Fred Fleet

In 2005, when our friend told my wife and me that he had purchased beachfront property in Panama, I thought he was crazy. After several months of research, I decided that not only was he a genius, but I joined him as his next-door neighbor in the beach community of La Barqueta.

I retired to Panama in 2007 and I've seen big improvements in that short time. Getting around the country has become much easier in the time we've lived here. For example, the Panamanian government is expanding the Pan American Highway from Santiago to David.

Peter Roberts and his wife, Sally, were never really intending to move to Panama. They had even less inkling that they would buy a property—specifically a working farm. Two bird enthusiasts, Peter and Sally visited the mountain region of Boquete to take a bird-watching tour.

In 2007, my wife and I were ready to make a change. We were looking for a more affordable, healthier way of life and there was one country that ticked all the boxes: Panama. Before we moved, we did a lot of research on Latin American countries that we could consider retiring to. Panama's benefits really stood out. The country is stable, with a literacy rate higher than the U.S., health care is inexpensive, and the country's diet is healthier. Additionally, the currency here is the American dollar and the culture is friendly and welcoming.