This is the view from the ham shack during our QSO.

After 46 interesting years in the communication field, retired to Paso Ancho and formed Hemingway Hideaway www.hemingwayhideaway.com to help others interested in relocating to beautiful Panama. After building 8 quality homes including our own, (see photo) , fully retired to spend more time rebuiling Collins and Heath classics but will still consult  to meet the dire need for western style and quality home building.

Born in Elmhurst Ill, 1934. Lived in Southern Cal., W6SHC (1952-1964), Convair, USN, Scripts inst. of Oceanography, then to Panama as a (Nav/Com) marine electronics eng, on vessels transiting the canal. Boarded more  than 3000 ships and when not boarding, traveled extensively throughout Central and South America as a Motorola/Collins field eng., servicing U.S. embassies, DMA and Milgroups.

Returned in 79, and worked as Latin America regional sales eng., and international product trouble shooter, for Swan/Cubic and later Transworld Communications in over 40 countries. Travelled extensively in a commo demo van in 83-84, performing “dog & pony” presentations to  the Pentagon, US Army Corp, of Eng., FEMA, National Guard STARK HQ and civil emergency management offices in all 48 states.

In 88, TWC was taken over by a larger company and reading the hand writing on the wall and after 9 years in successful HF/VHF product design and sales, we threw in the marketing towel and returned to Panama to  continue as a defense contractor at Howard AFB until their closure in 99.

We are located 250 (300km) west of the Panama Canal (Panama City) in the refreshing Chiriqui highlands at 5200' (1575M) only 10 miles from the boarder and  share the same climate, fauna and flora as Costa Rica. Google earth ref. 8°49' N 82°37'30" W Grid

Interesting  experiences and places include: 43 years in Panama,(HP1XHG-KZ5BH-HP1XBH-HP3DX), living on an active Volcano Alaska (W6SHC/KL7), R/o Scripts Inst. of Oceanography, (W6SHC/MM), USNR (W6SHC/AM), USN R/O,  (Chichi Jima KG6IG & Guam KG6GX)  British Honduras (VP1WH), living on a 13,500' peak in Colombia for 3 months and down the Amazon, Chittagong railroad Bangladesh, Nigeria, Bangkok,  and Baghdad  (83) just to name a few.

Favorite modes. CW & RTTY & BPSK, avid Collins collector. First on the “green keys” in 69 with a model 15. Extra class and both phone & CW FCC commercial licensed (no longer needed UGH!) and maritime radio officer.