The Foreign Service Journal, January 2006

ence to widespread corruption (including allegations that her officials had milked Taiwanese generosity for illicit, personal gain in exchange for continued diplomatic recog- nition of the island). At the same time, many Panamanians were lukewarm to the third alternative, a return of the post-invasion Guillermo Endara presidency. Rumors were rife, especially in the business communi- ty, that despite Washington’s obvious (if unspoken) disdain for the ruling Arnulfista Party’s bad governance, it hoped for a victory by that party’s affable candidate, former Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Aleman, because of suspi- cion of both Martin Torrijos and his once-anti-American party. I simply did not buy that, and as a permanent resident with a past and a future in Panama, I wanted to express my opinion somehow in the election campaign. As a cour- tesy, I told Amb. Watt of my plans and consulted online guidance from State Department sources, which indicat- ed there were no ethical or legal restrictions that would prevent my doing so as a retiree. First, I joined “Team Martin” as an informal adviser. Along with the candidates for the first and second vice president positions, Samuel Lewis Navarro and Ruben Arosemena — leader of the Popular Party (formerly the Christian Democrats) — I accompanied Torrijos many a dusty mile, tramping through the country’s barrios and lis- tening to the complaints and desires of the voters. FSN at the Foreign Ministry Later, I wrote an op-ed piece for Panama’s most influ- ential daily newspaper, La Prensa , titled “Why Should Martin Torrijos Win?” I declared that “U.S. government representatives cannot publicly announce their favorites to win the national election for diplomatic reasons. F O C U S 40 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 6 Retirees contemplating a post-Foreign Service life overseas should take a close look at Panama. A three-hour flight from Miami, the “blessed isthmus” is home to a rapidly growing num- ber of American, Canadian and European retirees in search of a comfortable, affordable life abroad. Wilma recently battered retiree-favorite South Florida with its eighth hurricane in two years. However, Panama is well off the hurricane track and mostly free of other natural disasters as well. “Residential tourism” is booming in this “future Singapore of the Americas.” After more than eight decades of propinquity, Panamanians — especially those in the Panama City and Colon areas — tend to view resident expatriates as friends and neigh- bors, parts of the daily scene as familiar as the sun and ocean views. So Americans who live in Panama feel less like strangers than they might in virtually any of the other overseas retirement destinations they might consider. Intriguingly exotic, Panama is also invitingly familiar. Cable and satellite TV play U.S. and foreign programs. Panama’s balboa is the same U.S. greenback in which federal annuities are paid. So U.S. retirees know their pension spending power will not suf- fer the unpredictable, flush-today-budget-challenged tomorrow fluctuations of many foreign currencies. U.S. retirees frequently obtain mortgages from Panamanian banks, often at percentages lower than those in American markets, although at variable rates of interest. Whether in western Chiriqui province’s cool highlands — for example, popular retiree haven Boquete — or in cosmopolitan Panama City, Latin America’s skyscraper champion, houses and apartments remain bargains by U.S. standards. For about $300,000 or less, upscale Panama City neighborhoods offer the equivalent of an entire floor, multimillion-dollar Miami Beach bay- view condominium, often better constructed to boot. Less than $100,000 could purchase a sturdy, three-bedroom house on an acre lot in a western Panama community, such as Volcan. And Panama exempts new homes from property tax for 20 years. The cost of living is comparatively low, as well. Domestic help, including home nursing care, is economical indeed. Imported goods are plentiful and reasonably priced, especially in the larger supermarkets and warehouse outlets, such as Price Smart. Domestically-grown fruits and vegetables are cheap and luscious, as are the fresh-off-the-boat fish and shrimp at Panama City’s morning market. A nation without an army, Panama is one of the safest countries for foreign residents in Latin America — and one can even drink the tap water. Medical and dental care is good, with many U.S.-trained practitioners. Most charge considerably lower fees than their U.S. counterparts, and often make house calls as well. Sales tax and customs duties are low, and Panama does not tax savings account interest or foreign source income. And as a mark of respect for age, retirees receive gen- erous discounts on goods, services and transportation, as well as separate lines at most service providers and government offices. For more information, commercial Web sites, such as pana- mainfo.com and www.panamaguide.com , and “Panama” key- word Internet searches are best bets. Those who already made the move to Panama or who hope to do so comment on their experiences and offer advice in several online groups, including viviendo_en-panama@yahoogroups.com ; panamaforum@yahoo groups.com and Americans_in Panama@yahoogroups.com. Eric Jackson’s ThePanamaNews.com, is a widely-read online English- language newspaper. Panama after the Foreign Service