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If you’re thinking about moving to Panama, this episode will prepare you in ways no checklist, relocation guide, or spreadsheet ever could. Get ready for culture shock in Panama, told by a Gringa in a tongue-in-cheek way.

In this special storytelling episode of The Panama Podcast, I’m sharing my origin story—all the way back to 2012, when Panama still felt a bit like the Wild West. Before the polished expat guides, before the infrastructure boom, and long before I became a trusted expert on Panama real estate and relocation… I was just a very Type-A American woman trying to figure out how to live in a country powered by mañana culture, sunshine, and vibes.

This episode is intentionally different from my usual interviews and deep-dive guides. It’s funny, unfiltered, and deeply real. From buying a GPS in Panama that didn’t include a map of Panama… to learning that “mañana” doesn’t actually mean tomorrow… to realizing that culture shock is often the thing that teaches you the most—this story captures the emotional side of moving abroad that people rarely talk about.

If you’re researching living in Panama, moving to Panama, or expat life in Panama, consider this a behind-the-scenes look at what the transition really feels like—especially in your early days.

Sometimes the best way to understand a country isn’t through advice… it’s through stories.

📩 Thinking about your own move to Panama? Schedule a free consultation with my team at 👉 ChoosePanama.com/contact

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #LivingInPanama #MovingToPanama #PanamaExpat #PanamaLife #ExpatStories #PanamaCulture #expatcultureshock

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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In 2026, wealthy individuals aren’t asking if they should diversify internationally — they’re asking where. In this episode, I break down the offshore move affluent North Americans are quietly making and why Panama has emerged as one of the most strategic destinations for relocation, real estate investment, and lifestyle diversification.

After living and working in Panama since 2012, advising high-net-worth clients through multiple global cycles, I can tell you this: offshore moves today are no longer about secrecy or tax gimmicks. They’re about optionality, stability, lifestyle quality, and intelligent asset placement — and Panama checks those boxes in ways few countries do.

Why Panama is attracting wealthy offshore movers in 2026

✅ Dollarized economy with long-term stability
✅ Strong property rights and full foreign ownership
✅ Strategic location with global air access
✅ A mature luxury real estate market — not speculative
✅ Residency options designed for investors and retirees
✅ A high quality of life without the friction found elsewhere

In this podcast, we discuss what’s actually driving the offshore movement — from global uncertainty and capital concentration risk to lifestyle arbitrage and geographic diversification. If you’re researching moving to Panama, buying property in Panama, or creating a smart offshore strategy in 2026, this episode offers clarity without hype.

At Choose Panama Real Estate, this is exactly the type of conversation we have with clients before they make a move — helping them understand not just where to go, but when and why. The goal isn’t escape. It’s positioning.

If Panama has been on your radar — or quietly recommended by friends who already made the move — this episode will help you understand why momentum is building and why early positioning matters.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation at https://ChoosePanama.com/contact.

About Melissa Darnay:
Melissa Darnay is the Founder of Choose Panama Real Estate and one of Panama’s leading experts in luxury real estate and expat relocation. Since moving to Panama in 2012, she has helped hundreds of affluent North Americans invest, retire, and build a better life in Panama. As the host of The Panama Podcast, Melissa blends deep local expertise with concierge-level service — making her one of the most trusted advisors in Panama’s real estate market.

Explore more insights at https://www.youtube.com/@choosepanama

GUESTS:
- Francis Hunt: @TheMarketSniper1
- Mike Brown: Fort Kobbe Vault - www.fortkobbevaults.com

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #francishunt #themarketsniper #fortkobbevault #protectyourwealth #panama #panamaplanb

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!

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What really surprises people about living in Panama isn’t the visas, the paperwork, or the cost of living—it’s the emotional reality once the honeymoon phase wears off. In this episode of The Panama Podcast, I share the four things that genuinely shocked me after moving to Panama, based on my first months of real life here—not vacation Panama.

If you’re considering moving to Panama, buying Panama real estate, or exploring a Panama relocation as a serious life decision, this conversation will give you something most videos don’t: context. Not advice. Not hype. Just honest insight into what it actually feels like to build a life here.

In this episode, I talk candidly about:

✅ What surprised me most about expat life in Panama
✅ Why making friends is easier than expected—but not always permanent
✅ How renting vs. owning impacts how quickly you feel settled
✅ What changes emotionally when Panama stops being a destination and starts being home

This episode is especially helpful if you’re in the "thinking about it" phase—curious, cautious, excited, but wanting clarity before making a major move or buying property in Panama.

At Choose Panama Real Estate, my team and I help clients move beyond the fantasy phase and into smart, well-planned decisions—whether that’s Panama investment property, a primary residence, or a long-term relocation strategy.

If this episode resonates and you want to talk through what your own transition could look like, you can schedule a conversation with my team at ChoosePanama.com.

Subscribe for honest conversations about:
✅ Panama real estate
✅ Moving to Panama
✅ Panama relocation & investing
✅ Expat life in Panama
✅ What it really feels like to build a life abroad

#choosepanama #melissadarnay #thepanamapodcast #PanamaRealEstate #MovingToPanama #PanamaRelocation #ExpatLifePanama #LivingInPanama #BuyingPropertyInPanama

Support the show

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Panama Podcast. If you like it, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

To get a copy of your FREE e-book, go to: https://www.choosepanama.com/free-book.html

Stay tuned for more stories of adventure, relocation, and life in Panama. For more information, resources, and to connect with our community, visit our website at www.ChoosePanama.com. Until next time ... Cheers!