I have been subscribing to the emails from this forum for a few months as we were thinking of Panama for a second home or possibly a total shift in lifestyle. This forum has a lot of good ideas and information however the underlying tone is Panama is an unsafe country where you must expect to be ripped off, have a home invasion, have nothing but trouble with the government and on it goes.
Even a seasoned traveler such as ourselves seriously have to rethink Panama as it appears most expats are living in fear and frustration. If that message is not the intention of this forum, I apologize but that is what I hear.