JackieR Life Abroad

10/11/2026

☕ Pull Up a Chair. Coffee Break Is on Me!

Every Sunday, I share a little of my journey—starting over, living abroad, finding freedom, and discovering what matters most.

Sometimes it's practical advice. Sometimes it's a personal story. And sometimes, like this week's letter about Richard Roundtree, it's simply something from my heart.

Life Abroad Coffee Break is free, and I'd love for you to join us.

Subscribe here: https://jackierlifeabroad.com/join

Know another woman who's ready for a new chapter? Share this invitation with her.

Your next chapter deserves good company.

10/11/2026

The Richard Roundtree I Met—and the Story I Didn't Know

Years ago, while serving as Managing Editor of the Houston Forward Times, I met Richard Roundtree at a Black newspaper publishers conference in Chicago.

Yes, THE Richard Roundtree. Shaft himself!

We took a photograph together, and I've treasured that memory ever since.

What I didn't know at the time was that Richard had faced breast cancer—a diagnosis many people don't realize men can receive.

This October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that memory inspired something different for my Sunday newsletter.

Life Abroad Coffee Break | Issue 17 isn't about visas, travel, or retirement planning.

It's about love, friendship, cancer awareness, and the importance of showing up for the people who need us.

I'd love for you to join our growing Coffee Break community.

☕ Join free: https://jackierlifeabroad.com/join

And please share this invitation with a friend who could use a little encouragement today.

Because sometimes, the smallest act of love makes the biggest difference.

10/04/2026

What if your Uber ride suddenly ended in an accident? Would you know what to do next?

In this short video, I share what could happened, what to do next and what travelers should think about before using a rides hare abroad.

Preparation matters most when the unexpected happens.

Watch the video, then tell me: Would you know what to do after a rides hare accident in another country?

We’re building toward 1,000 JackieR Life Abroad YouTube subscribers before 2027. Watch, subscribe and share with someone planning her next chapter abroad.

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JackieR Life Abroad | Women 60+ Building Authentic Lives International
Discover resources, guides, and real stories at jackierlifeabroad.com

09/20/2026

If you've been researching Panama residency, there's a good chance you've read something that stopped being true in 2021.

The Friendly Nations visa used to be the easy route. It now requires a Panamanian job contract, $200,000 in titled property, or a $200,000 deposit held for three years. A lot of videos and blog posts still describe the old version.

What hasn't changed: Pensionado. A verifiable lifetime pension of $1,000 a month qualifies you for permanent residency, and Social Security counts.

One thing with a clock on it — the investor route's property minimum goes from $300,000 back to $500,000 on October 15.

I'm not an attorney, and you should confirm all of this with a Panamanian one. But the full breakdown, plus what private healthcare actually costs after 65, is on the channel now.

09/14/2026

What does it actually cost to live in Panama in 2026? I priced out three towns
for one woman living on her own — Panama City, David and Boquete — and the
numbers are not what the relocation videos suggest.

Panama City: $2,450/month, renting, no car
Boquete: $2,100/month, including running a car
David: $1,700/month, including running a car

Full breakdown of rent, food, utilities, transport and healthcare in each town,
plus who each place actually suits.

WHERE THESE NUMBERS COME FROM
I spent two weeks in Panama City in 2024 and kept my receipts. The David and
Boquete figures are reported by residents and long-term expats, not observed by
me, and I say so in the video. All prices are updated to 2026 and shown in U.S.
dollars, because Panama uses the dollar.

COMING NEXT
Panama Visa Rules Changed — What Retirees Need to Know in 2026. Healthcare,
the October 15 deadline, and who actually thrives down there. Subscribe so it
finds you.

MY SUNDAY LETTER
Life Abroad Coffee Break — same numbers, same honesty, none of the highlight
reel. https://jackierlifeabroad.com/join

PLANNING GUIDES
https://jackierlifeabroad.com

I'm JackieR. I moved abroad on my own at 71 and I make videos for women over 55
who are considering, planning, or already living an international life.


://jackierlifeabroad.com/join?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=panama_costs_2026&utm_content=Description

08/25/2026

https://youtu.be/LTYIaOpDsa4?si=zP5dij4SH9p9vtVU

One week ago the earth started shaking under my apartment in Cali, ...

08/17/2026

The ground shook here in Cali a few weeks ago.

I was on the patio with my coffee, listening to the birds like I do every morning. And in those first few seconds, I realized something uncomfortable.

I knew exactly where my passport was.

I had no idea what I was actually supposed to do.

Not panic — do.

That's the gap I want to close for you this week. Issue 9 of the Coffee Break is called "When the Ground Shakes, Be Ready — Not Afraid," and it's the conversation I wish someone had had with me before that morning.

Inside this week:

☕ What to actually do in the first 60 seconds
☕ The three things every expat should have ready before anything happens
☕ Why "be prepared" doesn't have to mean "be afraid"
☕ A preview of The Traveler's 23 Safety Tips Guide

Here's what I've learned at 73, two years into this life: fear is what fills the space where a plan should be. Once you have the plan, the fear has nowhere to sit.

The Coffee Break is free, and it lands in your inbox every week. Real costs, honest lessons, no scare tactics.

👉 jackierlifeabroad.com/join

08/10/2026

A Few Hours After the Cali Earthquake… Here’s What Happened A few hours after the earthquake in Cali, Colombia, I wanted to give you an update.

I’m safe, but it was a frightening experience. There are cracks in the building, my condo door was jammed after the quake, and residents initially evacuated and gathered outside.

Most people have returned to the building, but I’m staying alert and prepared to leave again if necessary.

Living abroad comes with incredible experiences — and sometimes unexpected moments like this. Today, safety comes first.

Thank you to everyone who has checked on me. ❤️

08/02/2026

Sunday reminds me that peace isn’t the absence of challenges—it’s the presence of faith in the middle of them.

Today, I’m choosing gratitude over worry, hope over fear, and faith over uncertainty.

Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Sunday. ❤️

07/31/2026

$30.000 for lunch?! 😳 Don't panic — that's about $7.50.

When I moved to Cali at 71, Colombian money was the thing that tripped me up most. All those zeros made every little purchase feel enormous. Then I learned one simple trick and shopping with cash finally made sense. 🙌

Here's the cheat code:
💵 Drop the last 3 zeros
➗ Divide by about 4
✅ That's your price in US dollars

Watch the full video for the rest — the bills and coins you'll actually use, the "mil" market shortcut, and why you should always keep small bills on you.

📌 Save this for your Colombia trip or move, and send it to someone who's dreaming about life abroad.

📄 Free printable Cash Cheat Sheet is on my website — link in bio.

Plan. Prepare. Thrive. 🌅

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