- Lisa Kauffman was over Florida's hurricanes and the faster pace of life in the US.
- In 2023, Kauffman moved to a remote Panamanian island, where she now lives off the grid.
- Living in Panama has been a "game changer" for Kauffman, who said she's happier and more relaxed.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lisa Kauffman, a 55-year-old teacher with a background in biology and special education. She moved to an island in the Caribbean Sea near Bocas del Toro, a collection of other islands, and about 10 hours from Panama City. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I've lived everywhere but spent the last 16 years in Florida, most recently in Fort Myers.
I moved there at a really good time — right when the housing market had crashed in 2008. I got a great deal on my house: a four-bedroom, three-bath home with a pool. My interest rate was around 3%, and my monthly mortgage was about $1,200.
However, over the years, my home insurance premiums increased after each hurricane that hit Florida. As a teacher and a single parent, this was very challenging.
Spending the rest of my life in Florida wasn't part of my dream.
While I loved the beach and the ocean and had great friends, I didn't have the lifestyle I envisioned for myself. I'd been through so many hurricanes, and the state's fast-paced energy wasn't for me.
In 2022, I visited Panama for the first time and met up with friends of friends — a couple who lived on a private island in an archipelago off the coast of Costa Rica, near Bocas del Toro.
When I returned to the States, I decided, "I'm doing it. I'm moving to Panama."
I took a leap of faith to move out of Florida
I put my house up for sale in the summer of 2022 for $525,000.
After Hurricane Ian damaged my home, I had to get my roof fixed before I could move. After repairing it, I sold the house and made about $300,000.
In 2023, I purchased a one-way ticket to Panama, planning to live on the private island I had previously visited in 2022.
I brought only a suitcase and my dog, Minnie, with me. I sold my car for about $23,000 and left everything else behind — all the furniture stayed with the house. I also pulled money from my retirement funds.
I invested $200,000 in a corporation the couple I met in 2022 is part of, giving me a 50% share. Together, we own two acres of the 18-acre private island. There are many ways to acquire real estate in Panama, and this is just one of them.
I went this route instead of buying property outright because I'm not sure if I'll be staying on the island forever. If I decide to sell my home, the proceeds will be split 50/50, making it a simple transaction.
I live off the grid and my day-to-day expenses are low
The island I live on is remote.
The nearest major city is Panama City. To get there, you take a 25-minute boat ride to the mainland, then drive about eight to nine hours to the city.
I had to buy a boat to get around — about $14,000 — and learn how to drive it.
The island is stunning, with dolphins everywhere and countless parrots.
The ocean surrounding it is equally incredible. I've lived in Hawaii and been to Thailand, but the water here is like Fiji's.
I live in a one-bedroom casita that I built for about $60,000. The property also has a boathouse and a large dock.
I can see nearby islands from my window. A sloth visits my home now and then, and I even found a tarantula in my bathroom the other day.
My house is off-grid, which has always been a dream.
I just upgraded the solar panels on my home, which cost about $20,000. I also have a small AC unit, powered by solar energy, in my bedroom.
My neighbors on other islands don't have access to the electrical grid or water, so even their bigger, beautiful homes are also fully self-sufficient and sustainable.
Living off the grid can be challenging sometimes.
If there isn't enough solar power during the day, I have to rely on the generator.
When friends visit, I often have to turn off lights and appliances after they use them. We also have large water storage tanks instead of a municipal water system, which can be concerning during the dry season.
I live on about $1,000 a month.
My only bills are my Starlink internet and phone. Starlink costs $55 a month, and my phone bill is $100 monthly since I still have a US phone plan.
I also continue to work for a company in New York that teaches high school students science. I pick up hours as needed, teaching virtual classes.
I'm not going back to the US
Living in Panama has been a game changer.
I love having my own schedule and not dealing with the demands of life in the US. There are also a lot of hiking and outdoor activities to enjoy, like scuba diving, snorkeling, and more.
The weather is much better here, too. I'm on the Caribbean side of Panama, which is outside the hurricane belt, so we don't get major hurricanes.
There are things I do miss about living in the States.
At times, living on a remote island can feel lonely. There are plenty of expats in Panama, and I've met some locals, but it's still hard to maintain a social life.
I also miss some of the conveniences — like getting a pedicure or just going to a café for breakfast with friends. There aren't any large grocery stores like in the US, so it's a simpler way of living.
Even still, I am enjoying the simple life. Minnie is, too. She loves running around like a maniac.
I don't plan on moving back to the States anytime soon — though I could see myself relocating to an island closer to Bocas del Toro.