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“Merida is like the French Quarter, but cleaner and safer, like Santa Fe but cheaper, and it’s what Key West used to be,” says my friend Eric Partney as we linger over cocktails on his terrace one evening.

The bargain-beautiful Panama we’ve been writing about for years is alive and well…especially in Las Tablas. This little colonial town differs from hot retirement destinations like Panama City, Boquete, or Bocas del Toro. It’s in an area surrounded by farms and ranches, and that makes the climate, the landscapes, and the people unique.

If you were born between World War II and 1960 and you’re even semi-thinking of retiring to Latin America, now is the time to choose the country that interests you.

“I’ll need to work to support my new life. What kind of job can I get?” This is a typical question from the would-be expat. The answer is that it’s usually difficult to get a job in a foreign country unless you meet a host of requirements. And if you don’t speak the language of your new country, things can be even tougher. There is one way, though, to ease into a new culture and make a bit of money at the same time. You may be able to get a job teaching English.

I am sitting in my 14th-floor condominium overlooking Jomtien Beach in Thailand and I still can’t believe my luck. I bought this place for $17,000 eight years ago and have been enjoying my million-dollar view every day since.

Black Monday…the phrase still sends a chill down the spines of investors. That’s because Oct. 19, 1987, was the day the U.S. stock market recorded its largest one-day percentage decline in history.

A few years ago a good friend in the U.S. used part of a hefty severance package from her high-profile sales job to get a complete facelift. She looked great afterwards—and for what she paid, she should have. She confided that the facelift, including both eyelids, set her back about $30,000.

Hundreds of miles of dazzling, white-sand beaches surround Fortaleza, on Brazil’s Northeast coast. Its clear, tropical ocean waters maintain a year-round temperature of 80˚ F. The capital of the state of Ceará, this city of more than two million people boasts its own beautiful in-city beaches, sizzling nightlife, and great restaurants. It is a hub of activity and a great amenity if you choose to live in the more peaceful fishing villages outside of the city.

“In what currency do you keep score,” was the question. “I don’t know,” was the answer. We were setting up an account in London. It was meant to be a wealth protection account. That is, we were not really trying to make money; we just want to avoid losing it. The first and most important question came up right away: how can you tell?