International Living Community

Hi Abby I left another reiy below. I suggested a couple who have extensive house sitting experience who might be able to help you focus on some other places to look. Here is her addess: terry_coles@yahoo.com Chip Stites, IL Italy Correspondent.

Hi Coury, I wanted to follow up on my previus response. We visited and loved Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche but it is not a 7% town as it is too large. Here is a list of Le Marche towns that fit your desired 7% tax offer. Acquacanina (MC); Acquasanta Terme (AP); Amandola (FM); Apiro (MC); Appignano del Tronto (AP); Arquata del Tronto (AP); Ascoli Piceno; Belforte del Chienti (MC); Belmonte Piceno (FM); Bolognola (MC); Caldarola (MC); Camporotondo di Fiastrone (MC); Castel di Lama (AP); Castelraimondo (MC); Castelsantangelo sul Nera (MC); Castignano (AP); Castorano (AP); Cerreto D’esi (AN); Cessapalombo (MC); Cingoli (MC); Colli del Tronto (AP); Colmurano (MC); Comunanza (AP); Corridonia (MC); Cossignano (AP); Esanatoglia (MC); Fabriano (AN); Falerone (FM); Fiastra (MC); Fiordimonte (MC); Fiuminata (MC); Folignano (AP); Force (AP); Gagliole (MC); Gualdo (MC); Loro Piceno (MC); Macerata; Maltignano (AP); Massa Fermana (FM);
Matelica (MC); Mogliano (MC); Monsapietro Morico (FM); Montalto delle Marche (AP); Montappone (FM); Monte Rinaldo (FM); Monte San Martino (MC); Monte Vidon Corrado (FM); Montecavallo (MC); Montedinove (AP); Montefalcone Appennino (FM); Montefortino (FM); Montegallo (AP); Montegiorgio (FM); Monteleone (FM); Montelparo (FM); Montemonaco (AP); Muccia (MC); Offida (AP); Ortezzano (FM); Palmiano (AP); Penna San Giovanni (MC); Petriolo (MC); Pieve Torina (MC); Pievebovigliana
(MC); Pioraco (MC); Poggio San Vicino (MC); Pollenza (MC); Ripe San Ginesio (MC); Roccafluvione (AP); Rotella (AP); San Ginesio (MC); San Severino Marche (MC); Santa Vittoria in Matenano (FM); Sant’Angelo in Pontano (MC); Sarnano (MC); Sefro (MC); Serrapetrona (MC); Serravalle del Chienti (MC); Servigliano (FM); Smerillo (FM); Tolentino (MC); Treia (MC); Urbisaglia (MC); Ussita (MC); Venarotta (AP); Visso (MC).
Camerino ( MC);

As you can see there are quite a few! There are more in Abruzzo, and more in Umbria and Lazio. I will be happy to send you a complete list if you wish, please write me at info@thelaughingretirement.com. Also please be aware that all of the towns in the autonomous regions of Central Italy are in the earthquake zone and that is why they are listed. So, you are not put off we live in one of the towns in Lazio listed or over 7 years and have felt, one time a gentle bump and that is all. I hope this helps your search. My best, Chip Stites, IL Correspondent for Italy.

Hi Abby and thank you for the question. What you are looking for seems to be a house sitting job here in Italy. That is smart as you will save on the costs on living while you learn about the region. The downside is that the job determines where you go. It doesnt allow you to determine the topography, climate or style of life you want to live. I.E., Rural, city, expat community or non expat community. What I woud suggest is two-fold. First do some research to determine the climate, topography, and lifestylle you are looking for. For example it you love to walk up and down hills and love the idea of a midieval hilltop town, with no expats, then focus on jobs that allow you to do that. If you want city life then look there. Second I would send you to two people who are expert house sitters and have had jobs all over the world on most of the continents of the world. Terry Coles and her husband are experts and can show you how to focus in and where to look to apply for just the right job. Here is Terry's email Good luck. terry_coles@yahoo.com.

Terry and her husband have written a book about thier travels. Good hunting! I hope this helps. Chip Stites, IL Italy Correspondent.

Hi Shawn, I'm Bel, the Mexico Correspondent and I'm with you, Mexico has so many beautiful places to choose from. What I would recommend is going to the home page and under the countries tab you'll find Mexico. If you scroll all the way to the bottom there are nearly 40 locations listed. Each one has it's own page so you can get a good feel for the location. It's kind of fun to look at all the places and you'll find a bunch that you may want to visit.
Have fun exploring.

Hi Cori,

In Boquete and indeed in any mountain town in Panama it pays to study the microclimates over an extended stay. Talk to immediate neighbors for the latest intel. In the greater Boquete district some areas may be windier or rainier while others may get lighter showers. The area known as Volcancito, for example, is notoriously windy. Ask neighbors to share experiences not just from this year or last but, if possible, over a five-year period. Panama is always affected by the El Niño and La Niña weather patterns; the former brings us drier weather (or droughts in parts of the country) and can last a year or more while La Niña ushers in a year or more of wetter weather (or flooding in parts of the country, including mountain regions).

No matter where you live in Boquete, though, it's very lush with frequent misty rain referred to as bajareque which means humidity is always high. Homes tend to be built with this in mind. E.g. slatted closet and cabinet doors can help keep clothing and shoes from getting musty or moldy, and some homes have air conditioning units even though the springlike temperatures mean you don't really need a/c (or heating). Running the a/c regularly can help you keep your home dry.

In a typical year in Boquete (no El Niño/La Niña) you'll have scattered showers and bajareque throughout the year with Jan-March being fairly dry and the heaviest downpours falling from August through November. Regardless of time of year, Boquete tends to be very sunny (and yes, that constant mingling sun and rain means lots of rainbows).

For more info you may want to check out https://www.boqueteweather.com/stations.htm, a truly wonderful resource that allows you to see recorded temps etc at the local weather station (it was amazing for this region to get this) and which cites among many other useful observations:

"A more typical day during the wet season in the Boquete District is to wake up to generally clear skies and sunshine. As the day progresses, you see cumulous clouds developing in the south and then growing into towering cumulonimbus systems. By mid afternoon, the cloud systems move into the area and rain falls. The thunderstorm rains last for varying amounts of time, but usually not more than a couple of hours. Slow steady stratus cloud rains from the Caribbean are unusual but occasionally occur during the wet season.

"Because the Boquete District is a large area with a lot of variation in elevation and terrain, there seem to be many microclimates. While this makes sense and there is a lot of folklore discussion about these microclimates, there is not a lot of available data from which to draw solid conclusions. "

Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch