David Found a New Adventure in Panama When He Turned 70
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
- David realized that he would not be able to afford to stay in California so he started looking for a new adventure. He researched affordable places all over the world. Panama kept popping up as the best place to retire. So, he came to Boquete for the International Jazz and Blues Festival with plans to stay four months while he explored with his life would be like in Panama. Within a few days, he realized he had found his new home. David moved from California to Panama in 2012 shortly after turning 70.
David has been able to substantially reduce his cost of living so he can live comfortably on just his Social Security. He's living well on less than $1700 a month Social Security. He rents a furnished two-bedroom house with all utilities included for $550 a month. It's in a small gated community with 4 other houses.
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What a lovely gentleman
David, one of the best interviews I have seen on Panama and one from a real person, not somebody with tons of money to move to Panama like 90% of the interviews. I live very close to the area you lived in in N. CA and I to love it here as well. I have been looking at Panama for a while, I am retired and 70 and have wondered (till your interview) if it was feasible to move to Panama at my age. I have no health issues but you answered many of my questions about healthcare at and after 70. The biggest question I have about moving to Panama is the humidity and rain. As you know in this part of California we only get rain in the winter and during the summer it is hot and dry with very low humidity. I'm not sure about living in 70%+ humidity and a 6 month rainy season. I have been to Panama City, can't wait till we are past this virus and I can visit other parts of Panama.
Check out the Boquete weather and climate - including data going back to 2007 - at my friend Lloyd Cripe's www.boqueteweather.com website with real-time data from his personal weather station which is located about a mile above me in Palmira Arriba. There are wetter and drier microclimates here, as mentioned in many of Jackie's Panama Relocation Tours videos. My current location, the Alto Dorado neighborhood in Alto Boquete just south of Boquete, had about 160" of rain this past year, and mold and mildew can be a problem.
But now we are in the middle of the dry and windy season until about April and everything has dried out. Every day is from a low of about 65°F at night to the high 70's max during the day. Even though we are still in the norther hemisphere, the locals call this their "summer". Panama is in a tropical rainforest ecosystem, and yes, you have to deal with mold and mildew. However, I have learned that white vinegar is better than bleach for killing and controlling mold and mildew, and have those problems under control with just a bit of effort.
I've watched so many PRT videos over the past several months but somehow this one has evaded me until now. So very inspiring and encouraging, David - thank you! I'm signed up for Jackie's tour next February and plan on staying a few weeks longer in Boquete to get a better feel for the area. This year, I'll start selling my years of gathered 'stuff' so that I'll be ready to put the house up for sale in '23 and hopefully be living there with my little dog soon after. As an artist (painter)I can hardly wait to get out and see the beautiful landscape views there. From what I see, I don't think I will ever run out of beautiful subjects to paint for the rest of my years. On another note - despite years of thinking I was taking good care of my health, I had a major heart attack last year (at 64) that included a triple bypass. Biggest surprise of my life. I now closely monitor my health through the VA (thank goodness for the VA) and by this summer I should only have to manage my health with diet, exercise, and baby aspirin. I plan on visiting a cardiologist down there every 3-4 months or so just to stay on top of things. Every day I am so very thankful to be alive, and I want to spend the rest of however many years I have left in a lovely Spring-like place like Boquete, instead of the dismal cold and all else here in suburban Detroit.
Great video David. Sounds like you are living the life you want to live.
David's story is so relatable. I too spent most of my life in northern California and loved it when I could afford to live there. I also currently work in the IT field. I don't plan to retire for another 5 years so I'm in investigation mode. David touched on some really important points about monthly rent comparisons, medical costs and internet access. Thank you for sharing.
Yep. Enough is enough man.
Spent most of my life in California and a bit in the PNW. The cost has jumped 30% since covid alone. But more importantly the grind for young people means there isn't the connection and time that Latin America values. And being old still holds a modicum of respect...
ahhhh! Every time I watch a Panama Relocation Tours video, I just want to UP AND RETIRE to PANAMA...at 56yrs old!!!! Wonderful video David!! Thanks PRTours!!. Great information, very detailed. Encouraged hearing that David moved when he was 70 yrs old!!!
Lol -- I, too, am 56 and am starting to do the expat homework. I love my work, but really want to just stop and retire. So many hobbies, so little time ... life is getting shorter each year!
Watched your story to the end. Thank you for sharing. Wishing you health and happiness.
Thankyou, David!!!!!I have a lady friend here who is 94 and is from Panama!!!!!Elsa was so happy to watch your video!!!!!It made her so homesick.She says to say thankyou so much for this!!!!!❤️
Glad you enjoyed it
how wonderfully informative. EXCELLENT video, a joy to listen to David. Thanks to all who made the video possible to enjoy!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love these longer, more thorough videos! So relatable and entertaining at the same time. Just a joy to watch.
This is my third favorite interview from Jackie's tour. David is unique and very honest.
Thank you, David! I can really relate to your background and experiences as I am also a retired technical person from Northern California. Listening to your thoughts has been helpful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
What an informative, eclectic and comprehensive review. Very impressive. You encourage me to look further in to Panama. Thank you and stay so positive.
This video felt so honest! Thank you David (and Jackie).
David is such a nice guy!
A great interview awesome sounds very honest nice guy! Thank you, Jackie!!
Mr. David!!😊Enjoy your time in Panamá. God bless your. And keep having fun. Panamenian people are very nice and peaceful😊😘🌹
The indiginous ran the police out of their station in nearby Volcan. Boquete banks were boarded up for several days for the same reason. From time to time they block the panamerican highway in protest. Having said that I count the Ngäbe as some of my closest friends!
@@jaimecosta4512 I believe there may be more to this story. I believe there was an electric company trying to evict them from their native ancestral lands in order to flood it to put in an hydro-electric plant. If this were to happen to you you'd likely want to protest as well. I don;t know what ever came of that dispute, but since I haven't heard of further protests maybe they ended up settling it in some way or another.
That said types of disputes are rare, and, as you'll notice, Panama still has all of its original Native American nations within it, some even with autonomous territories an semi-autonomous territories. Panama has a much better track record than other places which resulted in genocidical extermination, mass killings and stuff such as the trail of tears, or, even more recently, the massive standoffs such as in the Dakotas, Ruby Ridge, and in Standing Rock with the Dakota Access Pipeline wherein a militarized law enforcement came to a bloody standoff with the water protectors and and people were blinded by having been shot in the eyes or arms blown off by flash-bang grenades or had their legs and/or arms severely bitten by attack dogs, simply for standing their ground on treaty lands because they feared massive oil leaks from the pipelines. And guess what, the pipelines did end up bursting and polluting much of the the land and luckily the native peoples have enjoyed a recent victory in a court order ordering the pipes be shut down until a thorough independent environmental assessment is completed. But, so much for American exceptionalism. You are in one of the safest places around the world. Not to worry.
@@fanfare100 Different tribe, different province (Bocas del Toro).
@@NadaYoTengo It would help then to get some equitable context regarding the situation.
Health/Healthcare Update:
Someone sent a message to Jackie about my nerve degeneration issues, and I want to let everyone know that I had a neurological workup three months ago at Hospital Chiriqui, a nice big modern hospital 25 miles down the mountain in the city of David, our provincial capital, and the second largest city in Panama. The neurologist said there is no evidence of a stroke, and I think the lopsided sag in the video might be due to my jowls sagging (LOL) more on one side due to my head tilting a bit to the left - the same side of my tingling arm. (I just looked in the mirror, and the sag moves to either side when I tilt my head - but still not bad for a 78 y/o!) There has been no noticeable additional degeneration since my neurology workup. Among the many jobs I had during the multiple "careers" of my working years was three different jobs working as medical research technician. I don't hesitate to seek out good medical care when I need it.
The neurology appointment, including a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test followed by a consultation with the neurologist, cost $250. That was followed by a CAT scan of my head - which only cost $328. So it came to less than $600 for the initial evaluation. (I hate to think what the out-of-pocket cost would have been in California.)
I will have MRI's of my neck and lower back soon (after the coronavirus restrictions ease up a bit ) to look for nerve impingement in those areas due to age-related osteoarthritis and spinal disc mass loss. That will cost me another $600 - $1,000 out-of-pocket. I have no medical insurance here because international medical insurance becomes very expensive after age 70. However, I am in a private "co-op" program with other benefits, including doctor visit discounts. And as a permanent resident with a pensionado visa, I get a "senior" discount on all drugs and many other things.
The medical system here is very good, but unlike some other Latin American countries, expats cannot buy into the government-run basic healthcare system (Seguro Social) that costs $80/month. However, a friend with serious pre-existing medical issues has a younger Panamanian girlfriend/partner who is still in the workforce, and because of her, he was able to get into the system.
Thanks for the update David. Looks very promising and it's awesome to hear someone like you with a strong background as a medic to give high praise to the Panamanian Heathcare System.
So far, everything you've said equate to having medical expenses lower than with an HMO in the USA, with the exception that you have absolutely no insurance and have had quality state-of-the-art procedures performed on you whilst in Panama. That is very impressive! I wish you all the very best in your awesome adventure.
I hope you are still doing well. Your video interview was very good, very informative. Being a Canadian, resident of Ontario healthcare in other countries stokes fear in me. Not that I consider others healthcare any worse, there is an occasional questionable action witnessed here as well as any other place but it’s mostly the cost. My wife and I have both experienced what it’s like to need medical care in the states and it was an awakening. I myself am under the care of 2 different ophthalmologists , one for glaucoma and the other is a retina specialist who gives me injections for macular degeneration. Btw, not everything health need in Canada is what some consider “free” there are things we do have to pay out of pocket for.
So my desire to relocate is eating at me but health is a major consideration. Cheers!🍻🇨🇦🥂🇺🇸👍
Thanks, David! The discussion about internet access I found particularly helpful.
Thank You David for your honest comments about living in Panama !
Thanks for watching the video! Glad you enjoyed it.
What a nice video, so refreshing. Thanks for your honesty. I want to go back to Panamá.
the longer videos are better!!! Thanks!!
Yes Jackie of Panama relocationtours is great, loved her tour!
I thoroughly enjoyed this video on this American that moved to Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama. My wife is from there and we plan to move there at my mother in law’s coffee farm in the near future.
Thanks for watching. I am glad you enjoyed the video
Informative. I worked in IT for many years for the US Fed Govt and was Novell Certified (up to Intranetware 4.11), then came IP. I look forward to relocating to Panama. Hopefully, the Coronavirus will allow it. I know how beautiful it is as I was stationed there for three years when I was in the Air Force 1984-1987 and fell in love with it. Thank for for sharing.
Muad' Dib from Frank Herbert's book "Dune"? I read it twice - all night and straight through both times. I have a degree from Berkeley in Conservation/Ecology. Favorite quote: “Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic.”
David van Harn :)
@@xulonn Yes, from Frank Herberts "Dune." There is an interesting story about why I chose the name for this YT channel. I read Dune several times long ago. I was really into the works of CS Lewis and Ben Bova back in the day, too. Yes, that is a great quote from the book. "The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience." - Frank Herbert ... I hope to make Panama a reality to experience ... again. Thanks, David !
Thanks David for sharing your experience with us. You're are a very relax person. Keep it up.
thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the video
I believe everything you said!! Thanks. Can't wait to come. Do you have a reputable landlord list?
David’s discussion is excellent ! I have been watching You Tube videos on Panama and Boquete over the last 3 years but I could relate to him for some reason ! See you soon ! For my first boots on the ground in Panama.
Thomas, enjoy your visit to Panama!
@@PanamaRelocationTours Hi David, I also sent you a friend request on face book. I don’t know if you ever go there? I would like to meet up with you when I get to Boquett, if you would? We have some things on common I believe which would help me get a feel for the area. For one is our income, where you are living, rent you are paying, the way you look at the surrounding community, and probably a few other things. I plan on coming in April or May and spending a week in Boquete and spending that time as if I was living there walking the streets and neighborhoods. I am also going to do the same in Volcan. All while staying at multiple AirBnB’s. I am expecting to retire to one or the other towns in late August or Early September. I plan on living in both towns for 6 months unless I really find the perfect house to rent in what I consider at the time the perfect town and community. If I still have questions before renting something I will more than likely take one of Jackie’s private tours of each town. I am sure if I can’t find what I am looking for her private tours will get me there. I don’t know if I mentioned it earlier but I have been researching the area once I decided it was right for me for three years. Been on Expat Forums watching and listening to Jackie. I just found your video the other day and what you said clicked to me that’s why I would like to meet you? Thanks Again, Tom
So David moves to the outskirts of ... David. David, meet David, David, meet David. Boquete to be precise. Welcome to Panama David. So glad you love it here.
fanfare100: Are you a Panamaian or did you relocare there. I am in the Caribbean and have been seriously looking at Panama for the past week.
Thank you sir. You have a wonderful life!
Thanks, you too!
My best friend here in Boquete is a very talented Peruvian expat artist who has a wonderful wife and two young daughters ages 3 and 7. Look up Richar Huisa via Google to see his work. (Make sure you search for "Richar" and exclude "Richard") Mentoring him in learning new tools and methods and adopting him and his family as my "chosen family" here has really enhanced my life here. I don't have children or grandchildren, and this more than makes up for it. ¡La vid es buena! (Life is good!)
Thoroughly enjoyed this video.
Informative /educational n helpful so yes much appreciated and thank you .bobby from NYC
Very, very helpful
Thank you so much for sharing your life David. I too, am feeling that same. I am considering the relocation tour in December (as it's drier?)
@@joanhebert5420 December is drier
Good information. Very interesting.
Have my tour reserved for January. Very excited and looking forward to it!
Hank Stalica hoping we can all travel by then, good luck!
What a wonderful story. Northern Cal girl here, beautiful place but you have to have lots of dough
David lives on less than $1400 a month.
Thanks David , for the info !
Thanks for watching
Jazz!!!!!❤❤❤❤
How do I join Jackie's tour? Did you get Panamanian registration for your car?
Yes, David's car is registered in Panama. If you bring a car in from a different country, you are required to re=register it in Panama within 30 days. See details about Jackie's tours at panamarelocationtours.com/tours
David, do yourself a favor and speak to someone at your nearest American Legion or VFW post about VA disabilities. If there are any issues that are in your Naval medical records that have a nexus to problems you are having now, you can bump that Social Security up quite a bit with tax-free disability compensation from the VA. Ringing in both ears? Tinnitus - $111 a month for the rest of your life. Many illnesses can be attributed to service in Viet Nam (or blue water service).
Thanks Ray. We have a great veterans advocate and assistance office here in Chiriqui Province. I never set foot on a ship, and spent most of my nearly five Navy years (4 years, 8 months) stationed at Oakland Naval Hospital. No benefits for me - but my SS pension is excellent and I can easily live here on that income.
Thanks for sharing your story, I live in Northern California and like you did I am considering a move to Panama. I have a quick question; you mentioned your SSC income is $1,700.00 per month; is that before or after taxes?
$1700 is what he has to live on in Panama.
Only one life, David 10-4. Supportive
Hi from Santa Rosa!
Hi Kathy. I do miss Western Sonoma County - frequent Sunday breakfasts at the Willow Wood Restaurant in Graton of Howard Station in Occidental, followed by a drive through the back roads near the coast. But Boquete is my home now, and there are many enjoyable back roads here and great little restaurants here as well.
@@xulonn Enjoy! It seems lovely.
Wish i could live there..i am 62..
If I could find a place like yours I could retire there I get fourteen per month
You can retire in Panama with $1,000! So, you'll be perfectly fine. With anticipation, I will already say: Welcome to Panama! :D Don't fritter away your healthy years trying to get a bigger retirement when you can already do well with less by moving to Panama.
I used to live in Santa Rosa and I'm thinking I would like to move to Panama and retire and live off my SS.
come check out Panama before you make the move!
Do you have good Amazon delivery service? I couldn't live where streaming is a problem. Is dental service good and affordable? Thank you.
yes and yes
@@PanamaRelocationTours Thank you for your prompt reply! You truly are an asset in this relocation maze.
I order from Amazon about once per month. I have light weight/small items forwarded from Miami to Boquete for $4/pound - and now they have eliminated the surcharge for bulky/large items. It takes 4-7 days from Miami to Boquete.
The rare heavy items - like my recent purchase of a special audiophile electronics components from the U.K., which were shipped free by the manufacturer to Miami, can be forwarded for $2.5/pound to the Regional capital of David 25 miles down the mountain. Rather than drive down to David to pick them up, it cost $10 for the final leg to have the packages delivered right to my door in Alto Boquete.
I wondered that too, Amazon deliver is a essential service these days, especially with COVID. I didn't think they delivered there, thought you had to have stuff delivered to a service in Miami and forwarded. So that is not the case, you can get it delivered directly to you in Panama? Oh didn't read the other posts so one still has to use a forwarder.
@@itsantiagois here are details about getting amazon packages in Panama panamarelocationtours.com/getting-mail-in-panama
Yep
America use to be like this!!
Actually, I find the general attitude here in Boquete to be very friendly and neighborly like it was in small-town America (east side of Goshen, Indiana) when I was a kid in the 1940's. Strangers greet each other on the street, and if you have a problem, people offer to help.
That's awsome!!
I make $1300+ a month on SS, can I make it on that amount.
Yes, you can live on $1300 a month in some places in Panama but not all places in Panama.
❤🇵🇦🌎
Where in Panama do u live??
" So, he came to Boquete"
David, did you get your knee's replaced before you moved to Panama??
Yes - both were done in the year before I moved to Boquete at a small communital hospital in Sonoma County, California.