Withdrawn from 71 years old who moved to Panama says that she “lives a dream”

This also told test is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, a 71 -year -old retired hypnotherapist who moved from Arizona to Panama In 2023. The interview was published for duration and clarity.

I come from Arizona – a city called Cottonwood, near Sedona.

Before retiring, I worked as an approved hypnotherapist and I was also minister in a spiritual center that my ex and I founded. After having lived in Cottonwood for years, a number of factors made me want to leave – not only in the city, but also in the United States.

During Cavid-19, many people from California began to buy goods in Sedona and rent it in the short term, which increased the prices and brought local workers out. People who could no longer afford Sedona moved to Cottonwood, which then increased the prices there.

Affairs was not the main reason why I wanted to leave the United States. The increasingly toxic political environment also concerned me. In addition to that, my husband and I divorced after 30 years of marriage, my mother died and the dog I saved died – every three months of each other.

I just hit. I needed a new start, a feeling of adventure – something that would allow me to reinvent myself.

Although I have always been comfortable traveling, my greatest hesitation was missing my family. But after a reflection, I realized that my family is distributed in the United States, and I only see them once a year anyway.

I thought, why not do this from another country like Panama?

My research on Google led me to Panama

Panama came on my radar thanks to online search.

I was looking for the best places and the most affordable to retire on the beach. Whenever I tapped something, Panama continued to arise.

Several things have attracted me: the country’s beauty, climate and naturalness of the country. The fact that they speak Spanish was another big plus. I have training in Spanish and I wanted to suppress my linguistic skills. I make myself understood – still not there yet, but close.

Panama is not so far from the United States either – about four hours from Houston – so it’s easy to come back if necessary.

The country offers incredible financial advantages for retirees. The most important for me are the 25% discount on round-trip flights from Panama, 50% reduction in entertainment and 25% reduction in health care. It is in addition to its already incredibly low prices.

I made a screening trip to Panama in July 2023, and four months later, in November, I sold everything I had and I took the step.

I pay more for the accommodation, but it’s worth it

I live about an hour and a half in front of the city of Panama, in a small town called San Carlos. I love it here.

It is a kind of animated area known for its beaches. Many expatriates have settled there, and one of the main hubs nearby is a city called Coronado. This is where all key amenities are – larger grocery stores (not quite in large box compared to American standards, but large for here), hardware stores similar to Home Depot, doctors, dentists, hairdressing salons.

It is also a popular vacation spot for the inhabitants of Panama City. Many have here that they rent on Airbnb when they do not use them.

When I came during my trip recognized in July, I had a manager named Angela. She took me everywhere in the region to discover different districts where I could live. I wanted a condo on the beach – it was non -negotiable.

By chance, we connected with an owner of Condo, an American who retired to Panama City. She and I struck, and she proposed to hold a unit until I could move in November.

My condo is fully furnished. There is only one door, which opens on the kitchen. A balcony overlooks the ocean directly in front of it, and I also have a second balcony off the room.

When I moved for the first time, the rent was $ 900 per month, including all public services. The owner collected it at $ 1,000 last year, but it is still a good deal according to the standards of anyone. It’s a beautiful place, not a small cheap unit.

Back in Cottonwood, I lived in a studio attached to the spiritual center that my husband and I owned. I paid only $ 600 per month, which was a little cheaper. However, my place in Panama is worth more than the difference.

In addition to the views of the Pacific Ocean and all the amenities I receive by being near the city, I live in an area where many local fishermen enter. Around 8:30 am each morning, they come back from their night intake and I can buy fresh fish directly from them.

I save big on the grocery store and other expenses

Each month, I reserve money for subsistence costs such as accommodation, grocery store, my car, personal maintenance costs, entertainment and my American mobile phone plan.

I budget about $ 300 per month for the grocery store. A few months, I spent between $ 400 and $ 500, including the extras – such as food for meals, meetings, wines and holidays on the beach. Overall, it’s really affordable, especially if you shop locally. If you prefer American brands, you will pay much more.

I bought a nice little Hyundai 2012 accent for only $ 5,000. My car insurance costs just over $ 200.

I spend about $ 80 per month on fuel. Panama is a small country, and I do not drive as much as I was when I lived in Arizona. This helps reduce costs. Car repairs here is also super affordable – work costs around $ 25 at $ 35 an hour.

Health care is also affordable. When I visited Panama for the first time in July 2023, I became really sick of something that I picked up in Belize. I ended up seeing two different doctors, receiving four days of steroids and antibiotics, go to the hospital, have radiographs and laboratory work and be prescribed by several drugs.

The total cost? Less than $ 300. This kind of treatment would have been impossible for this price in the United States. This amount may have covered a single office visit there.

I live a dream in Panama

There are so many things that I like for Panama. First and foremost, the Panamanian people – they are among the warmest and nicest that you can imagine.

Make friends here has been one of the easiest parts. I joined several groups of expatriates on Facebook, including tons specifically for Panama. From there, I found more targeted groups on WhatsApp according to my interests and activities.

Of course, I had to adapt to certain things. The infrastructure, for example, took a while to get used to it. Things such as waste collection, pupil nests and general maintenance can be a bit incoherent.

People do not lock their dogs either as we do in the United States. I work with a group called Spay Panama, and we bring together as many stray dogs and cats as possible – with the permission of their families, of course. We take them to be sterilized or sterilized, then refer them to their owners.

The biggest adjustment has been to learn to live in “Mañana Time”. There is just a completely different energy here: relaxed and relaxed. I no longer like this rush and go-go state of mind.

It takes courage, but it also requires a lot of curiosity and a desire to move in a new place and to reinvent yourself. I think that the happiest expatriates are those looking for an adventure.

Although I pay more rent than for my old place in Arizona, living in Panama was really worth it.

My environment, my peace of mind and my quality of global life have all improved. Honestly, the lifestyle I have been completely out of reach for me in the United States. I feel like I live a dream – but it’s really my life.