Poor mans retirement. Panama?

One thing for certain, you will want to speak and read Spanish when living there...

I've been reading and researching Panama for a while now, since I was there in 2010. Lots to learn, lots of opinions from expats in forums like this one.

One thing keeps coming up in all of my reading and discussions with folks who have done this, you need to be flexible.

X2, the ability to converse and understand a conversation goes a long way towards a more satisfactory and pleasant experience. Otherwise one tends to isolate or associate with only other expats and misses the best parts of another culture.
 
In talking to expats from various places, the common thread amongst those who 'make it' in any foreign country long term living situation is learning the language, learning the culture, liking the culture, and being flexible in your mindset...as things are not going to be as they were prior to your move.

If any one of those qualities aren't there, you become a 'short timer' and head back to your home country within a few years.
 
In talking to expats from various places, the common thread amongst those who 'make it' in any foreign country long term living situation is learning the language, learning the culture, liking the culture, and being flexible in your mindset...as things are not going to be as they were prior to your move.

If any one of those qualities aren't there, you become a 'short timer' and head back to your home country within a few years.
Yup...and the quickest way a FNG can be shunned in a new community (foreign or domestic) is to start telling the locals what their community/country is doing wrong...and how to fix it.

And in a great many communities you'll be a FNG forever, but accepted if you can keep your opinions to yourself.
 
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I hear their salmon are really hurting! True? False? Trying to keep turons away?
I don't know for sure, but would swing some flies and find out! With my guide or whatever they're called on the beats I fish! And golf too.. and a distillery or 100 of them..
 
Yeah...I want to go to iceland in the next year or so before they are gone. I think I heard Norway is really bad.
Let's go! I'm down for next year, although am also considering Belize for bones and tarpon! Hell, I'll just do both! YOLO!
 
8+ billion humans on a rapidly shrinking rock, with 9 million US ex-pats plus 20 million European and Russian ex-pats currently living in low cost countries having their own serious immigration issues.
After spending some time visiting those countries of interest may well find holding in place with winter get away's the better plan.
 
In a lot of Scotland, the salmon and sea trout are simply gone. Anywhere that you might have a realistic chance of catching one costs hundreds of pounds a day to fish.

That's too bad....but I have a sick desire to fish the river Spey with a 16ft. two hander and a gillie shouting in brogue I can't understand then an afternoon in a distillery along the river.
 
Do it while you're young enough to do it well...
 
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