Greg Louganis to move to Panama!

We know. Do a search before starting new threads.

Thank god a 3rd thread!

Panamania!

Sorry, R1 -- I actually did. But you know how our Search feature is...

Is it just me or is Gregory a little slow?

WTF will he do in Panama? Swim the canal?

Still, I hope he finds what he's looking for. But at 65 if you don't know who you are and what you want, what is the likelihood that you will ever find out?

He remains a gay icon. I remember watching his Olympic performances. Breathtaking.

This will end in tears.

He looks great.

Maybe I should start swimming. Diving. Water sports. Whatever

I usually find Annie Liebovitz's work too mannered, but I love her stylized, Art-Deco-ized portrait of him.

What are you so testy about R1? Your linked thread is from July 2024, OP's article is from today (9/2/2025).

Fascinating

He never came across as a deep thinker. It was apparent from reading his autobiography. But he was gorgeous and I was in love with him as a kid and especially in those white Speedos at the 88 Olympics.

Greg has been poz for decades. I am so glad he is living to be a senior citizen because he is such a lovely, lovely man (and hope he lives for many decades longer), but I am not surprised his health problems have taken a bit of a toll on his body over the years.

So why is he moving to Panama?

r9 Read to the end of the thread. The article about moving to Panama was covered well before this thread.

This move, announced by Louganis himself, is driven by a desire to redefine himself away from external distractions and noise, inspired in part by the resilience of friends who lost their homes in California wildfires.

[quote] is driven by a desire to redefine himself away from external distractions and noise

What is that supposed to mean? it's just psychobabble.

I don't see anything in the article to explain why he's moving to *Panama*; just some vague notion that he wants to make a fresh start.

He married…a sibling!?

I can see moving to France or Italy, but Panama?

What's your problem, R19? Our own beloved SeniorLesbian plans to do the same.

It’s warm and it’s cheap. And he never made that much money

Too old for LA, too poor for Palm Springs.

SeniorLesbian is making a big mistake, just like Greg is going to.

Not yet, R23. I'm still here in Deplorable Haven, waiting for my old dog to "cross the rainbow bridge."

But that's the plan.

"So why is he moving to Panama?"

So he'll be the whitest girl in the room.

[Quote] "So why is he moving to Panama?

Because Panamanians we'll be able to fill that loose anus

Do you feel safe going to Panama on your own, r24/SL? I wouldn't have thought twice about doing something like that in my 30s or younger, but now at a post-meno 61, I feel vulnerable in a way I never had before. Even the idea of vacationing alone is a little daunting. I'm sure I'd feel somewhat differently if I lived in Deplorable Haven...

Considering Trump's threats to invade and take over the Canal, I'd say this is not the best of ideas.

SL and GL should start a DL ex-pat community in Panama.

(Sorry to hear about your dog SL.)

¿Habla Greg español?

TL;DR!! warning.

I'm not worried, R27. I've been single since 2008, and I've traveled by myself long before then. Two years ago, I rode my motorcycle from FL to Fargo, ND to Spokane, WA to Baker City, Oregon to Twin Falls, Idaho and back down to FL alone, and I had no problems. Still, when I got Covid at 65, it's like my whole body fell apart all at once, and it's been downhill ever since. I gained 20 lbs., I became very weak, my memory is worse than ever, yada yada yada.

But I'm putting some effort into improving my health; I started walking again (only 1.5 miles/day, but still) I'm (kinda sorta) watching what I eat, I'm getting a CPAP from the VA in two months to treat my (at this point) completely out-of-control sleep apnea, and I have a hearing test scheduled for my slightly worsening hearing. Jesus, I'm old! I have no idea how my 89-year-old dad even gets out of bed in the morning -- or why.

I do speak a little Spanish and hope to become fluent in Panama. I have a Mexican construction crew living along my walking route, and although I wave and say "Hola!", yesterday, when they were sitting on the porch, I actually stopped and talked to them. I had been hesitant because I didn't want them to think I was going to turn them in to ICE, but they said they weren't worried because they knew I was nice, which made me smile. Then they invited me back to practice my Spanish whenever. They seem like really good guys, as did all the Panamanians I talked to when I was in Panama.

And as you can imagine, I really enjoy meeting and talking with new people. I get that from my mother who, when we were waiting in line at Hersheypark to ride the rides, knew everyone in the line before we even got on the roller coaster. It drove me crazy as a kid, but it's a great skill to have, and I'm grateful to have it. Somehow, I know just enough about a myriad of things that I can find something to talk about with almost anyone, from the convicted felon biker around the corner (a really good guy, believe-it-or-not!) to Peter Tork of the Monkees, who I met when I was in grad school in CT. I met him at an AA meeting back in the 90s, and we spent a very nice afternoon having lunch and chatting. He also was a really good guy. RIP.

So no, I'm not worried. I'm really looking forward to leaving, and I wish my dog would give me some indication that it's time to put her down so I can go. But she'll have a bad day or two and then she'll bounce back, although not the way she was before. It's such a gradual decline. I figure when she can no longer get up on her own, that'll be it.

Thanks for asking, R27!

Oh, and R28? I began my online application for an Ecuadorian retirement visa a couple of weeks ago. They also use the US dollar as their currency, and that's my back-up plan. It's very cheap to live there (as opposed to Panama), and Ecuador was where I originally wanted to go. It's just that they're having a bit of a gang problem, so... We'll see.

Plus, I'm keeping my ratty trailer on my 1/2 acre of land in the Ocala National Forest. Why not? Things may get better here in the US and then I'll have someplace to come back to. I'll just leave my truck in the carport like all the snowbirds do, and I have cameras all around my place that worked even when I was in Panama. Hell, they even worked in the last hurricane!

So hasta luego, DLers!

Susan Richardson is moving to Indonesia!

Mario Lopez will play him in the movie.

Two words: Mosquito Coast

Panama has become a popular destination for American retirees. It’s cheaper and people speak English

Some do, but not as many as you think! I just read 14%.

If you want to go to an English-speaking country in Central America, go to Belize.

Just be aware, they hate gay people. So do Jamaicans.

Do your research.

Belize is far more expensive than Panama

[Quote] Just be aware, they hate gay people. So do Jamaicans.

News flash: the world hates gays

Not true! I can throw out a list of countries off the top of my head where gays aren't hated.

But then again, you already knew that.

Panama has been a retirement destination for decades now - not sure how anyone doesn't know that.

I have to wonder how much he lost in the divorce. Divorces get nasty - his ex sounds a bit unstable and could have wanted that money - HALF!

He may have had to sell the medals due to the divorce.

[Quote] Not true! I can throw out a list of countries off the top of my head where gays aren't hated. But then again, you already knew that.

Name one

R27, iirc our beloved SeniorLesbian is in Florida, which just today eliminated mandates for ALL vaccinations, even those required for children to attend school (and many accredited daycare centers). So in a year or three, when polio is back (iron lung, how we've MISSED you!), measles and mumps are raging, we have a whole new generation of PROFOUNDLY disabled babies born to mothers exposed to German measles (rubella) like poor Gene Tierney, whooping cough is whooping ass, and COVID -19 morphs into an uncontrollable COVID-27/28, then you, dear R27, will understand Panama will seem like Eden, even to single, post menopausal women.

No offense meant, truly. As a Deep Southern red state hostage, I'm just really pissed off at the galloping benightedness, and am happy at the prospect of ANYONE able to escape it.

r20 r42 = SeniorLesbian

Ha, R43. I wish.

In the past I've been accused of being Greg (wtf?) AND Teacake ([bold]WTF???[/bold]), so I'm totally moving up in the ranks!

I've not been signing my posts much because I was getting the t/o's all the time.

So now I'm using a number of aliases to keep 'em guessing.

Of course, it's easy enough to find out which posts are mine, R43, but I guess you haven't figured it out.

Honestly, R45, I have never been one of the seemingly innumerable DL sleuths who goes about tracing posts and posters, especially unsigned posts. I just don't care that much. I read threads, and reply. Or not.

OMG, R46 -- you just block someone and go to your blocked posters and check their posts. It don't take much effort, or no one would be doing it.

OTOH, I don't do it, because I just plain DGAF.

Do you really think Belize is especially homophobic SL? There are so many gay friendly resorts on Ambergris Key.

My wife and I didn’t have any problems there, but the interior was definitely a little sketchy with some of the staff.

"OMG," R47, why would I do that?

I. Don't. Care.

[quote]“Amid the Panama move”

“As he moves to Panama” perhaps?

R42 Jut in the interest of clarity, this hasn't happened yet.

[quote] Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, announced on Wednesday that the state would end all vaccine mandates, likening them to slavery. Lifting the mandates would mean children would not be required to be vaccinated in order to attend school in Florida. It would be the first state to withdraw from the practice, which has been credited with increasing vaccination rates and lowering the risk of infectious diseases like measles spreading. “Who am I to tell you what your child should put in their body?” Ladapo said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed the move and acknowledged that although the state can eliminate some vaccine mandates, it would need “changes from the legislature” to eradicate them all.

*Just

Anson Williams to move to Capetown!

Nice décolletage on the former husband.

I haven't been there, EL @ R48. It's just anecdotal from things I've read online. Here's one I just read.

[quote]Belize is a mixed environment for LGBT+ individuals: same-sex relations are legal nationwide, and there are active LGBTQ+ organizations, but legal protections against discrimination are limited and cultural acceptance varies, often being higher in tourist areas than in more conservative, rural, or predominantly local communities. While many visitors and residents report positive, accepting experiences, particularly in tourist-focused areas, it's important to be aware of the cultural conservatism and lack of legal protections for transgender and non-binary people.

IOW, it's a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

YMMV