Not to get pedantic, but I think it's actually "panties in a bind" and I've also seen it as "panties in a bunch". Pretty sure I heard John Wayne use it in a movie.
Sorry I apparently got off on a wrong foot with you. All I'm really trying to get a feel for is the safety of the country. I'm sorry if the bars comment offended you but I really do see a lot of pictures of houses with that feature. As such, it represents a different reality than I'm familiar with. I gave up on Costa Rica because of an increase in crime and have heard that Panama is safer. Just trying to verify.
Aloha.