Comments on: Eyes Wide Open http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:59:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-45273 Don Ray Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:12:05 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-45273 Hi TG. Sorry for your misfortune. My recommendation would be to come down and visit. I can't answer your questions related to your work, because it might be in need, however, in general all people who come from outside of Panama need a work permit to work in Panama. Better to check everything out before making the drive. Also that drive would not be something I would be looking forward to. Good luck. Hi TG. Sorry for your misfortune. My recommendation would be to come down and visit. I can’t answer your questions related to your work, because it might be in need, however, in general all people who come from outside of Panama need a work permit to work in Panama. Better to check everything out before making the drive.

Also that drive would not be something I would be looking forward to. Good luck.

]]> By: "The Girl" http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-45270 "The Girl" Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:26:22 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-45270 Hello. Nice to have read your words. I was a Baja California person for 12 years, and 40+ times from Seattle. Pretty much the same rules. What I would like to know from you is... can I bring my truck down to work? There are postings on CL. I was sent a 'Dear Jane' E-mail from my fiance last year. We live in the same town, I pass him constantly. Although it was I that introduced him to BCS, he has claimed it, my town, resturaunts & aquaintances for his own. He's almost like 'so in my face'. One country isn't enough, I feel as though maybe if I put 2 or 3 between us, pour myself into my work,as I had before we met, I'll be just fine. I know they have how many cubic yards of dirt to move? I've owned my own for 12 years, in the bus. for 22. Grandfather was a fairly large bridge contractor. I'm an operating engineer also. So, how do they feel about the girls on the jobs? Hello.
Nice to have read your words. I was a Baja California person for 12 years, and 40+ times from Seattle. Pretty much the same rules.
What I would like to know from you is… can I bring my truck down to work? There are postings on CL.
I was sent a ‘Dear Jane’ E-mail from my fiance last year. We live in the same town, I pass him constantly. Although it was I that introduced him to BCS, he has claimed it, my town, resturaunts & aquaintances for his own. He’s almost like ’so in my face’. One country isn’t enough, I feel as though maybe if I put 2 or 3 between us, pour myself into my work,as I had before we met, I’ll be just fine.
I know they have how many cubic yards of dirt to move? I’ve owned my own for 12 years, in the bus. for 22. Grandfather was a fairly large bridge contractor. I’m an operating engineer also. So, how do they feel about the girls on the jobs?

]]> By: Tom http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14738 Tom Sat, 06 Jan 2007 14:39:20 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14738 Well put, Don Ray. Every financial transaction involves some of the considerations that you mention. Well put, Don Ray. Every financial transaction involves some of the considerations that you mention.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14734 Don Ray Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:28:07 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14734 Tom - you are right it is a difficult problem. Some things will escalate in price and that is just the way it is. However gringos , many times due to ignorance, raise the bar. Start with simple things, tips for instance. Panamanians are conservative tippers. Many places, they don't tip. If you are used to leaving a 20% tip when a Panamanian would leave 0 or 10 %, then you are having a negative effect on the economy. There are times when a gringo may not tip when they should, such as with the bag boys at the supermarket. Most work only for tips and deserve a reasonable tip. Buying property from a large development is a great way to increase costs. The developer will have bought land for a fraction of what he is going to sell it to you. Then he build you a nice house for a hefty price using labor that he is paying minimal wage. I have heard of developers that use the labor until they are approaching time to pay social security and then releasing them and hiring new. I think buying property in Panama can't be done in a quick trip and hiring a good English speaking Realtor. You have to be in the area and become part of the community and learn the customs and get to know the people in the areas where you want to live. It is not easy. It is not for the faint hearted. It is not for those with serious health problems. It is not for those not wanting a little risk in their lives, but it will be an adventure. Whether it is a good or a bad adventure will depend on several things not all of which you can control. Tom - you are right it is a difficult problem. Some things will escalate in price and that is just the way it is. However gringos , many times due to ignorance, raise the bar. Start with simple things, tips for instance.

Panamanians are conservative tippers. Many places, they don’t tip. If you are used to leaving a 20% tip when a Panamanian would leave 0 or 10 %, then you are having a negative effect on the economy.

There are times when a gringo may not tip when they should, such as with the bag boys at the supermarket. Most work only for tips and deserve a reasonable tip.

Buying property from a large development is a great way to increase costs. The developer will have bought land for a fraction of what he is going to sell it to you. Then he build you a nice house for a hefty price using labor that he is paying minimal wage. I have heard of developers that use the labor until they are approaching time to pay social security and then releasing them and hiring new.

I think buying property in Panama can’t be done in a quick trip and hiring a good English speaking Realtor. You have to be in the area and become part of the community and learn the customs and get to know the people in the areas where you want to live.

It is not easy. It is not for the faint hearted. It is not for those with serious health problems. It is not for those not wanting a little risk in their lives, but it will be an adventure. Whether it is a good or a bad adventure will depend on several things not all of which you can control.

]]> By: Tom http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14730 Tom Sat, 06 Jan 2007 04:50:33 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14730 Everyone has said "pay the right price." How does one define the right price? That is a particularly difficult question if you are discussing items that people traditionally bargain for. As I mentioned earlier, even in the states there are different prices for different folks. It is not only legal, but there is no subterfuge--it's blatant. For example, be from Alabama, go to Disneyworld, and see if you can get the Florida price. You can't. Throughout the United States you will find one property tax rate for residents and one for non-residents. I have a good friend who is a plumber; the widow down the street is going to get a smaller bill than the multi-millionaire up on the hill. In some Connecticut towns, you'll pay to go to the beach if you don't live in the town. Can anyone say "Senior Discounts?" Seems to be that Panamian gringos should simply worry about not paying more than the gringo price. Everyone has said “pay the right price.”

How does one define the right price? That is a particularly difficult question if you are discussing items that people traditionally bargain for.

As I mentioned earlier, even in the states there are different prices for different folks. It is not only legal, but there is no subterfuge–it’s blatant. For example, be from Alabama, go to Disneyworld, and see if you can get the Florida price. You can’t. Throughout the United States you will find one property tax rate for residents and one for non-residents. I have a good friend who is a plumber; the widow down the street is going to get a smaller bill than the multi-millionaire up on the hill. In some Connecticut towns, you’ll pay to go to the beach if you don’t live in the town. Can anyone say “Senior Discounts?”

Seems to be that Panamian gringos should simply worry about not paying more than the gringo price.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14693 Don Ray Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:02:43 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14693 Hi Judy. Thanks for leaving a comment. Hi Judy. Thanks for leaving a comment.

]]> By: Judy Sacco http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14692 Judy Sacco Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:49:51 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14692 The comment about not thinking you can spend more money to speed things up in Panama is right. Spend what it costs and be patient, as the posters also have said. This is an informative board with well thought out comments. I'm glad I found it. Hi Allen! The comment about not thinking you can spend more money to speed things up in Panama is right. Spend what it costs and be patient, as the posters also have said.
This is an informative board with well thought out comments. I’m glad I found it.
Hi Allen!

]]> By: >Snake Eyes http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14689 >Snake Eyes Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:33:17 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14689 I totally agree and understand the "Debit Card" route. I have read 100's of blog posts from travel sites where people talk about $ and travel and people comment that they use there US "credit" cards for money and purchases ONLY. No wonder this country is in HOCK up to its rear in Debt! I totally agree and understand the “Debit Card” route. I have read 100’s of blog posts from travel sites where people talk about $ and travel and people comment that they use there US “credit” cards for money and purchases ONLY. No wonder this country is in HOCK up to its rear in Debt!

]]> By: Costabaru http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14681 Costabaru Fri, 05 Jan 2007 05:30:33 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14681 I do the same as Don Ray. My US credit union debit ATM card has no fees here unlike my US bank debit card which charges 1% and therefore I no longer use here. I do the same as Don Ray. My US credit union debit ATM card has no fees here unlike my US bank debit card which charges 1% and therefore I no longer use here.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14676 Don Ray Fri, 05 Jan 2007 01:14:27 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/01/02/eyes-wide-open/#comment-14676 I only use US credit cards. I use my Credit Union card for banking withdrawals at the ATM. I don't use ATMs for credit cards. I only use US credit cards. I use my Credit Union card for banking withdrawals at the ATM. I don’t use ATMs for credit cards.

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