These warnings to prospects are timely and useful, but are starting to make me wonder what I am not getting. We spent a month in Boquete last January and are scheduled for another 3 weeks this coming January, including a week at Habla Ya. We tried to do some exploring last year and plan for more this year - mainly the area between David and Boquete. I would also like to confirm whether or not my impression of Volcan was fair. I thought it was kind of dismal overall. Where we live now we have basic services - one each of grocery, pharmacy, bank, post office, and a whole buncha churches. A few restaurants but none worth eating at. Several real estate offices, a part-time vet, medical clinic and one lawyer (me). No garbage pickup. Heat is by propane. Water is lake intake with filter and UV, but for drinking we use refillable exchangable large jugs. Just to be sure We are surrounded by lakes and forests and little traffic except summer long weekends when the tourists come. For restaurants, movies and shopping we have a choice - 40 minutes south or 90 minutes east to the city. This is in the heart of eastern Ontario and the city I referred to - the one that is 90 minutes away - is Canada's capital city. So you might understand that for me, moving to a mini-tropolis like Boquete is a significant step up in terms of lifestyle and in terms of infrastructure. I was very impressed with the roads and public transportation in Panama. We have been broken into while away 3 times in 10 years and had our ATV stolen. My bad, that one! So: need I fear culture shock? Am I unprepared for life in the Chiriqui Highlands? (honest question, I don't do snark) Stephen