Where This Chapter Began

Panama did not become our starting point by accident.

Before retirement, Janice and I made a boots-on-the-ground trip in May to explore the country for ourselves and determine whether Panama could be the place where we wanted to begin this next chapter of life.

We wanted to see beyond the brochures and vacation photos.

We wanted to experience the neighborhoods, meet people, understand the pace of life, see how everyday things worked, and get a feel for whether we could actually imagine living here—not just visiting.

That trip gave us the confidence to take the next step.

After retirement, we returned to Panama to begin establishing residency and to start building a life abroad.

This page will follow that journey as it unfolds.

As we explore Panama, I’ll share what I encounter and discover along the way—the people, the culture, the food, the neighborhoods, the history, the landscapes, the everyday routines, and the things that surprise me.

Some posts will be practical. Others will be about places we visit, people we meet, or moments that simply make me stop and pay attention.

I’m not trying to present Panama as a guidebook.

I want to document what it feels like to experience the country slowly, learn from it, and see how our understanding of it changes over time.

From Panama City to Bocas del Toro and wherever else the road takes us, this is where I’ll collect those stories.

Explore Our Panama Stories