Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Retire South of the Border-Kiplingers

I keep hearing about the benefits of retiring to Panama. Warm weather and a low cost of living lure retirees from the U.S. to central America according to Laura Cohn, Associate Editor at Kiplinger’s, the Central American country not only offers a warm but also provides a lower cost of living, generous financial incentives for retirees, and a reliable and affordable health-care system. On top of that, Panama uses the U.S. dollar, so there's no need to hassle with foreign currency.

After visiting Panama, one retiring couple decided to go make it their permanent home. In 2008, for less than $250,000, the couple purchased a three-bedroom, three-bathroom (plus maid's quarters) condo in a new, nine-story building overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A similar place close to the water in North or South Carolina would sell for well over $1 million. The couple downsized their belongings and shipped some crucial possessions -- their car, their plasma TV and their Xbox -- to temporary digs in Panama City, where they stayed for a few months while their new home was being built in Punta Barco Village, about an hour's drive from Panama City. They could have retired comfortably in the U.S, but they live three to four times better down here."

Cohn does recommend that you consider a few things for you take the leap:
  • Do a reality check 
  • Do your research 
  • Rethink your finances
  • How to protect your health
To find a local lawyer, ask other expats, or use an online resource such as www.movingtopanama.com, which provides a wealth of guidance on the logistics of relocating to the country. (Anyone over age 18 who meets the financial requirements can apply for the pensionado program.) For retirees with a sense of adventure and a taste for the good life -- even if they lack a bank account to match -- a change in latitude might be the perfect plan. "All you have to do is think outside the box and beyond your own borders," says Peddicord. "You'll discover opportunities for a completely new and improved life available for a bargain price." To read the entire article with detailed recommendations go HERE.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

A response to a socialist, liberal comment

Boy toy, if you do not believe in the Bill of Rights or the US Constitution, you do not deserve to live in this wonderful country. Try reading the constitution instead of bashing it. I guess you follow the sheeple with " No, I have not read the bill" because the current administration told me not to so I could disavow all knowledge. Luckily Fuhrer Obama and Reich Marshall Pelosi have not quenched all who believe in following the US Constitution, as our founding fathers wrote it. UH OH....Here come the men in black suits....