Of all the countries I have lived in Panama seems to be the most accepting of alternative lifestyles, even with its strong Catholic background. My brother-in-law is gay and he has never complained about being harassed. Panamanian families are very accepting of their children's decisions. I love this country and the tolerance I see here.

Of all the countries I have lived in Panama seems to be the most accepting of alternative lifestyles, even with its strong Catholic background. My brother-in-law is gay and he has never complained about being harassed. Panamanian families are very accepting of their children's decisions. I love this country and the tolerance I see here.

Of course, the best place in the world to retire to for YOU is different from where it is for ME. If that were not so, you'd be sitting in my living room right now with a cup of tea reading a book after a pleasant walk in our little village of Cerro Punta!

 

I've lived in three countries - the United States, France, and Panama - and visited many more. Any citizen of, say, the United States or Canada knows there is an astonishing variety of locations in the one...

Of course, the best place in the world to retire to for YOU is different from where it is for ME. If that were not so, you'd be sitting in my living room right now with a cup of tea reading a book after a pleasant walk in our little village of Cerro Punta!

 

I've lived in three countries - the United States, France, and Panama - and visited many more. Any citizen of, say, the United States or Canada knows there is an astonishing variety of locations in the one country, and to say "Canada is a great country to retire to" begs the question of where in that country. The same is true of any country in the world, even one as relatively small as Panama, which is about the same in size as South Carolina.

Still, I found governmental bureaucracy in France, that is to say, the Eurozone, not well disposed toward helping foreigners retire happily. The paperwork was forbidding, and the officials unhelpful, sometimes incorrect, and often rather rude.  I speak French fluently, and shudder to think of how they might treat foreigners who are unable to talk in French. Where I lived in southern France was beautiful, and the neighbors delightful, but France, as a government, seemed uninterested in encouraging me to stay.

 

Panama, on the other hand, is well-disposed toward a comfortable retirement. It is a dollar-based economy, which is especially handy for U.S. citizens. A permanent retirement visa is not hard to acquire, but it's not necessary for U.S. citizens; just every six months stamp out at a border and turn around and get stamped back in again, and you're good for another six months. The pace of life (except for the cities) is much more relaxed. The food is delicious and fresh. Restaurants abound. Here in the Tierras Altas of the Chiriqui province, the landscapes are stunning, and, if you're a hiker or even just a leisure-walker, you will find yourself in paradise. Even after living here for two and a half years I still often exclaim aloud in wonder and delight as I walk around the village and the surrounding countryside. The Panamanian people are universally friendly and pleasant. Crime and pollution (except in the cities) are nearly nonexistent. Medical services are, in my view, of better quality than in the States, and at a far lower cost. The cost of living is far lower, with the exception of imported items. And, as a professional writer, I must add that I find this land to be incredibly inspiring; if you pursue some artistic means of expression, I daresay you will have the same experience.
 

What your neighbors would be like in Ambergris Caye depends on what neighborhood you move into. If you go down south, you might not have neighbors at all. If you go up north and you have a condo then you are going to have other people that purchased condos living around you. If you decide to live in a house in town then you will be around the locals, so it depends on where you purchase your property. I cannot just tell you who you are going to be...

What your neighbors would be like in Ambergris Caye depends on what neighborhood you move into. If you go down south, you might not have neighbors at all. If you go up north and you have a condo then you are going to have other people that purchased condos living around you. If you decide to live in a house in town then you will be around the locals, so it depends on where you purchase your property. I cannot just tell you who you are going to be next to because that depends on where you choose to live and the areas and the people who live there in Ambergris Caye can be very different.  

 

You could choose to live out by yourself in the south where there is almost nobody there or you can live amongst other expats in a condo if you want to live north of town (San Pedro). If you want to live in the town itself, you could live amongst the native Belizeans.  

 

If you decide to live out in the south by yourself there is going to be another house next door but I wouldn’t know who would live there. It has to do with where in the south you purchase your house and then you will find out who the people are who live in your neighborhood. I just cannot tell you who you are going to get as a neighbor but I can tell you who lives in each neighborhood.  

 

You might want something a little bit fancier or you might want something on the ocean front or you may want something farther down where almost no one is building yet. So, on the caye it is really your decision who your neighbors will be. I think that when you come and purchase something, of course, you should see the property. Then you do your little research as to who lives around there. If you are not comfortable, then again it is your decision as to where you will live, and you can choose from many other places and still be on Ambergris Caye. 

 

(Pictured: people in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.)

There are some absolutely beautiful islands in the Algarve near the border of Spain. To go there, you have to take a 40-minute boat ride.  There are about six islands there. Only one of those six is deserted. 
 
Up the coast towards the north, there is another island that is inhabited called Berlengas. It is a small island off the coast of Peniche. They have little summer cottages there, a lighthouse, a couple of restaurants, and a ferry that takes people over.
 
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There are some absolutely beautiful islands in the Algarve near the border of Spain. To go there, you have to take a 40-minute boat ride.  There are about six islands there. Only one of those six is deserted. 
 
Up the coast towards the north, there is another island that is inhabited called Berlengas. It is a small island off the coast of Peniche. They have little summer cottages there, a lighthouse, a couple of restaurants, and a ferry that takes people over.
 
Because we are so surrounded by sea, on the far coast of Lisbon, we have a river, the Tagus, which separates Lisbon from the south. It is a large river that starts in Spain, crosses Portugal, and finishes in the mouth of Lisbon, at the Atlantic Ocean. So to go to the other side, you have to take bridges. There are three to four bridges. All of the land south of Lisbon, after these bridges, have a vast area of land very sandy, which are called the peninsulas. This is a natural reserve for dolphins. When you are on a boat or a ferry in these areas, you will see a lot of dolphins. Here, you will find an area called Tróia, which is a peninsula. Some of these areas become islands when it is high tide, which only happens at certain times of the year. It is a beautiful area of Portugal because this is where the river meets the sea. This is also a paradise for birdwatchers. They are now developing this area for tourism. A complex of condominiums were just built around this area with villas and timeshares. It is a vast area.
 
There is another development down in the Algarve, which is also in the peninsulas. This whole area is very stunning. It has lots of wildlife and they are very well preserved.  

 

(Tróia Peninsula, Portugal, pictured.)