I'm in my 70s and moved to Panama for retirement. I date men 10 years younger than me because I don't want to take care of them.

• Kimberly Kelley, a former spiritual leader and musician, moved from the US to Panama in 2023.
• The 71-year-old found that retirement in her home state of Arizona wasn't stimulating enough.
• She dates men 10 years younger than her, saying she doesn't want to look after an "old man."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, 71, an ex-pat American living in Panama.

I've always been an adventurous person and couldn't bear the thought of stagnating in my older years.

My military career in the Air Force as a young woman took me to places like England and Germany. I was fascinated by the different points of view, cultural differences, and architecture.

Then, when I came back to the US, I enjoyed traveling across the country. My ex-husband and I were musicians who'd play 160 venues a year. We drove around the state in a motor home and must have clocked up half a million miles.

Then, in 2015, we set up a church in Sedona, Arizona, and I qualified as an ordained minister online. It was a spiritual center that united people of different faiths and religions.

I got divorced in June 2020. But I didn't really have friends. People couldn't seem to get over my "Reverend Kimberly" title. They wouldn't curse around me or drink much — as if I had to be revered.

Soon, I was itching to move away. I'd already been reading magazines about living overseas. But I knew I couldn't leave while my 97-year-old mother and my 19-year-old shitsu were still alive.

They both died in 2022. I realized that, apart from my siblings and cousins, nobody tied me to the US. I considered moving to Bali but was put off by the 15-hour travel time.

I had 2 months to get my affairs in order before leaving the US

Another option was a Spanish-speaking country because I had at least a foundation in the language. Belize and Panama were on my list of possibilities.

In April 2023, I hired Shawna Lum, a relocation coach. She suggested I go on a scouting mission to Central America. I enjoyed Belize, but I also loved the 12 days I spent in Panama that summer.

My handler drove me around the country, and as soon as we visited San Lucas, whose nearest city is Coronado, I felt at home. Before I left, I'd already put a down payment on an ocean-front condo.

The place ticked all the boxes for me — warm weather, a beach, a mix of ex-pats and locals, and a thriving pickleball community.

Shawna walked me through all the paperwork, and I booked my flight for October 25, 2023. I barely had two months to get my affairs in order before leaving Sedona.

Shawna's best advice was to fit all the belongings I wanted to take in just two suitcases. "Sell the rest," she said. I sold the big-box items in my rental apartment, like my recliner, bookcase, convection oven, and beloved Keurig.

I took countless bags of clothing to Goodwill and a women's shelter nearby.

The big day came. I've never felt so free as when I stepped out of the airport in Panama and felt the sun on my face.

Since then, I've fallen back in love with my life. I adore the location of my condo because it's quiet, uncrowded, and unspoiled. The food is much healthier because it's less processed, and fresh fruit and fish are delicious.

The dating pool is small — but large enough

The cost of living is so much cheaper. I used to pay $3.50 for an avocado in Arizona. Here, they're $1 each. My rent is $1,000 monthly for a 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment with an ocean view.

I've met many people who like pickle ball as much as me. I made contacts on social media who became good friends. More than a dozen of us hang out, meeting for lunch or coffee. I call them my tribe. The local people have been nothing but warm and friendly.

As for love, I never dated in the US after splitting with my ex-husband. I didn't want to. But here, I'm having a lot of fun. I'm very active, so I tend to date men who are at least 10 years younger than me. I don't want an "old man" to care for. I prefer someone who can keep up with my energy level.

Yes, you get the guys who come down here for adventures like hiking but forget to tell their knees. And you get the retired professional who only runs between the golf course and the pool.

The dating pool is small, but there are enough good men to go dancing, sing karaoke, play board games, or pickleball. It isn't serious, but I'm dating a guy who has taken me to the nicest restaurants.

My retirement has become as fun and exciting as I'd hoped. The polar opposite of stagnant.