I'm planning a two month stay in the DR (mostly Cabarete), and I'm looking for advice about how to handle myself in terms of letting on how much money I make. I lived in the DR for two years working as a volunteer, so I know my way around the country, and general common sense about how to stay safe, avoid being robbed or taken advantage of, etc. However, when I lived in the DR before I was there as a volunteer and living on $500 USD a month. Now I work remotely as an engineer for a company in the US, and I earn a significant amount of money even compared to most Americans.
I'm looking for opinions about how much to let on about how much money I make, and smart ways to conceal it so that I don't get taken advantage of, while at the same time, using the fact that I have money to work to my advantage.
I think it will be tempting to "wave my money around" and pay for everything when I go out with people, and suggest activities that I know people couldn't really afford, and just offering to pay. It also might be hard for me to keep my mouth shut about the dollar amount I earn, even though I know it's not a good idea to tell people.
I've considered just using a "cover story" any telling everyone that I meet that I'm still a "broke" non-profit volunteer. But that might not be a perfect cover, since I'm staying long-term in a place that's outside of the price range of someone with a volunteer's budget. I'm also afraid that if I lie to a government official, police, airport worker, etc about being a volunteer even though I'm not that I might get myself into trouble.
Lastly, I'd like to use my employment status/income level to my advantage in dating situations. I don't mind if a girl is just into me because I have money, but I don't want to get taken advantage of or into any terribly sticky situations with a chapiadora.
So, any opinions? Ideas? Advice? How would you handle yourself with a moderate to large income in the Dominican Republic?
I'm looking for opinions about how much to let on about how much money I make, and smart ways to conceal it so that I don't get taken advantage of, while at the same time, using the fact that I have money to work to my advantage.
I think it will be tempting to "wave my money around" and pay for everything when I go out with people, and suggest activities that I know people couldn't really afford, and just offering to pay. It also might be hard for me to keep my mouth shut about the dollar amount I earn, even though I know it's not a good idea to tell people.
I've considered just using a "cover story" any telling everyone that I meet that I'm still a "broke" non-profit volunteer. But that might not be a perfect cover, since I'm staying long-term in a place that's outside of the price range of someone with a volunteer's budget. I'm also afraid that if I lie to a government official, police, airport worker, etc about being a volunteer even though I'm not that I might get myself into trouble.
Lastly, I'd like to use my employment status/income level to my advantage in dating situations. I don't mind if a girl is just into me because I have money, but I don't want to get taken advantage of or into any terribly sticky situations with a chapiadora.
So, any opinions? Ideas? Advice? How would you handle yourself with a moderate to large income in the Dominican Republic?