Articles

Meet Sarah Bajc, the Co-Owner of Camaroncito EcoResort & Beach in Panama. Welcome to “How I Escaped.” This Discovery Sessions interview series probes inspiring individuals who successfully ditched the rat race to inspire readers just like you. 

 

Where are you from or where do you feel local to?

Saraj Bajc: I grew up in rural northern Michigan, where there were more deer than people and it snowed from Halloween to Easter. I grew up in a winter wonderland. But I’ve lived and worked all over the world – Sweden, Georgia, France, California, China, Malaysia, and finally Panama. Though each city I lived in was landlocked, I always sought out the ocean for holidays. I feel most at home near open water and dreamt of one day living on a beach permanently. Panama, with its tropical climate, variety of beaches, rainforests, mountains, and easy access to the U.S., became my target for an eventual semi-retirement and a new life in Paradise.

 

 

How did you escape the rat race? Tell us the backstory of your former profession.

SB: My escape actually came in two steps. In 2010, I left a 22-year career in the tech industry. I was fortunate to be a part of a successful IPO on Nasdaq, and used that windfall to finance my step out of the industry. I took a year off to play with my three kids, who were then all in high school, and to go back to school to complete a Master’s in Teaching.

 

I then worked for 12 years teaching Business and Economics in International schools in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and ultimately Panama. I met my husband, who is Panamanian, within my first month of arriving in Panama, and we found the perfect beach and rainforest property soon after. I was finally able to make my dream a reality.

 

We spent five years enjoying and improving the property during my vacation time, and in 2022, we moved to Camaroncito EcoResort & Beach on the central Caribbean coast of Panama to live permanently and grow the business. We also have a productive permaculture farm here.

 

 

What advice would you give someone looking to become an eco-resort owner? 

SB: Have a clear vision for where you want to live and the lifestyle you want to lead. For me, that included being off-grid, where I could return to having wildlife as neighbors. It also included hosting small groups of people, almost family-style. Ernesto and I love to entertain and make other people happy. Running a small resort allows us to do that.

 

Once you know where and what you want to do, then work backward to find the right income stream and location to make that possible. It took patience, but by being very intentional about my long-term goals, I was able to transition from the corporate rat race to my dream life. I sometimes miss my professional colleagues, but I do not miss the daily grind of spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

 

 

 

What does a typical day in the life look like for you (if you have one)? 

SB: There’s no such thing as a typical day when you’re running an off-grid eco-resort. Every day brings new adventures and tasks. One day, I might be tending to the permaculture farm, ensuring a constant supply of fresh produce and free-range eggs. The next, I’m leading guests on a rainforest hike, teaching someone how to ride a horse, or cooking a locally sourced meal for a dozen guests.

 

I’ve had to learn about satellite internet technology, website building, and solar power systems. We have a small but well-trained staff, and Ernesto and I do whatever needs doing to provide an authentic eco-experience for our guests. It’s a bit like being a circus ringmaster most of the days, but sometimes I get to be the clown.

 

 

What’s the biggest challenge of life as an eco-resort owner? 

SB: Being so remote means we have to be self-sufficient and resourceful. Maintaining solar power, ensuring clean water, growing our own food – it’s all on us. We only make the 4-hour journey to Panama City to pick up and drop off guests, and when absolutely necessary for major supplies. When we don’t have guests, we luxuriate in the privacy and nature all around us. Embracing that off-grid lifestyle is crucial. Though I must admit, sometimes I miss the convenience of having a grocery store just minutes away, but then I remember the peace and tranquility of our little slice of paradise, and those modern conveniences seem trivial.

 

 

What’s the biggest reward of life as an eco-resort owner? 

SB: I feel extraordinarily blessed to spend every day in paradise, but I am also thankful for the ability to close the resort when we want to do our own travel. We have stayed small, with only four beachfront cabanas to host up to 12 guests, so we can run it mostly by ourselves. When we leave for our annual extended vacations, our staff live on the property and care for our animals and farm. Besides our family pets (a few cats and dogs), we also keep horses, sheep, turkeys, and a lot of chickens. A life surrounded by nature’s beauty, waking up to the sounds of the rainforest, watching sunsets over the ocean, living in harmony with the environment – it’s an indescribable feeling of peace and contentment. I’m so grateful to have made this my reality after years of corporate and academic jobs.

 

If running an eco-resort in paradise sounds like your dream, I encourage you to start mapping out the steps to make it happen. Research locations, costs of living, visa requirements, weather, laws, everything. Then start taking those first steps, no matter how small. The hardest part is making the commitment to go for it. Once you do that, the path will become clearer. Don’t let fears hold you back from living the life you really want. After all, life’s too short to spend it all shoveling snow in Michigan.

 

 

What does freedom mean to you? When do you feel freest?

SB: Success for me is being able to live life on my own terms, in an environmentally sustainable way that aligns with my values. We are active contributors to our local community, providing training and assistance to financially and educationally disadvantaged people. It is a privilege to have enough resources and capability to help others. As long as I’m caring for this beautiful land and our neighbors, sharing it with appreciative guests, and helping to inspire others to live their lives more lightly and conscientiously, then I’ve succeeded.

 

 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to become location-independent, work online, and maximize their freedom?

SB: Having a clear long-term vision for the lifestyle I wanted and patiently taking steps to make it a reality has been the key. I’ve been talking about opening a small hospitality business for 30 years. Too many people stay stuck in unfulfilling situations because they can’t see any alternatives. But if you can dream it and work towards it pragmatically, step by step, anything is possible. Even a tech industry survivor like me can become a beach bum.

 

 

What do you wish you did differently (in work or life)? 

SB: Honestly, there aren’t many things I would change. My life now is a byproduct of my entire history. My kids are successful and happy adults, my husband loves me passionately, and we have so much fun together.

 

I run a small lifestyle business that allows me to help others and make people happy. I keep in touch with dozens of students from my teaching career and maintain active friendships with past colleagues, and am able to visit them all over the world. Over the years, we have traveled to the US many times to visit my family, but also Cuba, Canada, Russia, Croatia, Serbia, and all over Panama. Life is good if you let yourself enjoy it. It is also short – if you know there’s something else out there for you, don’t wait until “someday”… get started in that direction now.