Comments on: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Moving to Panama http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm Latin America Information Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:48:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: momfry http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-22592 momfry Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:39:01 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-22592 Learning about Panama, considering a home there...sounds like SS might just be enough? Learning about Panama, considering a home there…sounds like SS might just be enough?

]]> By: Jisel Perilla http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-19847 Jisel Perilla Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:56:13 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-19847 Hi, Thanks for the message! I'm going to do a bit of research to see if I can send you some suggestions to help you out with your potential move! Hi,

Thanks for the message! I’m going to do a bit of research to see if I can send you some suggestions to help you out with your potential move!

]]> By: glenny http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-19451 glenny Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:51:53 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-19451 Hi! My husband and I are considering retiring to Panama. We have about 8 years until SS and our retirement funds are available, so it may be awhile. Considering this we would consider investing in something now that would help support us when we move. We would like to move within 5 years, but may not be able to unless we find the right investment. We need to do much more research and would appreciate any helpful information you may have regarding investing/moving to Panama. We are also looking at Ecuador, but are leaning towards Panama right now. Thank you. Hi! My husband and I are considering retiring to Panama. We have about 8 years until SS and our retirement funds are available, so it may be awhile. Considering this we would consider investing in something now that would help support us when we move. We would like to move within 5 years, but may not be able to unless we find the right investment. We need to do much more research and would appreciate any helpful information you may have regarding investing/moving to Panama. We are also looking at Ecuador, but are leaning towards Panama right now.

Thank you.

]]> By: adsence empire http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18896 adsence empire Thu, 24 Jun 2010 04:28:04 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-18896 Keep working ,great job! Will be back. Keep working ,great job! Will be back.

]]> By: Keegan http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18095 Keegan Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:09:05 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-18095 Hi I'm Keegan I was born in Panama and I'm going to move back there when I finsh college and live there the rest of my life. The kids in my school always picked on me. So I'm hoping Panama's better. thanks Hi I’m Keegan

I was born in Panama and I’m going to move back there when I finsh college and live there the rest of my life. The kids in my school always picked on me. So I’m hoping Panama’s better.

thanks

]]> By: Moises http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-14050 Moises Fri, 21 May 2010 07:33:52 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-14050 Hi Tim, I don't know how I came across this site... in any case, I am Panamanian born and raised (although I lived for about 7 years in the USA before returning). In general, most of the things on that list are worst-case scenarios that stem from a lack of street-smarts, caution and unrealistic expectations that Panama functions like a 1st-world country. The law over here functions in a different way than in a developed country such as the US. Nobody here really expects the law to function as it is supposed to, nor is naive enough to expect protection from it. The upside to this, however, is very big, because if you know how the law works and stay out of trouble, you can pretty much pay no taxes on income, park wherever you want, and basically do whatever you want (not harming anybody obviously) as long as you keep an eye out. Just avoid the law to any extent possible and hire people to do legal transactions for you if they show any sign of complication - it's really not worth your time when you can get a messanger to do it for you for $3. Another thing is that people here (including police, civil servants, etc) are generally a lot easier to talk to and negotiate with and they are very sympathetic in general. There is little of the robotic "doing my job so screw you" attitude you find in places like the USA. THE #1 PRINCIPLE HERE is that if you treat people with calm, respect and humility they will generally go out of their way to help you, even if it's against the law. If you avoid condescending, patronizing behavior, you will be very well off. Just because it is someones job to do something doesn't mean its a good idea to assume they will do it if you get angry at them. And speaking about crime: the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of crime here is organized crime related to drugs and gangs in bad areas. If you stay away from unsafe areas (they are easy to recognize) and keep away from anything related to selling or traffiking drugs, you will be very safe (and if you smoke weed in your car, be ware of road blocks!). You also need to realize is that there is still a large minority of people here that are poor and have hard lives - and you need to realize that just by being from a developed country it is assumed you are rich, which will automatically make you more of a target than average, mostly for petty crime. The main idea is to take precautions and not unnecessarily display signs of wealth or talk about it around strangers (once you know people it's obviously something else). The bottom line is, don't expect Panama to work the same as a 1st world country. It's a totally different experience over here - and a lot of it is very positive. You just need to realize that it's not a North-American suburb - it's much more in-your-face and there are many more startling contrasts and characters, some of them disturbing. It's also a much smaller country, where everybody knows everybody (even despite social class), where you spend much more time dealing with small companies and less with call-centers and corporate small-print. Hi Tim,

I don’t know how I came across this site… in any case, I am Panamanian born and raised (although I lived for about 7 years in the USA before returning). In general, most of the things on that list are worst-case scenarios that stem from a lack of street-smarts, caution and unrealistic expectations that Panama functions like a 1st-world country.

The law over here functions in a different way than in a developed country such as the US. Nobody here really expects the law to function as it is supposed to, nor is naive enough to expect protection from it.

The upside to this, however, is very big, because if you know how the law works and stay out of trouble, you can pretty much pay no taxes on income, park wherever you want, and basically do whatever you want (not harming anybody obviously) as long as you keep an eye out. Just avoid the law to any extent possible and hire people to do legal transactions for you if they show any sign of complication – it’s really not worth your time when you can get a messanger to do it for you for $3.

Another thing is that people here (including police, civil servants, etc) are generally a lot easier to talk to and negotiate with and they are very sympathetic in general. There is little of the robotic “doing my job so screw you” attitude you find in places like the USA. THE #1 PRINCIPLE HERE is that if you treat people with calm, respect and humility they will generally go out of their way to help you, even if it’s against the law. If you avoid condescending, patronizing behavior, you will be very well off. Just because it is someones job to do something doesn’t mean its a good idea to assume they will do it if you get angry at them.

And speaking about crime: the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of crime here is organized crime related to drugs and gangs in bad areas. If you stay away from unsafe areas (they are easy to recognize) and keep away from anything related to selling or traffiking drugs, you will be very safe (and if you smoke weed in your car, be ware of road blocks!).

You also need to realize is that there is still a large minority of people here that are poor and have hard lives – and you need to realize that just by being from a developed country it is assumed you are rich, which will automatically make you more of a target than average, mostly for petty crime. The main idea is to take precautions and not unnecessarily display signs of wealth or talk about it around strangers (once you know people it’s obviously something else).

The bottom line is, don’t expect Panama to work the same as a 1st world country. It’s a totally different experience over here – and a lot of it is very positive. You just need to realize that it’s not a North-American suburb – it’s much more in-your-face and there are many more startling contrasts and characters, some of them disturbing. It’s also a much smaller country, where everybody knows everybody (even despite social class), where you spend much more time dealing with small companies and less with call-centers and corporate small-print.

]]> By: Tim http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-13537 Tim Sun, 16 May 2010 20:38:19 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-13537 I found this link to be a bit distrubing: http://www.panamalaw.org/panama_facts-the_ones_they_do_not_tell_you_about.html Is anyone in the know on any of these issues? I found this link to be a bit distrubing:

http://www.panamalaw.org/panama_facts-the_ones_they_do_not_tell_you_about.html

Is anyone in the know on any of these issues?

]]> By: Rachel H. http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-12970 Rachel H. Tue, 11 May 2010 13:13:00 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-12970 I agree with Spike. What is up with Czeslaw anyway, if you hate the US, go 'home', why are you still here? Central America is a nice place (as far as touring from a cruise ship). Costa Rica has a beautiful rainforest to enjoy! The Panama Canal was very interesting and enjoyed our tour guide. If you are thinking, like we are, to move there, go rent a house for a couple of weeks before making any decisions and read, read, read, there are plenty of books, just google to find, to get info on everything you could need to know written by US citizens living in these countries. I agree with Spike. What is up with Czeslaw anyway, if you hate the US, go ‘home’, why are you still here?
Central America is a nice place (as far as touring from a cruise ship). Costa Rica has a beautiful rainforest to enjoy! The Panama Canal was very interesting and enjoyed our tour guide.
If you are thinking, like we are, to move there, go rent a house for a couple of weeks before making any decisions and read, read, read, there are plenty of books, just google to find, to get info on everything you could need to know written by US citizens living in these countries.

]]> By: Spike http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-8759 Spike Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:07:32 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-8759 Czeslaw, Maybe you're the one who needs to return to your country of origin. You complain about how terrible the US is, yet apparently live in Miami waiting for your green card application to wind through USCIS. If the US is so inferior to (cough) Latvia, maybe you should gtfo of the US and move back there. The people on this board posted about some problems (mostly annoyances) expats should prepare themselves for in Panama. What you did was blast an entire country in a hate-filled rant. Czeslaw,

Maybe you’re the one who needs to return to your country of origin. You complain about how terrible the US is, yet apparently live in Miami waiting for your green card application to wind through USCIS. If the US is so inferior to (cough) Latvia, maybe you should gtfo of the US and move back there. The people on this board posted about some problems (mostly annoyances) expats should prepare themselves for in Panama. What you did was blast an entire country in a hate-filled rant.

]]> By: rachel http://www.latinworld.com/2009/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-moving-to-panama.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7388 rachel Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:44:25 +0000 http://www.latinworld.com/?p=1009#comment-7388 I used to live in Panama when I was 9 - 14 years old. My dad was stationed at Fort Clayton. Now I am near retirement as is my partner, Dave. We are thinking about taking our puppy, a Maltese, and retiring to a beach commmunity. I speak fluent Spanish and I am a Spanish profesor here in the USA. Any suggestions? Does my dog have to be quarantined? She would have a nervous breakdown! Dave loves to fish and I just want to get away from the ratrace and enjoy warm weather again. thanks r I used to live in Panama when I was 9 – 14 years old. My dad was stationed at Fort Clayton. Now I am near retirement as is my partner, Dave. We are thinking about taking our puppy, a Maltese, and retiring to a beach commmunity. I speak fluent Spanish and I am a Spanish profesor here in the USA.

Any suggestions? Does my dog have to be quarantined? She would have a nervous breakdown! Dave loves to fish and I just want to get away from the ratrace and enjoy warm weather again.

thanks

r

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