Soooo, Why Bocas?

Truthfully, I just got lucky.

About halfway through COVID, I realized something unexpected ... I was really enjoying being grounded. No flights. No airports. No deadlines. Just stillness. And somewhere in that quiet, it hit me: the exhaustion, the fog, the irritability, they weren’t random. I was burnt out.

When the world lurched back into motion, everyone talked about returning to “normal.” But every time I pictured stepping back into my old life, my chest tightened. I didn’t want normal. So, I started thinking way outside the box.

My husband and I had researched Panama years before. It was sitting on our shortlist of “someday” places, but suddenly, someday became now. We booked flights to Panama City in late 2021, began the visa process, and crossed our fingers that everything would be finalized by early 2022.

I started an Etsy shop, sold off half our lives in garage sales, sent a few treasures to auction, and donated what was left. We packed six suitcases, stored one locker of sentimental stuff, and boarded that plane.

When we landed in Bocas del Toro for the first time, we were ready to make it home ... even though neither of us had ever set foot there. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and maybe just a little bit insane.

Here’s the unvarnished truth: the first few months were rough. I made friends who later left, so building lasting connections took time. Learning Spanish (still learning), adapting to the rhythm of island life, and understanding how things get done here (or don’t) wasn’t easy. Honestly, the first two years were one long, humbling crash course in patience and resilience.

Every expat group, guide, and blog will tell you: rent for at least a year before buying. Explore the country, find your place, and then settle. As someone who did none of those things… I can confirm that’s solid advice.

And of course, just a little luck.