When looking for a new home abroad there are a

When looking for a new home abroad there are a few things to consider but the two most important are safety and the medical system.  Panama boasts a very strong North American standard medical system that is affordable and reliable.  As a Canadian we are not used to paying out of pocket but when my physical is $30 and my yearly mammogram is $70 we opted for only emergency medical insurance.  We have lived in Panama for almost 5 years and our concern for our safety is less than it was in North America.  We feel safe and of course take the normal steps of locking our doors and checking out car doors before going into the store.