Prelude
I recently read an article from Casey Research that truly describes my reasoning for living in Panama and specifically Boquete.
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Freedom
Like many of the subscribers to our publications – individuals who look past the popular media in an attempt to understand what’s really going on in the world – I periodically get frustrated, irritated even, at what I see going on in the US and other developed countries.
It brings to mind the bumper sticker slogan, “If you aren’t mad, you aren’t paying attention.”
But anger and frustration are decidedly negative emotions. And life is far too short to spend angrily contemplating lost freedoms or resources squandered in the name of the “greater good.”
That said, sticking your head in the sand and hoping for the best when you can so clearly see what’s coming would be foolish in the extreme.
Life Fully Explored
Most people have what Doug Casey half-jokingly calls a “medieval serf” mentality. Which is to say that they are born, live and die within the same geographic area. This point was underscored recently by a report that just 30% of Americans hold a valid passport!
While living a life of strict limits may work for most, there’s a far smaller group for whom the horizon spreads far beyond the local strip mall and encompasses the world as it is – a planet made up of an incredibly rich and varied landscape of customs, cuisines and cultures.
“Everybody, understandably, wants to live in a place where their neighbors share the same world view, and laws and customs accommodate what’s important to them. I applaud the trend; if anyone organizes an up-market libertarian community somewhere, let me know.” Doug Casey, International Speculator, April 2002
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Well Doug, I have found such a place and with that I present you with Boquete and a new plan for a community here.
Boquete
Boquete is a small town on the Caldera River, tucked into the green mountain highlands of Panama, in western-most Chiriquí Province, about 60 km. from the border with Costa Rica. Because of its altitude, some 1,200 metres above sea level, its climate is refreshingly cooler than that of the lowlands. Its scenic location, temperature, and natural environment make it extremely popular with Panamanians, and with tourists from all over the world. In Spanish, the word Boquete means ‘gap or opening’. It was through this gap that curious gold seekers trekked, looking for a cheaper and quicker way to the Pacific. Farmers began settling the region near the end of the 19th Century. By the early 20th century, several villages had been populated. In addition to tourism, its main industry remains agriculture, especially the growing of coffee beans.
Some of its landmarks include nearby Volcán Barú, a dormant volcano and, at 3,475 meters, the tallest point of land in Panama. Hikers enjoy a relatively easy hike up and over the volcano, along the Sendero de los Quetzales, which runs from Boquete up to Cerro Punta and Volcan, on the other side of the volcano. Boquete is well known for its coffee, judged to be among the finest in the world. The Caldera River runs through the town, a river that has shaped much of its form.
The district of Boquete has approximately 25,000 inhabitants. More recently, Boquete has become the second home to many North American and European retirees. Some 14% of its population are of foreign origin, according to La Prensa, a national newspaper. Ex-pats are attracted by the comfortable climate, excellent potable water, and clean air, by the tranquility, and by Panama’s relatively low cost of living. AARP consistently ranks Boquete in the top ten places to retire in the world.
Boquete Eco Village
An ecological community
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” – Buckminster Fuller.
Eco villages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50–150 individuals. Larger of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller sub communities to create an ecovillage model that allows for social networks within a broader foundation of support. Certain ecovillages have grown by the nearby addition of others, not necessarily members, settling on the periphery of the ecovillage and effectively participating in the ecovillage community.
Intentional living typically refers to an individuals awareness and choice of lifestyle. However, whereas lifestyle refers to “a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group,” intentional living refers not simply to any way of life, but to those intentionally chosen by an individual based on awareness of her/his values and fundamental beliefs.
Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resource and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. Proponents of sustainable living aim to conduct their lives in manners that are consistent with sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanity’s symbiotic relationship with the Earth’s natural ecology and cycles. The practice and general philosophy of ecological living is highly interrelated with the overall principles of sustainable development.
The Path
The Setting
My Dream
Up the road from town is an agricultural area that is situated and oriented along the east west axis of the sun and is very popular for green house vegetable production. The soil is rich, the roads are in top shape, it has two sources of water and three phase power. I found a 3 hectare or 7.41 acre parcel of land that would make a perfect setting for an idea I have for a small eco community of cluster homes, each of which will have incredible views as it has sloping topography. I see a community green house for home grown organic vegetables, a chicken coop for farm fresh organic eggs, duck pond and aquaponic set up for fish and fowl and a small coffee farm. I have seen this done on a private estate and it can easily be done on a little larger scale to service 15 or 20 residences.
See more greenhouse pictures here
Again, a 10 minute drive away and you are back in the town of Boquete.
The Concept
Cluster homes are set up in such a fashion as to maximize common area yet provide privacy and security. Los Pinos in Volvancito and Boquete Gardens which I developed a few years are but two examples of this concept that have been successfully developed here in Boquete. Both are extremely desirable and offer a home owner security of being with close in neighbors yet private enough to sit out side and enjoy nature. Common area and the “farm” could be maintained by community grounds keepers that would keep the cost per home to a minimum, eliminate individual owners upkeep issues and maximize enjoyability of this kind of life style.
This plan shows 9 homes on 6,900 m2 and the site I am speaking of is over 30,000 m2 so there is ample room to expand the homes sites and add the “farm”. The site sits above a huge forest below that can never be cut down and the site access can be easily controlled.
I see smaller homes of 2 to 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, green design, low impact homes with outdoor living space taking advantage of the “eternal spring weather” in Boquete. Price point will be in the $295,000 to $325,000 range.
Participate in community and enjoy the outdoors in Boquete.
Live !!
I visited Boquete last week and wish I had read this 2 weeks ago!