Thread: It's the little things......

We're new in Panama and have really enjoyed the country. Just a few little things are needed to make life complete. Does anyone know where I can find Tootsie Roll pops?? I've looked at El Rey, Reba Smith, Super K and a few delis. Also looking for Acidophilus suppliment - I tried Organica and the above mentioned grocery stores. Many thanks!

There's 1000 little things "missing". That's why I load my suitcases with stuff when I go travel.

Funny you should mention that I have a list of things friends from the forum here have me bringing down next month. Small things that we just take for granted. Small trade off really considering how much more freedom you have in Panama

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

There's 1000 little things "missing". That's why I load my suitcases with stuff when I go travel.

Originally Posted by fleeted

Funny you should mention that I have a list of things friends from the forum here have me bringing down next month. Small things that we just take for granted. Small trade off really considering how much more freedom you have in Panama

fleeted - good to see you're posting again!

Welcome back fleeted. Glad you are not holding a grudge.

Thanks guys!! my lifetime ban by woohoo for my conservative viewpoint has been lifted by admin. Nah life is to short for grudges. I have read the forum from time to time during my ban and it seems the posts had really dropped off. headed to colombia next month and then on to panama for the winter. hope to see some of you guys while I'm there. Thanks again for the kind welcome back!!!!!

Have you tried Amazon.com? I seem to be able to find everything there! It's amazing...it's Amazon! (Wow...what a commercial! hee hee) Take care! Cynthia

Hi fleeted...I am currently living in CA, but am planning on my first trip to Panama in Sept. I may relocate there. I thought it so interesting when you said "considering how much more freedom you have in Panama". Would you please elaborate on that thought? More freedom to do what you want and a thousand other things that might come with more freedom, would certainly be a selling point for a country in my book! Thank you.

Originally Posted by fleeted

Thanks guys!! my lifetime ban by woohoo for my conservative viewpoint has been lifted by admin. Nah life is to short for grudges. I have read the forum from time to time during my ban and it seems the posts had really dropped off. headed to colombia next month and then on to panama for the winter. hope to see some of you guys while I'm there. Thanks again for the kind welcome back!!!!!

so we will never see you again in panama LOL , you going to Colombia and then Panama , tooooo many beautiful women in Colombia .

Cynk in Pana the rules are not set in stone like those here in "The Land of the Free" I mean sure there is nothing more free in my book than requiring a cup of urine for employment or enforcing the dreaded jaywalking laws but things like this don't happen in Pana and if they do you can bribe your way out of it...If you do not know the freedom that people are referring to then I would be forced to assume that you have not spent much time outside of the ol' USSA where you are told what to do and even more sadly you are TOLD how free you are...I have no problem with the U.S. I'm just saying that you shouldn't believe every thing that you hear on the "fair and balanced" Fox News

Wow DR, you certainly did assume a lot about me in that brief post...most all of it wrong, I'm happy to say. But I had to laugh when you mentioned peeing in the cup. I think you must have misunderstood my question. But thanks!

There was no question...There was a request, though not directed to me, to elaborate on the statement "considering how much more freedom you have in Panama" as I did...But I did make some a single assumption and I'm sorry if you were in some way offended...I hope that we can get past this and still be friends

Originally Posted by cynk

Hi fleeted...I am currently living in CA, but am planning on my first trip to Panama in Sept. I may relocate there. I thought it so interesting when you said "considering how much more freedom you have in Panama". Would you please elaborate on that thought? More freedom to do what you want and a thousand other things that might come with more
freedom, would certainly be a selling point for a country in my book! Thank you.

Just as was stated previously here is a lot less enforcement of mundane rules and there are just allot less rules in general. For instance, if you want to spend a day on the water in your boat no one is going to pull up and inspect you. you won't be treated like a child by the nanny state. if you are not smart enough to pack life jackets and safety gear then that is your problem. catch a fish and want to keep it there is no one standing on the shore with a ruler to measure it when you return. there is not a tin cup bureacrat waiting around very corner to force their will down your throat teling you what color you can paint your house or if you can have a satellite dish. These are just some small examples I am sure others have many more. It is a shame people have to leave the " land of the free" to enjoy freedom!!!!

Well, that because they don't have boats. Last time I drove from Decameron to Panama there were 25 police check points on the way (about 100 KM) - we counted them. Having a police check point every 4 KM is completely sick, but it's cheap and easy.

It's just a matter of time before the Panamanian government will start regulating more things and create pure chaos and hell out of everything. That's what they do best.

If they start enforcing book keeping and taxes for offshore corporations I will take a quick piss on the side walk and get on the next flight out of here.

Originally Posted by fleeted

For instance, if you want to spend a day on the water in your boat no one is going to pull up and inspect
you. you won't be treated like a child by the nanny state.

Amazon.com and ebay.com are absolute life savers. Both accept Panamanian credit cards with shipping to ANY address in the world. I buy 95 % of what I need on those sites - the only stuff I buy in Panama is heavy items that create shipping problems.

Just a few days ago I bought special hiking socks from Korea and had them ship them directly to my Panama PO Box. I like to buy from Hong Kong as well for smaller electronics.

Originally Posted by cynk

Have you tried Amazon.com? I seem to be able to find everything there! It's amazing...it's Amazon! (Wow...what a commercial! hee hee) Take care! Cynthia

No offense taken, DR, and as the new kid in town, I certainly can't afford to be throwing my only friend in Panama overboard!!!

Ed, I am so glad to hear you say that! I am a huge Amazon fan and I wasn't certain how that would work overseas. I love to read and it would be great to have "the cloud" and e-books available. I heard that Amazon stopped shipping to Argentina because of too much theft in the mail...hope it's a rumor. I bet you can get great deals shopping in Hong Kong. Is there a particular vendor/website you use...I'd like to check them out. Thanks!

Originally Posted by EdBowers

Well, that because they don't have boats. Last time I drove from Decameron to Panama there were 25 police check points on the way (about 100 KM) - we counted them. Having a police check point every 4 KM is completely sick, but it's cheap and easy.

It's just a matter of time before the Panamanian government will start regulating more things and create pure chaos and hell out of everything. That's what they do best.

If they start enforcing book keeping and taxes for offshore corporations I will take a quick piss on the side walk and get on
he next flight out of here.

Yes it is the natural desire of those in govt to control their fellow man. Panama will no doubt reach the U.S level sooner or later, but for now we can enjoy it while it lasts. The police check points have never bothered me. I always get waved through quickly for the most part. It is a good way to pick up people in the country illegally and probably drum up some revenue with their little hand held computers. There is no panacea but Panama for me has less headaches, the experience could be different for someone doing business or investing.

Originally Posted by EdBowers

Well, that because they don't have boats. Last time I drove from Decameron to Panama there were 25 police check points on the way (about 100 KM) - we counted them. Having a police check point every 4 KM is completely sick, but it's cheap and easy.

When did that BS start? We visited my in-laws in Jul of 2009 and we travelled round trip from Penonome to PC six times in three weeks and I never even saw one check point! The only LE presence we saw was a motorcycle cop on the side of the road just outside Anton (in the shade) with his radar gun. Thank God for radar detectors!

Originally Posted by TennVol

When did that BS start? We visited my in-laws in Jul of 2009 and we travelled round trip from Penonome to PC six times in three weeks and I never even saw one check point! The only LE presence we saw was a motorcycle cop on the side of the road just outside Anton (in the shade) with his radar gun. Thank God for radar detectors!

ah yes , radar detectors , after i got my second speeding ticket i went and dug mine out of the trailer i pulled down behind my motorhome , it is just like 1970 Canada now with radar and radar detectors , so you see panama is catching up , slowly . LOL

I wondered why the panamanians don't flash theri headlights to warn oncoming travelers that a speed trap is ahead. Then I remembered their headlights don't work LOL.

I still have not figured how to sort vendor by shipping origin, but I have not tried very hard either. Just sort by price and they are usually in Hong Kong. Shipping takes forever.

Originally Posted by cynk

Ed, I am so glad to hear you say that! I am a huge Amazon fan and I wasn't certain how that would work overseas. I love to read and it would be great to have "the cloud" and e-books available. I heard that Amazon stopped shipping to Argentina because of too much theft in the mail...hope it's a rumor. I bet you can get great deals shopping in Hong Kong. Is there a particular vendor/website you use...I'd like to check them out. Thanks!