It’s been quite a while since I’ve been here on the blog. There just hasn’t been much to talk about. I’m finally recovering from that dang cold that hung on forever. The band has been keeping me busy between gigs, practice, and learning new songs. There is just way too much interesting music out there, and we always find more songs than we can possibly learn!
Life in Panama is going on as usual. After five years everything is just normal life, and it’s easy to forget that to others it’s all new and interesting. We woke up today to no power and very little water. The power came back shortly, but now it’s out again. The power is usually quite reliable so this is unusual. Oh! It’s on again, just a short outage, never mind.
The water is less reliable. It may be inconvenient but it’s not that big a deal. We have stored water on hand, and it’s usually out for a few hours or maybe half a day. It’s been out longer only a couple times but they sent a water truck around to fill any container you gave them. Today was a short outage, and if you want more water there is plenty pouring off the roof at the moment.
We are in the rainiest of the rainy season right now. The rain should taper off over the next month until it stops entirely in mid/late December. I know it’s a hassle for people out and about, but I love the rain. Morning are usually clear and beautiful, a good time to be out if there are things to do. Then, come home in the afternoon, enjoy the rain when it comes, and enjoy the cool air. I love sitting on the terrace and looking at the yard when everything is so lush and green.
Oh yes, earthquake! We were driving home from a gig last night and didn’t feel it, but many others did. It was a 6.5 in central Costa Rica. We have felt quite a few others though. It’s a very odd feeling to have the ground under you shaking and moving, and a good reminder that we are only small beings on this massive and powerful earth.
Otherwise… we still have birds, bugs, lizards, and other wildlife, often in the house. There was a very interesting bug in the shower the other day, like a large, long legged spider with a beetle body, but only six legs so not a spider. I should have taken a picture but I was busy trying to trap him while Joel stood on the drain where he had seen the bug escape before. I managed to get it outside where it scurried off PDQ.
The rain seems to be tapering off, but the thunder is still strong enough to set off a car alarm nearby. I have a good size metal baking pan that I use as a birdbath. It was empty when the rain started and now it’s overflowing, and I’ve seen it rain way more than this at other times. But, this is the tropics where the air is warm, and the water that falls from the sky is also warm so life goes on through it all.
Life in Panama… it’s a pretty chill life if you want it to be. Nobody cares if you haven’t mowed your yard in a month, or if your dog barks, or if you are having band practice in your house for four hours, or if your laundry has been hanging in the carport for days. Enjoy life. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff. Life is good.
The Panama Adventure 
Hi Kris , don’t know what happened I was writing this then it went blank now I’m starting all over again, my question is I’m going to rent a house in bugaba , but it’s unfurnished no stove , no fridge , where can I buy furniture in David or else where , if in good condition used is fine also , I was interested in you car for sale but I need furniture more at this point including bedroom stuff , what are some places you could recommend, I know most places will deliver so that’s a plus, I’m still in Las Vegas right now but would like to see my options before I come back and know what price ranges are available, any help is appreciated, thanks Kris , PS I’ve been back in USA for less then a month and it’s a no brainer , Panama is sooooo stress free, David
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Hate it when that happens. Bugaba, huh? You’ll have the real Panama experience, immersion in the culture.
Are you on Facebook? I believe there is a buy sell Chiriqui group that might be helpful. There are also Boquete groups with looking at. It seems people are coming and going all the time and have things to sell.
For new things there are many options, Pricesmart, DoIt Center, Novey, Multimax, just name a few. Outside of Panama City, David is the most happening place and many come here to shop, so you can find everything here and at a variety of price ranges. You can’t find cheap used stuff though. Things get used and passed along until there is no more use in them, so your best bet there is with expats.
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What type of music does the band play?
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It was mostly 60’s and 70’s rock and roll and some blues, but now with me on bass we are branching out a lot, soul, 80’s, punk, heavy metal. It’s interesting because we have two separate audiences, the gringos at one place who want to dance to their favorites, and the Panamanians at the other place who want the hard rocking stuff where we can try absolutely anything.
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Hola amiga, I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your music so much. I hadn’t realized Gary had left and you took his place. Good for you Kris! Woman of many talents for sure.
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He kept running off to Colombia and leaving the band in the lurch so I figured I’d try learning. Once we saw it was working I went full time and he moved to Colombia, I think not far from you, some lake with a huge rock in the middle. Track him down on Facebook and it says where he is somewhere there.
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Are you in David over Thanksgiving or are you heading to the States to see your family???
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We are going back to see family. The whole family will be together to celebrate the second birthdays of the two granddaughters. Fun times, but we will be back soon.
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