In the spring of 2019, we made our way to Panamá after selling 95% of our belongings to seek a new adventure. With just two suitcases and a carry-on bag each, we made our way to our final destination of Boquete, Panamá. We really were loving it and integrating into our new way of life, getting to know other expats as well as enjoying the company of our friendly Panamanian hosts. Waking up every day to phenomenal views, spring like weather, and taking fantastic hikes in the cloud forest. We went through the residency process and obtained Friendly Nations Visas. A short while after we obtained our national ID card called an e-cedula, similar to a social security card. The “e” stands for “extranjero” which means foreigner.
A little info about the e-cedula: The e-cedula is not associated with immigration and is voluntary. It is a necessary component if you wish to apply for citizenship and a Panamanian passport at a future time. It is a permanent ID issued by the Electoral Tribunal. All foreigners are legally supposed to carry their passports on them at all times for ID purposes. With an e-cedula, that is all you need to carry with you. To Panamanians, it indicates a level of legitimacy. When we travel throughout the country, the e-cedula is all we need which makes things so much easier.
So, what has changed in our lives that we now live in two different countries?
I really don’t know the exact moment in time when the honeymoon period started waning for me. I think the Coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns made me ache for family and I did a lot of soul-searching. We have several blog posts about this subject. I struggled to find the words to make my feelings known. I love so many things about Panama but yet I was starting to be unhappy. If Covid had never happened, would something else, or perhaps more time down the road have led me to the same conclusion? After five months of lock-downs I had had enough and wanted to return to the US, not knowing what the future held. We flew to Florida and spent almost 7 months in a turn key condo that belonged to a friend of a family member. It was food for the soul living close enough to the inlet and the beach, taking long walks, basking in the sunshine, seeing family members. We read the Covid updates from Panama, waiting to see if or when we’d return. Things seemed to be heading in the right direction in Panama so we decided to give it another go. We returned with feelings of a new beginning, hoping to find where we belonged. Four months later, we returned to the US again because of a tragic death in our family.
What happens when you’re torn between the best and worst of both worlds?
While watching the craziness of the US from a distance, it has made us more critical of the US (without getting into political or vaccination discussions). Spending time in Panama has made us have a new awareness and world views that we have never had before. How do we decide where we truly will be happy living? We bought a house so we could have a home base again in the US. Spending more time with our family was once again becoming a priority. We started pretty much from scratch since we had sold the bulk of our possessions. We are now living in two countries to have the best of both worlds.
Where will our journey take us?
I’m not sure if this is a forever situation but right now it is what works for us.
With much love and gratitude,
Nancy and Craig
