I was enjoying dinner at one of my favorite Coronado restaurants when I ran into a group of retired expats.
It was a group of about ten enjoying food and drink at a communal table, so I took the opportunity to ask them a few questions. “How do you like living in Panama?” was my first question and it resulted in chuckles. People who retire in Panama can have totally different lifestyles and experiences, so I was ready for a variety of opinions.
A Home Base for Travel
The first gentleman, who appeared to be in his sixties, motioned to his wife and said, “ tomorrow, we are leaving for four months to go and kick around Chile. Nice of everyone to turn out and celebrate our next trip,” he continued, raising a glass of pinot noir. I wondered how leaving was a positive response to living in Panama.
“Panama gives us a wonderful, affordable base to travel the world,” his wife said. “We just spent three months in Southeast Asia. Singapore was great to visit, but you’d need to be very, very wealthy to have Singapore as a base,” she laughed.
“We rent our condo for some extra income during our longer travels” she continued. “Demand is high, especially during the winter months. And we have a great property manager– she handles things when we’re away. We’re actually thinking of getting another unit just for rentals.” I smiled, thinking of the others I know who have a similar arrangement.
We Came to Relax
Another couple had different ideas on how to spend their retirement. “We love it here. We don’t want to wander around South America or Southeast Asia… we’ve traveled a lot in our 60 years of marriage, so we’ll just be here when they return,” said a man who laughed easily.
“We came here to relax and indulge a little,” his wife smiled. “It’s been a lifelong dream to live on the beach, and we considered a lot of places before settling on Panama. Florida is nice, but we would have really had to compromise in order to afford it. Not just the property but the taxes, the cost of living, all of it.”
“Now, I’m redecorating our condo and having a blast. We got a corner beachfront unit– one of the last in our building. It’s spectacular. And the area is great. There’s always a new restaurant to try or friends to meet up with, though the happy hours are starting to catch up with me!”
Giving Back
“I didn’t really plan on it, but since here I’ve gotten involved in a lot of really great volunteer opportunities,” one woman said. “At first it was just to get out and meet people, but I’ve found the experiences so fun and fulfilling I keep taking on more!”
Her husband nodded empathetically. “She’s even gotten me involved” he smiled, good-naturedly, “I thought I would just be golfing all day, but she’s got me hanging bookshelves and fixing bunk beds.” I cocked my head curiously, wondering where that particular service was needed.
His wife explained. “There’s this wonderful woman who runs a foundation in the area– she takes in young children and single moms who have nowhere else to go. I help tutor the children and sometimes the mothers in English. It’s been really rewarding. I also help out at the local animal shelter and their spay/neuter clinics.”
“She’s trying to convince me we should foster kittens now,” the man said, rolling his eyes affectionately. “I tell her we didn’t buy a beachfront condo just to turn it over to the cats!” His wife laughs, then shrugs. “Well, we do have a guest room…”
A Digital Consultant
A man who looked to be in his early 30s stood out in the crowd of mostly retirees. “I’m from Chicago but I live in Panama City. I’m just here for the weekend.” I wondered how he ended up with this group of old-timers (myself included), but I suspected the flowing drinks and lively atmosphere had something to do with it.
He said he worked as a digital consultant, providing marketing advice and services to companies on a contractual basis. “Are your clients here or in the States?” I ask, curious to know more. “Both,” he replied, “I started in Chicago but couldn’t stand the weather. I wanted that big city experience without what it usually costs in the States. I still have my clients in Chicago, but I’m starting to build them here now.”
I nodded, impressed with his pragmatism. More millennials are moving to Panama every year, and he’s a good example of why. “What brought you to the beach this weekend?” I asked. He smiled, “There’s supposed to be good surf tomorrow.”
The Ways of the Internet
“We’re only partially retired,” another couple cuts in, “we still manage a small general contracting business in Florida. We’ve been at it long enough that we can run most of it from here.” I thought about how transformative the internet has been in allowing people to manage their lives and businesses from just about anywhere.
The Internet brought on a round of comments. “It’s much better than we expected,” a woman remarked, “We FaceTime with the grandkids and stay in touch easily. It’s not exactly like being down the road, but it’s close.”
“It’s gotten so much better in the last few years,” said an older gentleman. “Remember when it was so slow, now I don’t see any difference from what we have in the United States. Some guy on our floor rents properties he owns in Miami through the internet. He’s always looking at his phone.”
Simply Pleasant
After seven years in Panama, I continue to be impressed by the variety in lifestyles and livelihoods you find in the expat community. Whether you want to spend your time playing golf and volunteering, open a fine Italian restaurant or cozy B&B, or meet up with friends for fitness (or wine), there’s always something to do in these quirky little communities.
It’s also fun to see people take on new hobbies when they arrive. Panama has made many a bird-watcher, scuba diver, gardener, ocean swimmer– not to mention language learners! For many, it feels so good to be learning something new again.
The evening at Luna Rossa was incredibly pleasant. Everyone interacted easily and laughed hard. The food was exquisite and the wine flowed from bottles purchased at the restaurant and brought in by a guest, who enjoyed no corkage fee. “Have a great time in Chile,” I said as my eye caught the pastry case.
