My World - updated Nov 7th, 2008

[squirtis]

Originally Posted by DOGKILLR

Damn, I would like to get the hell out of here and live somewhere like that. How much is land down there? If you don't want to put it out in front of everyone pm me. I have always wanted to live in a place like that where the pace of life is a little slower. Been in the Electrical contracting business too long. Money is good but I feel like I'm missing out on the rest of my life. I wish I had the balls when I was younger to go ahead and do something like your doing. I'm envious.

Hey Dogkillr,

First of all....It's never to late to change your life...never

how much is land in Panama....that's like asking how much land is in North Carolina depends on where and a million other things...

If you are serious about making that change feel free to ask me any questions you want. I will try and help anywhere I can.

Keep in mind with a good trade background like electrical, you have a tool that many people could use in growing economies like central america. Just a matter of how serious you really are

Curtis

[squirtis]

Well, if all things go roughly as planned for the next 60 days......

The move date is set tentatively for the 9th of May!

With a little luck and some sweat I should be able to start accepting potential clients and also inshore fishing/surfing stuff by the end of July!!!!

We are building a large house with big materials garage and two bedrooms (owners suites) upstairs, and two (small hotel rooms) downstairs. This building will function as workers quarters etc. eventually, but should be great for use during the resort construction.

Hopefully SFC should have a Squirtis report live from Panama at least once a week in less than 90 days!!

Keeping the fingers crossed

Curtis

[shoefish]

Dude! I'm envious to say the least! I can't wait for the Squirtis reports to start rolling in. Maybe at some point you could post up a play-by-play of how folks would get down to your world. I know it would help folks like me when we're thinking about our next trip. I can't wait for you to get up and running- I just need to figure out how to talk Nansea into heading to Panama...

[Wild Life Management]

That's great man. Best of luck with everything, sounds like you're living the dream, or at least well on your way.

[squirtis]

Thanks Guys...

Hey Shoefish...great idea on the video...

Maybe I will try and get some video put together of the move down and getting there etc...could be interesting...

Don't worry about coming down, when I am ready for ya, you and Nansea won't have any issue with making a trip like this is going to be when we are ready!!!


Curtis

[Miguel]

Coming from a REAL Panamanian:
Please find out how much you (by you I mean americans and europeans) have screwed up our lives by coming to settle here. It is cheaper for you to come here than to live in the US. I can understand it. However, do the complete homework and talk to the people and you will find out that their cost of living has increased tremendously. Cost of real state has become crazy and now you guys are paying three times what you could have paid 5 years ago and panamanians can´t afford decent housing.
The government keeps talking about this "boom", because most of the officials making a big hefty profit out of it. They really don´t care about the people. If it was up to the middle class of Panama, immigration laws would be a lot more strict. We are basically paying taxes so you can have roads, water, etc. and you pay almost nothing. In my line of bussiness I talk to a lot of americans living here and for some reason they tend to think that they are making us a favor. Not so......In your head, however, you just like to think that way because it is more convenient.
Sorry for venting some steam on your thread. Nice property, by the way.

[squirtis]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Coming from a REAL Panamanian:
Please find out how much you (by you I mean americans and europeans) have screwed up our lives by coming to settle here. It is cheaper for you to come here than to live in the US. I can understand it. However, do the complete homework and talk to the people and you will find out that their cost of living has increased tremendously. Cost of real state has become crazy and now you guys are paying three times what you could have paid 5 years ago and panamanians can´t afford decent housing.
The government keeps talking about this "boom", because most of the officials making a big hefty profit out of it. They really don´t care about the people. If it was up to the middle class of Panama, immigration laws would be a lot more strict. We are basically paying taxes so you can have roads, water, etc. and you pay almost nothing. In my line of bussiness I talk to a lot of americans living here and for some reason they tend to think that they are making us a favor. Not so......In your head, however, you just like to think that way because it is more convenient.
Sorry for venting some steam on your thread. Nice property, by the way.

Hey Miguel,

I understand your frustration and that is why after 15 years of traveling down to Central America surfing, fishing, etc...we chose the area we did.....NOT to make $$$$, but to make a living in a place that we love. I am NOT the come in and take take take and not give back....I know several who are and it makes me SICK....I am looking for a life change, not trying to make a buck....My wife and I plan on doing many positive things for our community and giving as much or more than we take....My friend Chad has GIVEN so much to the area, employed workers,,,,he has several very young men who are learning so much in an area that would otherwise offer them nothing.

My wife is finishing up Nursing school and after some "technical" changes down there will be able to help in that manner as well. We plan to "sponsor" the school in our little area by way of supplies etc. I am also hoping to get a baseball/soccer field in the works for next year. I plan to help many young kids by offering them opportunities that they would not otherwise have.

Our project is one that is SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITY based. Of course we are trying to make a living...., but the monies earned in Panama will be spent in Panama which will help with roads, etc...etc...

We are moving there, not just building something, selling it an moving along...

Panama is going to BOOM and it's not because of Americans only, a large part of the population is Chinese...what of them? The AMERICANS turned the Panama Canal back over to Panama and that provides 12 BILLION DOLLARS a YEAR to your economy!!!! I understand that the tax dollars are not being spent correctly as of yet, but also believe that it is changing, but it is not the AMERICANS fault that Panama's legislature chooses to spend the countries earnings on things other than SOCIAL/HEALTH/EDUCATION Programs...Although I thought that the new legislation as of Jan was supposed to allocate a much large amount of tax dollars to this, something like 60 million??

I hate what is happened to most of Costa Rica...(I STILL LOVE IT THOUGH), and will do everything in my power to limit the damage of development where we can.

For instance, our property is over 36 acres and we plan on having MAYBE 16 small lots for homes. The majority of the property will be wild. We are trying to develop a small community that is comfortable and enjoyable and gives back to the community around it......Many developers would be building 60+ homes on 1/8th acre lots.....NOT what we are trying to do...

We LOVE PANAMA...

Unfortunately, just like everywhere else with a world population bursting such as it is, Panama is going to be of great interest to developers and retiree's for some time to come. Although I think that Europeans are likely to be more influential in the coming few years due to the fact that the Euro is CRUSHING the U.S. Dollar and Panama is on that same dollar....at 60% of the cost of the same money....you can bet they will be buying up everything in site.

Thank You for your concern Miguel, it is one that my wife and I take very seriously and I would love to meet with you in Panama and discuss ways to help anytime....

Thanks very much

Curtis

[Miguel]

Curtis:
Unfortunatelly, you have some numbers wrong.
The canal does not bring in 12 Billion a year...... Far from that.... Is´t in the order of the hundred millions (low hundred millions).
Chinese population has been in Panama ever since the early 1900´s. It has always been here. They have not made life harder for the little people in Panama. That is a long story that does not merit discusing today.
It is good to hear that you will be helping the community. A lot of foreigners think that way, but the vast majority do not. However, remember this: they did not ask to be helped. Most of them have sold their land to foreigners thinking that they were making little fortunes for themselves, and guess what? They can´t afford to buy land anywhere else.
A piece of advise is to also remember that we have always had VERY corrupt governments. The same people that today welcome you with open arms will tomorrow decide to make money out of your pocket in the way of taxes, etc. What they should be doing today to limit the immigrant inflow. Does Costa Rica ring a bell?
I fell bad for the poor people of my country. They will just get poorer. Ask around how much the price of groceries has increased for them, specifically in the places most coveted by foreigners.
I hope you are really in for a long stay and really find a way to help.

[squirtis]

I hear what you are saying Miguel,

My friend Chad has already been helping the locals in his area understand that when they sell some of there property buying a new 4x4 is not the answer...he is trying to help them set up for the future and understand what they are doing.

According to the Panama Canal Website the revenues for 2006 were 1.6 billion dollars, and the contribution to the national treasury was 560 million dollars....

I think the 12 billion number was stuck in my head from the expansion project Ooops....

Are you in the Panama City area?

Curtis

[hubris 1]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Coming from a REAL Panamanian:
Please find out how much you (by you I mean americans and europeans) have screwed up our lives by coming to settle here. It is cheaper for you to come here than to live in the US. I can understand it. However, do the complete homework and talk to the people and you will find out that their cost of living has increased tremendously. Cost of real state has become crazy and now you guys are paying three times what you could have paid 5 years ago and panamanians can´t afford decent housing.
The government keeps talking about this "boom", because most of the officials making a big hefty profit out of it. They really don´t care about the people. If it was up to the middle class of Panama, immigration laws would be a lot more strict. We are basically paying taxes so you can have roads, water, etc. and you pay almost nothing. In my line of bussiness I talk to a lot of americans living here and for some reason they tend to think that they are making us a favor. Not so......In your head, however, you just like to think that way because it is more convenient.
Sorry for venting some steam on your thread. Nice property, by the way.

when i went to tropic star lodge i thought the same thing.i stayed back from fishing one day, like a politician on a fact finding mission. the panamanian dont need "do gooder's" coming down there trying to change their lives. all they really need from them is cheap, uneducated labor. now im no liberal, but i always believe in butting out. it sort of reminds me of people with exotic birds in their house. where do you think that bird would be happier? living in the jungle he was captured from, or your poorly decorated small living room with a dog barking at the door everytime someone knock's on it? if you want to go live in that culture, i guess go do it. but dont think for a minute they think your doing them a favor. and dont even begin the education nonsense, i saw that too. just smart enough to do what they want them to do, without asking questions. and definitely dont ask what i think the religious groups want from all these people! JMHO, and i have never been humble.