| Moving
around the world trying to find a decent place to live can be pretty hard
going for anyone, but as you get older it's harder in every respect.
You get tired a darn sight quicker than you used to do. Trying to live
on the income from a small investment and an even smaller pension doesn't
help either. And as inflation slowly but surely eats away your capital
life grows more difficult with each passing season. As a young man I traveled
around the world without a care, but getting old really focuses your attention
on the time you have left and where best you should spend it.
I'm British
by birth but I gave up wanting to live there long ago. Too crowded,
rotten weather, and today it's as close to a police state as you'll ever
get in Western Europe. A fool's paradise if ever there was one. So the
UK is definitely out for me. I lived all over Africa for almost ten years,
but the crime, corruption and the Aid's epidemic made me never want to
live there again. Or even want visit it come to that.
Holland and
its people, I have always liked. But it's an expensive country to live
in; there's no scenery worth talking about. And it's cold, cold in Winter. |
|
|
|
|
|
| I love
the French Rivera too, but you have to be close to a millionaire to
buy anything decent along the coast these days. Greece is nice, if you
don't mind the crowds and the pollution. Spain is full of British louts
- and crime along the entire coastline seems to increase each year. Not
to mention the antiquated Spanish banking system.
Having been
all over North, Central and South America
a couple of times I again considered retiring to Florida in the USA, as
I had once before, but on going there and driving throughout the entire
state I found nothing that made me want to actually live there today. The
same went for Arizona. Yet on moving further on to Palm Springs in California
I fell in love with the place just as I had done forty years before.
Palm Springs
is a lovely little town. Very safe by American standards too. And,
of course, the climate is great here. But if you aren't into golf and other
sports, there isn't very much to do that is interesting to an old timer
with a young heart. Though being a conference town you do get some interesting
events taking place now and then. The Biker Weekend, which is around September
every year, draws bikers from all over the country and their exhibition
stalls are really something to see. |
|
|
| At the
other end of the scale, there are also some very good antique shops,
too. And, of course, there are some very nice restaurants if you are into
food, but the good eating places aren't cheap by any means. Palm Springs
is quite an expensive place to live, as can be expected of a film star
colony, though many local people with a good job and an income might deny
that. Still, "The Springs" is a good place to be and the natives are very
friendly indeed. Most appear to live off the holiday trade. Which comes
into its own between April and September. The town is packed with visitors
every weekend. Otherwise, the town is very quiet.
Visitors
here come to wonder about and stare down at the Hollywood stars who
have their names set into the pavement all along downtown Palm Canyon Drive,
hoping, no doubt, that they might just see a movie star during their short
stay. And sometimes they do. |
|
|
Offshore
Resources Gallery
|
|
|
| Anybody
who is anybody has a home here in Palm Springs, even though they might
only be in use a few weeks a year. And though these very famous people
usually keep pretty much to their very private estates, they do on occasion
wonder out to mix with the peasants. I have seen a few film stars myself.
Nobody here bothers them, like they might do in Europe. This is their turf,
their town, and most of them are very nice people indeed. Not showy at
all when they are relaxing. In fact, if you ever visit Palm Springs, you
just might find yourself sitting next to Barry Manilow, Kirk Douglas, or
Jennifer Lopez in one of the local restaurants.
Much of
the Palm Springs lifestyle centers around the local watering holes.
Most of us like a drink now and then and the climate here offers the perfect
excuse to indulge our pleasure at will. My own favorite bars are The
Hair of the Dog, The Peanut Gallery, and the Elbo Room.
The Village Pub is also a very popular watering hole. "Melvin's"
bar at the Ingleside Inn is a hangout for the rich and famous and the preferred
haunt of many film stars who live here or just visit occasionally. The
hefty price of drinks at Melvin's and accommodation at the Ingleside
Inn helps to keep out the Riff-Raff which the movie stars prefer, sometimes. |
|
|
| Though
the atmosphere in many bars has been lost due to the ridiculous Californian
"No Smoking in Bars" law. Which has led to the closure of many small watering
holes that were treasured by the communities surrounding them. Yes, Palm
Springs can at times be a swinging town, but for the retired on a low income
it's just too expensive.
So again
I find myself mentally preparing to move on again. Naturally, I have considered
Mexico. I have lived there before, many years ago. I thought about Belize
too. But the poor roads, the lack of them, plus the mosquitoes and poor
Internet access put me off completely. I love my computer and can't imagine
not being well connected.
Having traveled
all over South America, I can't honestly say that I am attracted to anywhere
there in particular either. |
|
|
Offshore
Resources Gallery
|
| But I do
have fond memories of Panama. I first visited the city a very long
time ago, but still remember how decent and kind the people there were
to me. Indeed, at that time I arrived during a student riot when cars were
being overturned and burned, but I was taken under the wing of one young
man who protected me from harm, showed me all over the city, introduced
me to his family, and later helped me get onto a boat that took me on the
first stages of my trip through the Darien Straits.
Yes. I made
it all the way through. Fools rush in where angels fear to tred. But that's
another story.
I have now
decided that Panama will be my final resting-place. A stable government
at last, good roads, and an economy I can afford, make a very strong case
for my going there to renew the pleasure Panama afforded me all those years
ago. I loved the country then, and I feel sure that I shall love it even
more today.
I love driving
too. I have driven all over the world and as my driving days are numbered
I shall make the very best of them by driving from Palm Springs to Panama
City in my old but so far very reliable BMW. Indeed, I am looking forward
to the trip. But before I start, I have preparations to make. So if anyone
reading this who has done the trip recently and can tell me the best possible
route with further info on any troublesome border crossings or places to
avoid I shall be grateful for their advice. |
|
Article
Index ~ Panama
Index ~ |
