How would you like the option to choose your season where you spend your time?
I’m doing that now.
Last winter was a cold one here.
I know, “cold” is relative, and in Central Florida it doesn’t get that cold. But, after 30+ years living in tropical and sub-tropical climates, it felt darned cold to me.
As the winter of 2017-2018 drew to a close, my husband and I had several conversations along the lines of, “let’s not freeze next winter.”
Fortunately, because my work is totally portable, I have the option to pick and choose like that. So I toughed it out over Christmas with my son in upstate New York, and in January I got on a plane and flew to Panama.
Maybe you love the cold but want to get away from summer heat. That’s cool. I mean, I don’t understand you, but it’s okay.
Whatever your preference, as an Anywhereist you get to choose what seasons/climates/temperatures you’re willing to live with. And that’s a good thing.
In fact, it’s a very good thing!
An Adventure from the Start
My arrival in Panama was an adventure.
I carelessly booked my flight to coincide with the World Youth Conference, featuring the Pope, so finding overnight accommodations in Panama City was pretty tough. I finally found a hotel room, thanks to some suggestions from the ExPats in Panama group on Facebook.
Getting around once I arrived was also interesting, as the main highway from the airport into the city was closed because of one of the Papal events. . . but traffic wasn’t as bad as I expected and we actually made pretty good time.
Because of the unusual circumstances, I arranged ahead of time for a driver to pick me up instead of just heading for the taxi stand and taking my chances. And it’s a good thing I did as my driver was punctual, helpful, and informative.
I spent the night in Panama City, then on Sunday afternoon met up with some friends. They live full time in Panama, in a beautiful home they’ve built on the Azuero, and they’d been out of the country as well. They flew back on Sunday, and gave me a lift to my home base near Guarare.
I’m staying with my friend Bonnie, who runs Casa del Puerto. She used to run it as a bed and breakfast, but recently she switched to more long-term visitors through AirBnB. (You can find her listings here and here.)
If you’d like to follow me around Panama, check out my Instagram account – that’s where I’ll be posting pictures.
Dateline: February 2, 2019