Someone recently asked me if I would ever retire to Panama and I said, conclusively, that I would not. To serve as preeminent defense, I am aware that “if I don’t want to retire here, I can just go somewhere else.” This is important. But below are also my feelings on what Panama inherently lacks to truly make it an international retirement destination and not just some fly-by-night trend.

A religious friend in Panama once explained to me how it was actually God who invented the sabbatical. "After he make the universe," my friend said, "God was very very tired. So, well, he have to take a rest." I liked the simplicity of that origin and envisioned it being used as details in a National Spelling Bee if Panama even has that sort of thing. In this article, I'd like to relate the struggles of creating a universe with the economic recession, both as a means of giving way to an extended vacation in Panama.

Panama's been in the news lately for its increasingly popularity as a retirement haven amongst middle aged foreigners looking to fly the coop. Why? Because descending are the days of boring Florida retirements, of gated golf cart communities and sterile old-age compounds built around the obligatory bingo parlor. People are relocating to Panama, in the face of a world economic crisis, less for retirement's preconceived characteristics and more for a new and challenging life outside the comfort zone.

We get emails all the time, like seventy or a hundred every day, from newcomers to Panama or those who are about to make the jump, asking what, if it's the most important aspect of Panama personal/business relocation, is the best way to network oneself in the Republic. Some are looking to integrate their kids, some are looking to promote a new business, others are just lonely and looking for friends. Adjusting to a new country and culture is a challenge in itself, but the added responsibility of meeting people in Panama can be daunting. Here are our top 6 ways to network in Panama.

Panama is like an entrepreneur's dream tainted with some annoying sound in the background that doesn't allow for optimal rapid eye movement: there is a plethora of opportunity in just about every area of expertise, but there are also a number of speed bumps that can take their toll. Panama's best entrepreneurs know how to embrace that which makes the country's niches lucrative and how to play down those nuances, which could be handled by someone else.

In the past six months, nine of my close friends living in major US cities have been victims of a tight credit squeeze and laid off their jobs at investment banks. And while many have a tough time seeing growth or change in the market in the near future, there does appear to be a light at the end of their tunnel-albeit one shining from a good ways south.

The moment after I saw the movie, I remember distinctly wanting to be a Ninja Turtle when I grew up. But my dreams seemed to have been ended when my mother rushed us out of the sequel, claiming it was too violent for our precious and innocent eyes.

If you're reading this and you're older than 40, you must leave now! I'll be using phrases like "sup B" and "OMG" and "mo-fo" that you're destined to not understand. "You see, when I was your age, the closest I ever got to Central America was a crummy Spanish textbook" I imagined my mother nagging in my ear as I reclined on a balcony in Casco Viejo overlooking a beautiful plaza and drinking a glass of Chilean wine.

Many places in Panama you'll see freebies being offered. Free nights at a hotel, free tours through the rainforest, and my favorite, the all too nebulous 'free lunch'. It is important to realize though, that freebies are oftentimes sales pitches disguised in table cloths and fine silverware.

It is my belief that no one really wants to retire in the true sense of the word. If you're from North America or Europe, you probably characterize retirement as a relaxing and enjoyable way of passing your years. Essentially the opposite of how you characterize the time before retirement, affectionately termed "the grind".

Retiree status in Panama is referred to as "jubilado" or "pensionado". This status has many benefits and we have outlined them here for you. Below the official rules, you can find a personal experience as to how many of these benefits are actually implimented and how the status actually plays out.