Eight Degrees North

18/02/2026

21/12/2025

There’s a moment every expat has when they realize the rules have changed—and no one gave them the new rulebook. Ours came about a week after moving in, when the water stopped, the tanks suddenly made sense, and a neighbor named Santa saved the day with a pool hose. This week’s blog is all about learning how utilities really work here… plus a brownie-related internet fail.

When we bought our house in Puerto, Gary couldn’t figure out why every home had one of those giant green tanks sitting out back. The realtor assured us there was city water, so the tanks seemed unnecessary.Well. We found out “the why” pretty quickly.About a week after moving in, Gary was getti...

16/12/2025

I’m a couple of days late with this one, but honestly, that feels on brand. Life here has a way of laughing at schedules. This week’s blog dives into the small follies, misunderstandings, and ongoing comedy of learning how things work when “normal” no longer applies. Grab a coffee (or wine, depending on the time of day) and enjoy the ride.

On our second trip to Panama in November 2020, we arranged with our Airbnb host to rent the same beach house for six months when we returned in January. We were sure Playa Las Lajas was going to be home. The plan was simple enough: move in, quarantine our two dogs, Mandie and Joey, and start this ne...

11/12/2025

PLEASE IF YOU FOLLOW US, OR IF YOU ARE PERSONAL FRIENDS OF OURS, SHARE THIS POST. IT IS AMAZING JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY BE THINKING OF MOVING TO PANAMA. WE KNOW PERSONALLY OF AT LEAST 2 PEOPLE IN BOUNDARY COUNTY ALONE WHO HAVE MOVED HERE( one who bought our treadmill in Naples back in 2017 way before either of us even thought about moving), EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT LIVE IN OUR AREA. WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP....

🌴 Motivated Seller — One-of-a-Kind Opportunity in Las Palmas!
Discover a rare chance to own the only fully turn-key property in Las Palmas offering an ocean view, a private pool, and a modern casita—all on a fully titled and fully fenced 1.25-acre estate.

This historic Chiquita Executive Plantation Home blends timeless character with modern upgrades, giving you a unique property built to last generations.

Price: $479,000.00
Main House: 3,400 sq. ft.
Casita: 750 sq. ft. (2021 build)

Upstairs: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths (one ensuite), office/3rd bedroom, large kitchen, open-air living, laundry nook.
Downstairs: Full kitchen, 12-seat dining area, gas + electric cooking, dishwasher, covered open-air patio—perfect for entertaining.
The casita offers 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, full kitchen, and excellent rental income potential.

Enjoy your own private fiberglass pool (2022) with a soaking tub and waterfall, plus a beautifully tiled patio with custom lighting and handcrafted almond wood features.
Solar power, 3,400 liters of water storage, security system, and a peaceful cul-de-sac location at the quiet end of Las Palmas.

A true turn-key tropical haven filled with fruit trees, ocean breezes, and daily wildlife sightings.

📲 Contact: WhatsApp +1 208-255-9018
📩 Email: [email protected]

08/12/2025

For the past week, something has been tripping one of our security cameras, and at first we were completely stumped. Whatever it is keeps toddling across the roll-up screen downstairs, right up close to the camera lens like it’s auditioning for a tiny wildlife documentary.

At first glance it looked kind of like a kitten… but too small. Or a mouse… but too big. Basically, the Goldilocks of mystery creatures.

Last night the camera caught it three times, and in one of the videos it actually froze mid-walk like it suddenly remembered it left the stove on. All we can see are its little ears and glowing eyes as it strolls past.

Gary has now heroically adjusted the camera angle so next time this little guest will either have to walk straight toward the camera or dramatically exit stage left.

After doing some serious sleuthing (which, by the way, I absolutely love), I’ve landed on my official theory: it might be a Kinkajou, AKA....a honey bear!

Yep. A real animal. A real mystery. A real plot twist.

Stay tuned — once we know for sure, we’ll share the results. Hopefully tonight.

07/12/2025

Just casually living our best life in a country where the ground moves for fun. 🫠 New blog is up — earthquakes, house surfing, and why I no longer trust solid

Earthquakes are just part of life in Panama. Let’s not even pretend otherwise.Like the rainy season, they seem to come in waves—sometimes quiet for weeks, then suddenly everyone’s phone buzzes with “Did you feel that?” messages. I don’t spend much time thinking about them until one actua...

01/12/2025

“Hey everyone, welcome to our little piece of paradise here in Puerto Armuelles, Panama.
If you’ve been looking for a home in Las Palmas, you probably already know how rare it is to find something with real privacy and usable outdoor space…
But what makes this property unique is that it’s the only home in Las Palmas that has a pool, a standalone guesthouse, and an oceanview!

“Let me show you around.
Downstairs is our favorite place to spend time — it’s a completely open-air living space with tons of room for cooking, relaxing, and entertaining.
We’ve put in a full kitchen area, a huge dining space, and at night this whole area just glows with warm lighting.
If you love the tropical lifestyle, this is the area you’ll use every single day.”

“Step outside and this is where it really feels like a retreat.
The pool gets sun most of the day, and the yard is big — plenty of room to garden, play, or just relax and listen to the birds.
We spend so many evenings out here with a breeze coming in from the ocean. It just feels peaceful.”

“And the casita.
It’s a completely separate guesthouse — perfect for visitors, family, or even rental income if you want it.
There are no homes in this area that have one, and none have all three features together.”

“If you want more photos, videos, or details about the property, everything is on our website at EightDegreesNorth.com.
Thanks for watching, and if you’re looking for a home in Las Palmas, we’d love for you to take a closer look.”

30/11/2025

Apparently “Lo siento, poquito español” translates to “Please speak faster and use slang.” Panama is humbling me daily

New blog post!

There were very few Spanish words I knew before moving to Panama. “Sí” was one of them.My go-to phrase early on was, “Lo siento, poquito español.”In Panamanian , that apparently translates to something like,“Ah, you know enough Spanish for me to answer in full-speed, Spanish.”What I ac...

28/11/2025

This is it! Fully titled and fully fenced. The only house in the esteemed Chiquita Las Palmas neighborhood that has a pool, an expansive view of the ocean and a stand alone guest house.

A total of 5 bedrooms and 3 baths

The property is level and sweeping, filled with flowers, pineapple, 3 different avocado trees, many banana plants and 2 types of oranges.

Check out www.eightdegreesnorth.com for a complete listing and photos

26/11/2025

🌴 Las Palmas’ ONLY home with BOTH ocean views and a private pool!

Wake up to ocean breezes, spend your afternoons by the pool, and host friends in your private guest casita—all in one incredible property.

✨ Highlights:

3BR/2BA historic Chiquita home

2BR/1BA casita (ideal for rental!)

Pool + waterfall + soaking tub

1.5 acres | Solar | Security | Fruit trees

💲 $479,900
📍 Las Palmas, Puerto Armuelles

👉 See what makes this home one-of-a-kind: Eightdegreesnorth.com

23/11/2025

Ever had a tooth betray you mid-snack? Because I have.
My latest blog post is all about how Cheetos, pain-induced Spanglish, and a very patient dentist got me through a mini dental crisis. 😂🦷

It started innocently enough—me, a bag of Cheetos, and a craving for a little taste of home. You know the ones I’m talking about: perfectly puffy, not too big, not too small, that ideal crunch that tastes like childhood and regret in equal measure.Somewhere between handful two and three, my mola...