Contributor Introduction: PNO welcomes Joyce Barr and her fresh insights on Panama.

"JB"
2
So,,,,greetings to my PNO readers and contributors. Let me start by saying thanks for tuning back in after my long hiatus due to COVID and my own personal medical issues. It’s nice to be back in the warm weather after a year in Illinois. 
 
For those long timers, you are well aware of what I, (as in “JB”) comments on directly from my site.  After some rather nasty run ins with some people that feel are active in taking advantage of Ex-Pats via scams, swindles, and basic untruths, the tenor and feel of my site essentially took a life of it’s own. What started out as an enjoyable past time, quickly became a blood feud and mission of sheer will against those I know are corrupt.  It certainly affected me.
 
I will still focus on the corrupt as that was my background in the US, but in doing so I don’t want to lose sight of what drew my wife and I to Panama in the first place. 
YES, there are pitfalls and landmines that “ANY” incoming person should be aware of.
The political climate.
The areas of criminal concern.
The issues with the environment.
Etc, and so on. 
 
But there are SO MANY positive things that visitors to the site should be aware of. 
That being said. it is my pleasure to introduce to the platform and our visitors to Ms. JOYCE BARR and her own wonderful site of https://www.blastboomer.com/.
Joyce, much like my wife and I, took early retirement at age 62. This was after more than 40 years working in both public and private sectors, including serving as a CEO/founder of a non-profit housing organization. 

Whereas now, she is an expat enjoying retirement in Panama, where she provides online coaching combined with tours to support those who want to create an affordable yet stylish life overseas.

Joyce has always wanted to live abroad. And after realizing her goals of being an entrepreneur, as well as a homeowner, she followed her unfulfilled dream and built her a new life here in Panama. She has her own platform at www.BlastBoomer.com, which can be accessed by clicking on her tab from the PNO homepage.

We are happy to include her fresh and positive takes on the Ex-Pat experience to PNO. She is the “fabric softener” to my “heavy detergent”, and quite frankly brings a much needed informative opinion about what is GREAT about being in Panama. 

Joyce can provide help and insight on a wide array of topics that “everyone” can benefit from.  In addition to posting her content and having a link to her site, we will be adding an “ASK JOYCE” tab in which you can ask her  about……. dining, culture, night life, events, taxes, VISA questions, and other activities and issues that comprise the Panama experience. 

As we enter the second half of 2022, we at PNO are hopeful to continue to grow our content both with contributed writers as well as support of local businesses and ventures. 

That being said, join me in welcoming Joyce to our site, and take advantage of her wealth of information and positive outlook. Leave all the grumbling to “JB”. 

As always, Saludos friends. 

 

Pat,

Thank you! I am thrilled to be a part of Panama Online and to share my experiences as an expat here in Panama.

Life is good here and there is much to enjoy.

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"JB"
MI AMBIENTE sucks generally, but they are RIGHT on this point.

The equivalent of the “EPA” in PANAMA is “Mi AMBIENTE”. Who in my opinion are a “rudderless” agency that is generally “LOST at SEA” in terms of what is BEST for PANAMA environmentally. That being said, the attempts to “domesticate” and make PETS of wildlife is wrong on many levels, …

"JB"
US policy on Haitian immigrants carries the waft of racism given the current situation.

OP ED: by “JB”- Before all the REDS freak out, let me clarify. I am NOT in favor of recklessly open borders with anyone being able to enter the US unchecked or undocumented. In the same way I am NOT in favor of it here, and mention DARIEN probably more …

"JB"
PANAMA requires “REAL” western developers to take advantage of regional positivity.

OP ED: James “JB” Bryson- I certainly have much to critique about the way things are done in my adopted home here. I still feel that despite the “boon” we see in Panama City, there lies a 3rd world underbelly we can’t seem to shake. With every “Four Seasons” or …