Homesteading In Panama

YuccaFlatsRanch · #1 08/20/06, 11:22 PM

Spoke with some American friends from Panama last night and we are considering a move from Texas to Panama (yeah the place with the canal). Can live like a King on my retirement with hired live-in help and plenty of money left over. No more cooking, cleaning, and weeding the garden, or mowing the grass. Help with the animals, and grass grows so fast you get multiple cows to the acre vs acres for each cow. I really should have been a "Gentleman Farmer".

Mountaineer · #2 08/21/06, 12:29 AM

Sounds great to me, but research the heck out of it first. Lots of questions.

Randy Rooster · #3 08/21/06, 06:20 AM

Ever been there? I have in January. Hottest ---- place Ive been ever. I cant imagine anyplace being hotter. Air so thick you could just about cut it with a spoon. Good luck getting anything done out of doors, and hope you plan on some hefty a/c bills.

Helena · #4 08/21/06, 08:41 AM

While traveling home from SC on Saturday I picked up the USA today newspaper. They had a big article about American baby boomers going there to live because of the low cost of living. They said the average cost of housing was ...$200,000..I'm sure I read that right !?? I didn't think that was cheap but yet again as my married children remind me..I don't live in the real world anymore..(thank goodness)..live in maids..$250 a month. A live of a king or queen it sounds like..but I don't know..would you really want to live so far away?? I would possible go and live there for 6 months and rent before selling it all. If you have friends there I guess you can certainly find out what it is really like...Good Luck !! and let us know what you plan on doing !!

LisaInN.Idaho · #5 08/21/06, 09:49 AM

It doesn't sound much like homesteading though.

texican · #6 08/21/06, 10:06 AM

I would always worry if the locals weren't just fattening up the gringoes for a large barbecue...

some of the countries south of the border have spotty histories concerning peons peasants and gringoes or wealthy people...

good luck to you if you do end up headin' south... would be great for birdwatching...

rwinsouthla · #7 08/21/06, 11:39 AM

Had a friend that lived in Chile for about 6 years in the 80s. He said while everything was much much cheaper, he was constantly getting stolen from, the water, power, and sewer service was intermittent at best, and the hired help was not reliable. Also, he had to travel 275 miles for a "doctor".

He said it really proved that it was a third world country. I would really enjoy being more self-reliant but something about constantly being stolen from and no doctors if the SHTF doesn't appeal to me.

donsgal · #8 08/21/06, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

Spoke with some American friends from Panama last night and we are considering a move from Texas to Panama (yeah the place with the canal). Can live like a King on my retirement with hired live-in help and plenty of money left over. No more cooking, cleaning, and weeding the garden, or mowing the grass. Help with the animals, and grass grows so fast you get multiple cows to the acre vs acres for each cow. I really should have been a "Gentleman Farmer".

Any time you remove yourself from the United States, the more vulnerable you are to political situations beyond your control. Being and American (assuming that they are), in a climate where being American is *not* viewed in a very good light world-wide, would make me very nervous, all you have to do is have one militant insurgent who wants to make an "example" of the Americans, and you have a real problem on your hands.

Despite the world becoming a smaller, and ostensibly friendlier place (questionable), I wouldn't take the chance. I had a co-worker whose husband was on a mission in Guatamala and decided he wanted to DRIVE home (alone) from there with household goods. He disappeared and they never found him (nor his car, nor his household goods).

I wouldn't even consider Mexico, although I would love to live there, because of politics. Even around Ajijic which supposedly has more than 20,000 Americans in it. The risk is not worth it to me.

And yet, I have heard of lots of Americans and other Expats moving to Costa Rica for much the same reasons you describe. I guess if you are willing to take the risk it's worth it.

donsgal

braggscowboy · #9 08/21/06, 01:47 PM

Lived there a couple of years, at Fort Clayton. I did not find it to hot during winter or summer, just that it rained every day sometime during the day and not much at night. The differnce is that it rains less in the winter months. I liked the place much. It like everwhere, has it's drawbacks. I was there in 67-68 withe the 534th Military Police Co. From my I could see the
boats (big, big) boats go through the locks. I also saw Queen Mary in Balboa on her last voyage. I was a very poor group of people during that time and very cheap to live. Very rich soil. Did not see much grass except where it was mowed.

Ruby · #10 08/21/06, 01:50 PM

You might want to read this article first before making your decision. I know it's not Panama but it's too close for confort.

http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/uploa...d.php?t=157894

RACCOON · #11 08/21/06, 01:58 PM

Try the Philipines
it's alot cheaper then Panama.
English speaking,love Americans,5000 islands to chose from
And a live in maid only cost 25$ a month

dheat · #12 08/21/06, 02:54 PM

Only Philipine nationals may own property in the Philipines. So, unless you're from there or marry a Filipino/a, you're out of luck unless you're willing to rent.

Another negative, IMO, is the population density is much higher than the US: 277 vs. 31 persons/sq. km. Almost an 800% difference--that's pretty significant. Panama's population density is only slightly higher than the US at 41.

FYI

goatlady · #13 08/21/06, 05:32 PM

and there ARE cannibals in the Phillipines - my Ex is married to a Filipino lady from a wealthy family over there and she will NOT go back to live there.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #14 08/23/06, 12:33 AM

"Any time you remove yourself from the United States, the more vulnerable you are to political situations beyond your control."

-- Sort of sounds like the USA to me. The takings decision by the supreme court comes to mind.

"he was constantly getting stolen from, the water, power, and sewer service was intermittent at best, and the hired help was not reliable. Also, he had to travel 275 miles for a "doctor"

--In fact there is less crime in Panama than the US. The weather at elevations of 2500-3000 ft has a constant 70-80 degree temp year round with 50's and 60's at night. The typical day in the rainy season is clear until noon, heavy rain till early evening and then clear till next noon. Consistent rainfall is something we haven't had to deal with (dare I say enjoy) in Texas for a while. Panama is the size of South Carolina and has some of the best medical in the world. DR's are almost all US trained and the cost is less than half of here - precriptions too.

-- Panama is the only country in Central America where you can safely drink the tap water. Water costs on average $50.00 per YEAR. Electricity and Central air are abundant and average about $50.00 per month.

"would you really want to live so far away?? "

-- 2 1/2 hours flight to Miami - enough said.

"Ever been there? I have in January. Hottest ---- place Ive been ever. I cant imagine anyplace being hotter. Air so thick you could just about cut it with a spoon. Good luck getting anything done out of doors, and hope you plan on some hefty a/c bills."

--Been there about 10 times. Numerous friends there too. BTW RandyRooster, I lived for 2 years in Winston-Salem NC and in my experience you just described EVERYWHERE in NC except Asheville. In NC in the summer the only breath of fresh air to be had was to walk to it - it surely wasn't going to come to you. 95 degrees with 95% humidity and no breeze at all.

-- I research the heck out of anything I do so going to Panama won't beany different. As I said, being a gentleman farmer with plenty of help sounds better and better to me.

trixiwick · #15 08/23/06, 07:25 AM

It might be a good choice for you - but you might also want to be prepared for some hostility. Don't know much about expats in Panama, but in a lot of the rest of the world there can be resentment. I have good friends who own a ranch in Belize, and there have been a couple of incidents, including having one of the horses shot dead, to "make a statement," I guess.

You'll probably be fine, but I would go into it prepared for a little random unpleasantness and a little extra security.

And keep in mind: managing servants can be a bigger pain than just doing the work yourself!

Mountaineer · #16 08/23/06, 07:38 AM

Yeah also consider Costa Rica as I'm told it may be a good place for the same. Sounds like their governement loves foreign land ownership.
I'm planning a vacation there in a year or two.

Chuck · #17 08/23/06, 07:47 AM

I'm moving there in January, and have been there many times. I spent most of the month of March there this year.

The high mountain region of panama is as close to heaven as you will find on earth. It's perpetual springtime. Unfortunately, it's also where all the OTHER expats are moving to - so you'll have lots of american company, and the prices have risen to reflect that.

El valle is a close second, but if you want to really experience panama like a local, check out places like Chame, or if you want to be closer to the city - look at Paraiso.

Don't go to the carribean side anywhere near colon.

If you like the beach, places like Bahia Honda and Santa Catalina can be nice, though the latter has already been "discovered" and is becoming quiite a haven for americans, so that can be a good thing or a bad thing.

I plan to live there for about 6-8 months. It is definitely more value for your buck, and the people love Americans.

Panama is very stable politically, and still benefits from the US involvement of the previous 100 years.

All in all, it's a great place.

seedspreader · #18 08/23/06, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

I'm moving there in January, and have been there many times. I spent most of the month of March there this year.

The high mountain region of panama is as close to heaven as you will find on earth. It's perpetual springtime. Unfortunately, it's also where all the OTHER expats are moving to - so you'll have lots of american company, and the prices have risen to reflect that.

El valle is a close second, but if you want to really experience panama like a local, check out places like Chame, or if you want to be closer to the city - look at Paraiso.

Don't go to the carribean side anywhere near colon.

If you like the beach, places like Bahia Honda and Santa Catalina can be nice, though the latter has already been "discovered" and is becoming quiite a haven for americans, so that can be a good thing or a bad thing.

I plan to live there for about 6-8 months. It is definitely more value for your buck, and the people love Americans.

Panama is very stable politically, and still benefits from the US involvement of the previous 100 years.

All in all, it's a great place.

Do you have more about this move on your blog? Are you guys shutting down the WV farm during that time?

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #19 08/23/06, 11:00 AM

Sounds like a lovely place, I actually researched it online. It's recommended by the AARP and msn also had an article about it. Lovely place to retire, but I just spent five years in England away from family, not anxious to do that again.

HSH

seedspreader · #20 08/27/06, 12:04 PM

Bump for Chuck.