and am on the road to recovery!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  We all have much to be thankful here and in the United States - still one of the best places on earth.  Special thanks to our military men and women who fight daily for our liberty, may we always protect, appreciate and defend it.