This week I'm officially an "expat", along with my family and 5-year old daughter.  I've combed Latin America for 20 years and have chosen a home near Volcán Barú, El Salto, Boquete, Chiriquí, República de Panamá.

The delightful village of Boquete is ten minutes away, in “the valley of eternal spring”.   The temperature hits 80 degrees (F) daily, but evenings and mornings often require a sweater.  In Boquete,   18,000 residents include many expats from the European Union, N. America & South America.  In the streets one hears French, German, Italian, English, and Spanish within a few blocks walk.  There is a bar furnished entirely with art and furniture from Africa.   Taxis are less than a dollar.  

Genuinely helpful locals abound …and their assistance is not contrived in pursuit of a tip.  People live close to the land.  Less is more.  What seems to matter most to Chiriqui natives is family, fun, and friends.  Work is the means to an end.People here grasp that nobody’s dying wish is “more time at the office”.  The culture here is very supportive for healing from the toxic consumer culture prevalent in the USA.   

Why not immigrate south and make room for another to immigrate north?  We're happy to share our corner of paradise.  For more details and photos, visit  http://changesinlatitude.org/wordpress/2009/09/changes-in-latitude-changes-its-latitude/

Why Boquete? The climate is wonderful here in the "Valley of Eternal Spring". The landscape is gorgeous. The town has everything you need, yet its a very liveable small town. The people and the culture are warm and wonderful. The cost of living is reasonable and the economy is strong.

Travelers investing the two weeks required to drive from the U.S./Mexico border through C. America tend to do their homework. When its your turn to drive the Pan-American Highway, check out Drive Me Loco, an online travel guide that is updated frequently. There is also an eBook with details on roadtripping through Mexico and C. America. I've driven all over Mexico and this guide is worthwhile.

A Pueblo Mágico is a place where “symbolism, legend, history, important events and day-to-day life” have collided to create a unique result. “They are magic in their social and cultural manifestations, with great opportunities for tourism.” This is a good description from Mexico’s tourism agency, which is more than can be said about SECTUR’s website. Some things are the same everywhere. One constant is that government websites are not the most useful.

Where to retire?   Fun question!