December, 2025

I Get It, Not Everybody Can Do This

There are reasons why I won’t turn my YouTube channel into a travel or move abroad channel. For starters, there are enough of them. Especially with regards to Panama. And I have no desire to sample every tourist trap in the country, trying to get the perfect camera shot to show everyone how beautiful and exotic Panama is. It’d be exhausting—especially at my age—and I didn’t come here to work. Besides, while there is a plethora of pretty parts of this country, there are some parts that are not so boast worthy—you won’t see anyone posing for photo shoots in places like Calidonia or Santa Ana.

But as Panama has been among the top five places for retirees for at least the last ten years, as a retiree, I feel it is my duty to inform those who are considering a move abroad, at our ages, of the unanticipated emotions, fees, opposition, and perhaps, the overall what the hell was I thinking vibes.

Certainly, all of this will apply no matter what country you choose. I wouldn’t recommend moving abroad as a retiree for anyone who 1) has never traveled outside of their country of origin; 2) have no computer skills; or who 3) lack patience, or may be easily agitated. Definitely, don’t go for the pretty beaches because depending on your mobility and willingness to take public forms of transportation with the locals, you won’t likely get to the prettiest beaches more than once or twice a year.

Traveling to other countries for long periods of time is not for the faint of heart. No matter what your views are about your home country, as a mature person, it may be all you know. That means no matter how much the quality of your life might improve by moving to a place with warm weather, a lower cost of living, and fruits and vegetables not laced with pesticides; buying eggs that haven’t been refrigerated would freak some of the old timers I know completely out. And learning that there are areas where not everyone has hot running water would count out at least half the people in my contact list.

Computer skills are essential. The fact that nobody actually goes to the airport to purchase airline tickets anymore is the least of things that you’ll do online. And you will travel back and forth while preparing documents, applying for visas, and scouting areas to live. There are also the numerous documents that you will scan, upload, download, and forward to attorneys. There are documents to be certified, apostilled, and FedEx’d. And all of these things cost money.

And exercising patience while maintaining your own sense of urgency, particularly if you are eyeing countries in the Caribbean or Latin America. Trust me, no one cares if you are in a hurry. People take their time. Not out of any disdain for you as an American, but other places have their own rhythm, their own groove. And you are not about to disturb it. So that may mean waiting a little longer in the line at the bank or for groceries, or having your order taken in a restaurant.

Now, I want to talk about naysayers. Over the years, I have always felt underestimated, and part of that is because I have always endeavored to try things that many of my counterparts wouldn’t have dare to do. That coupled with the idea that as we age people have a tendency to treat old folks—like they stupid. We’re not all senile. We’ve navigated a lifetime of experiences and we’re not too old to learn new things. But if you aren’t able to stand up to those who think they know, better than you, what’s best for you, you might not want to stray too far from home.

Even as I bask in the glow of the warm Central American sun, people have sent me articles about what could go wrong. They’ve insinuated that I am pressuring my husband to follow me. (As though he doesn’t have a mind of his own.) They’ve asked, “But where will you live?” As though they don’t have houses and condos in Panama City. The barrage of questions seems never-ending: “How will you get your mail?” “What if you get sick?” (Yes, there are hospitals here.) “Can you flush the toilet paper?” “But do you know anybody there?” “What if the U.S. invades?”

And I get it. We often can’t image that life in other countries could be better than what we have. But anyone seeking to live in another country, again at our age, has likely already done the research and answered those questions for themselves. We’re not 20-year-olds. It wasn’t an impulse decision—even if we’ve never discussed it with you. I know for me, I’ve been researching the possibility for years before I got to this point.

As excited as I am about this time in my life, and as much as I would wish this for others, I know a life abroad is not for everyone. My best advice? If living abroad is something you think you might want to do at some point in your life, start early. Start young. Start now. Be safe, but don’t be afraid to see the world. Learn how to send an email—how to operate a smartphone. See how others live, and keep and opened mind. Pack your patience, and save your money. Otherwise, just stay where you are. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.

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