Welcome to Paradise (in the Republic of Panama)

Lots for You & Me in Paradise!
I have found paradise for me and my dog Blue. Following over a year of on-line research we now live in Volcan, Chiriqui Province, Panama. Volcan is at 4,700 ft. elevation next to the dormant volcano, Volcan Baru' in far western Panama -- very near Costa Rica.

Many factors went into my choice of Panama and the Volcan area. Some things important for me to enjoy my semi-retirement (I still work at photography) were:

1. Low cost of living
2. Good medical care available
3. Good climate - warm days and cool nights all year
4. Friendly neighbors and low crime rate
5. Uncrowded; preferably a rural or semi-rural area
   
6. Good to excellent location for world-wide amateur (ham) radio operation
7. Great location for local and area photography
8. Convenient transportation and public transit (a bonus)
9. Reasonable air travel time to the United States
   
10. English spoken by almost everyone [Oh well, you can't have everything]

So after doing my research I settled on rural Panama. I visited the Volcan area 3 times and spent about 6 weeks here in the first half of 2007. Then in mid-October I packed everything from my home in Nashville, Tennessee, including my dog Blue (an Australian Cattle Dog -- Red Heeler) and moved to Volcan.

The daytime temperatures are 75-85 F. and nightimes are 55-65 F, year round. No heating or air conditioning needed - ever! Our weather is dry (Summer from mid-December to mid-April) and green (rainy) the other 8 months. During the "green" season, the usual pattern is sun in the morning, rain in the afternoon and more sun or clouds in the evening.

For retirees from the U.S. or Europe, one of the big attractions of Central America is the much lower cost of living. Even though the price of gasoline and raw land is as high as the U.S., almost everything else is much lower priced. Retirees in Panama, including expatriates who receive a Pensionado visa, receive many substantial discounts that are mandated by law.

The people of Panama are friendly and very used to North Americans, as the U.S. had a big presence here for almost 100 years. Some speak English, but we should learn Spanish if we want to understand what is going on and fit into their culture.

For more about the Volcan area, please visit my web site at: http://www.paradisepanama.net/volcan.html

During my previous visits, I spent over 40 days searching for the best residential property that I could find. I found 1 city lot and a larger rural property with views, and purchased both. Now, I have more than I need so I have 3 lots for sale

1. A 1,500 square meter (large city lot / .37 acre) lot in one of the best locations in the city of Volcan. It has:

• Paved street (very important here)
• Only 2 blocks from the main street (no traffic noise, but easy walking distance)
• Water, electricity, and phone service

2. Two 3,000 +/- square meter (.70 acre) fantastic view lots at 4,600 ft. elevation

• Only 3 kilometers from Volcan
• Road is in the process of being paved - great bonus
• Electricity and water at front of each lot
  
• Views of the mountains and vistas all the way to the Pacific
• River running behind, and far below, back of each property
  

If you are interested in these properties, please contact my Real Estate agent:
Miss Francia Pinedo, e-mail volcanrealty(at)hotmail.com or volcanrealty(at)yahoo.com, (from U.S. 011-) 507-6539-0579. Click link for more about Volcan Real Estate.

For other questions, please send e-mail (inserting symbols/punctuation as needed) to:
panama(at)jaymills(dot)org.

"Don't worry; be happy!"