DAILY POSTCARD | THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026 |
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Dear International Living reader, In Panama's Chiriquí Highlands, a tipsy reveller takes a midnight stroll through the little hamlet of Volcán. The dinner party has run late… fueled by lively conversation and even better wine. Under the starry sky, she picks her way through leaves and twigs toward her rental cottage, free of fear. Because in small-town Panama, she feels safe and grounded. | Join us for our only Panama event this year… from a front row seat in your own home. With Fast Track Panama ON DEMAND, you can be "in the room" for all of the insider tips and strategies our experts will share at this year's life event. Get all the details here. |
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A Walk Alone at Midnight (Don't Try This at Home) |
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| At the foot of a volcano, in the pitch-black night, I crunch down a wooded lane strewn with twigs and leaves. A little sloshed, I'll admit, I've just left a dinner party where I met a lovely mix of expats and locals.
We had talked late into the night… some lapsing into a mix of English, French, and Spanish… the lively conversation never faltering. The small wood cabin was warm, the coffee table cluttered with bottles of wine, and we lingered till the last drop. |
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Outside, under the starriest of starry skies, we said our goodbyes—chatting and lingering just a bit more, then finally parting ways.
So now it's late and dark. I'm stumbling down the lane to my ramshackle rental cottage… and I'm smiling.
I'm not squinting at shadows, searching for trouble. (There could be a jaguar, it's true. But they don't go around targeting the tipsy.) So I take deep breaths of cool mountain air and enjoy my little slice of midnight.
This is small-town Panama—the hamlet of Volcán, in the abundant Chiriquí Highlands. But this feeling of safety and contentment is with me nearly everywhere I go… |
Life in a Peaceful, Prosperous Country Whether you're in the cosmopolitan capital—a vibrant city that truly scintillates—or out in the boonies, Panama offers a compelling combo of upscale amenities and Latin American joie de vivre.
This little squiggle between the seas has a great canal (you know the one), but no army. Public spending focuses more on things like infrastructure and environment. It's impossibly green—a leader in rainforest and marine protection as well as a carbon-negative country. (Of which there are only three worldwide.) And when it comes to overall value, it is unparalleled.
Imagine buying an ocean-view apartment in a resort-like building… in a desirable beach community… for $155,000. (I no longer have to imagine… in 2022, I went ahead and did it.)
Yet here I enjoy the things I love most about the US and Europe. Great internet and cell service. Excellent roads and modern medicine. And perhaps best of all, markets filled with a wide and ever-changing variety of wine, spirits, and good things to eat from all over the world.
In fact, Panama is so international, it's a little shocking at first. But that only makes it more comfortable for the transplants who've moved here from France, Greece, India, Japan, Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, the US, and… well, you get the picture.
Whatever you look like, it hardly seems to matter… here you can simply melt in.
And when you do, you discover the joys of Panamanian life. There's chaos… and somehow, tremendous peace. Parties and festivals are colorful, boisterous events. Salsa, merengue, típico, rock, and reggae blare from speakers as multiple generations laugh, dance, and shout to be heard. (If you want to live where age truly is just a number, look to Latin America.)
But when the party's over and the workweek begins, people maintain a certain equilibrium. They're good at prioritizing the things that matter. A common phrase is cero estrés—and it can mean anything from "don't sweat the small stuff" to "you're going to be OK." Conversations around the watercooler may touch on world events or politics, but they quickly turn to family and friends.
Overworked and Underpaid
When I decided to move here, I was overworked, underpaid, and burned out. I'd had enough.
I wanted to live well—in a comfortable home of my own, with access to good doctors and maybe just a few little luxuries. I wanted to have the money and freedom to get out there and explore everything my city had to offer. (I was based out of Miami, but I had so little time off, I barely scratched the surface.)
I'd been to 25 countries and it was to prosperous little Panama my thoughts kept returning.
Simply put, no other country offers this much. Warm weather outside the hurricane belt. Safety and political stability. Welcoming locals and well-established expat communities. And a strong economy that's proven resilient time and time again… after a mass exodus, then a global financial crisis, then a pandemic.
Whenever the world starts to feel… tempestuous… I think back to the set of circumstances that brought me here, and I raise my glass, and I bless them. Without those struggles, I wouldn't be where I am today. Feeling safe, warm, and grateful to be sheltered from the storm. |
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| Editor's Note: Panama is the ranked #2 in our Global Retirement Index for 2026. And it's not hard to understand why. That's why next week, in Panama City, we're gathering our experts from all over Panama. And we'd love YOU to be part of the experience with Fast Track Panama ON DEMAND. Stream the event directly to your home so you can watch in comfort and convenience—you'll also get the full recordings so you can refer to them whenever you need. If you have plans the weekend of the event, no problem! You can log on any time and review or re-watch any presentation. Sign up for Fast Track Panama ON DEMAND here. |
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Panama has it all: stunning beaches… lush green mountains… a perfect year-round climate… first-rate healthcare… incredible value for money (a couple can live well on $2,600 a month—including rent!)… Join us via streaming video for our 2026 Fast Track Panama Conference to see what this perfect paradise offers you. It's the next best thing to being there in person...and far more affordable. |
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