Relocating to Boquete

[Mario M Mendoza]

I was hoping there is an expatriate group or folks who can answer some basic questions such as cost of living (utilities, food cost, et) on a fixed income, banking and what is the easiest way to access money in US bank accounts to Panama banks. Costs also for car, house, or rental insurance. We are trying to make a budget to see how much we will need a month if we buy a house or rent one. We should close on our house in So Cal next month and we are getting nervous about such a big move.
I'd appreciate any help or suggestions where to find basics questions about life in Boquete or an email address if someone would be willing to correspond with us for such questions.
Thanks

[Margo Malcheski]

Mario-have you visited this area????? hubby and I are visiting here now.....a big change....not a move I would make without first visitng.....
sorry that I cannot help you ...

[patricia kraemer]

Hi
I add a nice article talking about costs of living in Panama-hope can be usefull.
I will be happy to give you my email for further questions.

[e-mail]

My husband and I have residency in Fort Laudardale and now i am living in the mountain area, he is a yacht captain and is working now.

article...

http://realestatepanamagreen.blogspot.com/2009/05/panama-is-still-c...

[Mario M Mendoza]

Thank you very much. l will read it. We are hoping to be there by August but since I'll be retired we will be on a fixed income (military pension). I will email you too with some other questions. It is nice of you to offer.
Thanks again.
Mario

[Greg & Rose]

Hi Mario;
My wife and I have a place in Boquete. We are living in So. Cal. with one foot (actually just a few toes) in Boquete. My wife is an RN and FNP also, so we have that in common. Anyway, we bought back in '05 and can give you our CA / Boquete transition perspective if you would like. Email: [e-mail] if you like. Best of luck with the move and retirement.
Greg

[Mario M Mendoza]

Oh PERFECT...I'll email you asap.
Thanks so much.

[patricia kraemer]

Hi Mario
let me know if you received my email
thanks

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

Hey Mario, we will be making our move the 19th of this month. Have our pack-out all sceduled, and our plane tickets bought. The biggest hurdle you will have is applying for your pensionado visa, or which ever one you select. Getting all that done takes about a year. We applied for ours last July, and its still in the works. But, that won't stop you from moving down. Get a good attorney in Panama, and we reccomend a Ms. Mata-Kelly in Panama city who does a lot of that work, but like some of the other comments you have received, we reccomend you come for a visit for a couple of weeks, and get a feel for the area. I see by your last name that you won't have a problem with the language, and the laid back life style is the greatest.
My wife and I are also retired military, and love the Spanish culture. We lived in Spain for a number of years, so we look forward to living like we did then.
I will keep you posted on how well our move is going and help you avoid some of the pit falls.
Don Kirby and Shellie Leon, USN, Ret.

[Mario M Mendoza]

Hi Don and Shellie,
Thanks for the reply. How nice to know there are other military retirees. By the way did you see my discussion question about Tricare? We called and Tricare said they pay in Panama and after you turn 65 and have to apply for medicare which they don't take, Tricare still kicks in. If so that is great for retired military.
I actually did spend some time in Boquete in Mar/Apr and am sure that is where we want to spend the rest of our life. I too was stationed in Spain (Torrejon) from 82-85. Loved it there too.
We have all the stuff for pensionado and will take it when we go in July to buy a house. The attorney in Boquete we have contacted said you can ship your household stuff and not have to pay duty as long as the attorney provides a letter indicating your pensionado is in process.
Our house sold in 2 days and if all continues to go well we'll be down to buy in July and return in August to close. We still aren't sure if we'll send a container with all our stuff or just a lift van crate with personal stuff and buy furnishings there. Where are you going to live? Did you send a container or crate? I would like to know how that goes too. I met another retiree who bought in Los Molinas and will come next spring.
I hope you keep in touch to let me know how it goes.

[J. Don Kirby and Shellie Leon]

HeyMario, thanks for getting back to us. We have read that the tricare is kinda Iffy right now in David, but is still accepted in Panama City at some medical facilities.
We plan to live in the Boquete/Potrorillos area, but we will rent for awhile to get a feel for the area. We will be shipping a 20 foot container with our tools, and a minimum amount of furniture, and we will purchase some nice hand crafted furniture as time goes on. The shipping from here in Florida is going OK, or at least it seems to be, and if the container shows up when its suppose to and my packers show up, we'll be on the plane the 20th. You can e-mail me direct at [e-mail], and we can discuss some items one on one.
Don and Shellie