Renewing in Panama, Our First Year
This blog celebrates our first anniversary living in Panama City, Panama. When we arrived on September 9, 2024, we committed to documenting our journey with the theme “Renew, NOT Retired.” A year later, that phrase still rings true. While we are sharing more detailed posts in a multipart series, this entry highlights the milestones of our first year—offered in the spirit of helping others who may be considering life abroad.
PANAMA RELOCATION TOUR (PRT)PANAMA INTERNATIONAL (PAINT) CHURCHPENSIONADO VISAEL CANGREJO (THE CRAB)
Wayne Karl Driver
9/9/20252 min read
Moving to Panama has opened doors we never knew existed. Early on, we decided to share this journey with family, friends, and anyone curious about what it looks like to begin life in a new country. Our blog started on a simple platform, but we eventually made the leap to Hostinger, allowing us to expand and tell our story more fully.
Here are the key milestones of our first year in Panama:
Pre-Move
August 2–9, 2024: We joined the Panama Relocation Tour (PRT), seeing the country from the city to the beach, to the mountains, and back again.
August 10, 2024: With the help of our realtor, Antonio, we found our future apartment. The third showing was the charm!
August 11, 2024: We visited what would become our new church home, Panama International (PAINT) Church.
August 12, 2024: We met with immigration attorney Marianna to start the residency process.
August 13, 2024: We met with a doctor to establish a health baseline—eye-opening, but necessary.
August 14, 2024: Temporary Pensionado Visa approved!
August 15, 2024: We flew home to Boone, North Carolina, to prepare for the big move.
Relocation
September 9, 2024: The official move! We boarded our plane with seven suitcases and landed at Tocumen International Airport. Renewal had begun.
September 11, 2024: We took possession of our condo in El Cangrejo (the Crab).
October 21, 2024: Tamara received Worldwide Medical Insurance.
November 3 & 28, 2024: We celebrated Panama’s Independence Days (from Colombia and Spain).
December 25, 2024 & January 1, 2025: Our first Christmas and New Year in Panama City.
Taking Care of Business
Over the next six months, we:
Set up utilities in our names.
Opened a Panamanian bank account (with plenty of help from Google Translate and a smile).
Navigated medical insurance and appointments.
Learned local apps like Yappy for payments.
Became official members of PAINT Church.
Home Away from Home
December 2024: After celebrating Tamara’s sister Denise’s 65th birthday on a Viking Cruise, we went to Orlando, Florida. There, we established a U.S. domicile in Bushnell, secured Florida driver’s licenses, and—of course—library cards!
We also visited the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center.
The New Year
February 2, 2025: Our first visitor! Tamara’s college classmate and sorority sister, Gennine, came to Panama.
February 2025: Wayne began collecting Social Security.
February 13, 2025: Our permanent Panamanian visas were approved. Too legit!
May 2025: Medicare began for Wayne.
August 17, 2025: We applied for the Cédula (Panamanian national ID).
The Wrap Up
Our first year went by in a blur—full of unknowns, challenges, and life adjustments. But at every step, God met us with helpers, open doors, and fresh perspectives.
Better Health
Less Stress
New Friends
Less Stuff
Beautiful Sunrises
Good Food
Daily Dates
For a deeper dive into these experiences, check out our multi-part blogs—starting with🎉 Our One-Year “Pana-Versary” in Panama!.
Journey
Serving and supporting others as we go.
© 2025. All rights reserved.
Mission
Discovering cultures, cuisine, and geography across the globe.