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Panama: Con Artists:
We had a recent and painful experience with a con artist in Panama. Not a local but an American. Be aware that sometimes it seems you are helping a fellow countryman or in our case, countrywoman. Some are here because they are in trouble at home and will continue their life of crime. Do not be afraid to say no or report it to the police. Overly friendly people who seem to run short at the grocery are a prime example. So is the sad story of running from an abusive ex. Just be aware people.
Panama: Anyone else experienced this issue?:
Do you ha e a bank card, debit card? We maintain our USA checking account and use our debit card occasionally to withdraw funds here in Panama. The United States has given us some problems but not as you describe. The government's agreement with Panama makes it impossible to maintain a bank account here by taking 30% of any amount over $10000. So, in short, .I have no useful information to offer. Just my sympathy. Just a..note, it is not easy to obtain a bank account here. I am sorry for your troubles.
Panama: Big Size Shoes +12:
My husband has the same problem. He gets shoes when he goes back to the States however, Colombia is closer and has excellent leather products. Nice climate, too. And factory outlets for tall people and women larger than a size 8.
Panama: Early stages of Panama retirment research:
We researched via Internet for a year or so and then came for a visiting vacation to see if we liked it. We went to The northwestern portion of the country in the mountains. It was too wet for us. On our way back to Panama City, a cab driver told us of a mountain area called Altos del Maria. We bought that same day. We were still young and it was less expensive to buy 10 years ago. I am so glad we did.
It got up to 85 once this season. It gets cooler in the higher elevations, too. We do have air conditioning units in the bedrooms but don't have to use them. We are close to four large grocery stores where you can get most anything you can get in any other country. Check out the website Altosdelmaria.com. We are a gated community, quiet except for the parrots.
For those who think Gringas don't last long in Panama, well, some don't. If Walmart is a necessity on a daily basis, you won,t like it. If your hips are as wide as a semi, You won't be able to find your size. We have yoga classes, Spas and Massage therapist, nail salons, beauty salons, casinos, and we ladies get together on a monthly basis to check out new restaurants. Our malls are huge, famous designer stores are here. We volunteer to spay the strays, check in on our sick neighbors or the local Panamanians if they need some medical expertise. (Dressing changes, injections, suture removal, hospice care).
The beaches are close, surfing is really wild and the solitude drives some people nuts. Golf courses are some of the toughest I have ever played. Check out what you enjoy at home and see if you will be able to find it here.
Panama: Newbie questions on Panama:
Panama has many types of Visa programs. Just google up the Panama site and check the category you fit. One type is a Pensianado ?? Retired Person, visa that is determined by verifiable financial stability. And even this visa has many options. Briefly, and this is from my foggy memory only, you would need a monthly source of income, Social Security is one such option, and a certain dollar amount is required.
We have obtained health insurance here. It required a complete physical, EKG, X-ray , blood and urine work. It is not like US insurances. Here you pay and get reimbursed.
Internet sometimes depends on physical location of the towers. Lucky for us we have an un obstructed line of sight to the tower. We still have some down time and electrical outages. But we did in Texas so who am I to complain. We use Skype with a stateside number as our telephone services for anything other than local call. Yearly fee is sooooo worth it! Use a cheap cell phone for Panama with minutes you buy by the card. Prepaid phone cards will last you all the time you would need here.
About Chinese medicines..... There are plenty of Chinese here so you would have to search that sort of thing out on arrival.
Lastly, this is certainly not like where you are currently living. Unless you are lining in rural Mississippe. The people are poorer but not lazy. They work very hard for little pay. Most who come here and leave dissatisfied do so because of false expectations. Come visit the country and remember, what you see is what you get.
Panama: food preservation supplies:
I have a bumper crop or two thanks to my loving gardener. I found some canning jars at Discovery Center but need more......and more. Anyone out there have a different place to get mason jars? I have found the lids, no problem, but the actual jars are scarce. Thanks
Global Expat Forum: moving to Panama legal fees:
We arrived in Panama in December 2012. This move was facilitated by an attorney and I highly recommend you do that. Our attorney had runners to wait in line for us and when our turn was nearing, we were called to stand in line. Additionally, this person did this for attorneys for a living and was able to assist us in the process as our North American version of Spanish wasn't even close to the Spanish spoken in Panama. It is a lengthy process and may frustrate some. Just remember, this isn't the U.S. and things are different. We are the foreigners overwhelming their systems. And there is a different concept regarding productivity. They aren't hell-bent, overworked, neurotic workers that you find in America. Overworked, perhaps, but if you push you will find that they sit down like a mule. Be pleasant, expect to have to wait for everything, expect everything and everyone to be late. This is a really nice country to live in if you treat people as you would like to be treated. Additionally, this is an aside for the ladies, don't go to a public building in Panama City in flip flops and shorts. They find that very disrespectful and expect ladies to have their bare arms covered in sleeves of some sort and "proper" shoes. Carry an umbrella if not for the afternoon rains then for the noon sun.
Driver's licenses are more easily obtained in some of the larger cities as opposed to Panama City. It may be a pleasant drive but it beats waiting 6 hours in line in no AC only to be told to come back the next day.
I hesitate to name a specific attorney; ours was wonderful and spoke perfect English. We could also talk about art and the New York Jets. He did not charge us anywhere near the $10,,000. you mentioned.
That sounds like way too much to pay. We had to pay to have our dogs shipped here and that was more expensive than I expected. Hire someone to do that if you have to bring a pet. Panama Pet Relocaters are the group we used and our dogs were watered and walked by the time we were finished with customs.
Panama: The perfect place in Panama:
try Altos del Maria in the mountains above Chame. they have a web site of the same name and plenty of space to chill. Sounds like our dream and we found it here in Altos. The beach is near enough as is shopping, golf and many restaurants.
Global Expat Forum: How to take the final step?:
analauravillalon; take caution in Costa Rica. They have a squatters rights law. Friends went back to the US after buying the vacation home there, returned 6 months later and found people living in their house. The authorities will not move the squatters out. Hence, the friends lost the vacation home. Not urban legend, unfortunately.
How old are the children and do you plan to home school them? Investigate the schools and housing as you would in the home country but keep in mind that things are not always equal.
Panama operates on the U.S. Dollar so there are no exchange rate messes here. We live in a gated community in the mountains and have power and water outages especially in the dry season. (now)
Where it may be less expensive to live here when you consider there are no school, city or county taxes and the property taxes are pretty low in comparison, the sanitation standards are lax, the nursing staff in hospitals are less educated. Let me know if you would like someone to converse with. I am mid 60's and having a quiet retirement. Oh yes, don't expect to find good TV if that is important to you.
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