PANAMA CITY — Retire in paradise for pennies a day!

Could there be any sweeter-sounding words to a baby boomer pondering an exit from the fast lane?

The first wave of 79 million U.S. boomers is turning 60 this year. Boomers are retiring earlier than did previous generations. They have unparalleled spending power. They're looking for the Next Great Place. And some tour operators are happy to show them the way.

What feels at times like a newly minted resort town in New England or perhaps Southern California is actually the latest stop on Panama's growing tourist route. Tucked in the highlands near the Barú volcano, in the western Chiriquí region of Panama, Boquete is emerging as one of Central America's latest eco-tourism destinations.

We're trying to get away from the politics. The rat race," says Singer, who is retired from IBM.

"And terrorism," says Ragle, the owner of a printing business who plans to retire in five years. "Prices are going up. There's this feeling that we've got to do it now."

Indeed, there's a sense of urgency among many of the 160 or so mostly North Americans attending this three-day "Live & Prosper in Panama" seminar. They've paid $895 to listen to topics such as "Paradise Within Reach" and "Ultra Luxury Lifestyle Made Possible in the Tropics." For another $175, they can stay overnight at a beach resort, and for an extra $40, they can take a city tour.