Ex-pats (3 or more years in the DR), any change of heart?

[AZB]

So far only one nay. I thought with the wave of crimes against ex-pats, there would be more nays. I guess you guys don't perceive the situation as dire as I thought you would.




What is it about Colombia that entices you?

O&C some people don't live in the resort areas so we almost never hear of an expat gotten killed or kidnapped. This is not a common occurrence in santiago or capital. If live in a nice area and social with only people who are of your standard, then you will almost not see crime anywhere. I take my precautions and I choose my friends so crime is not in my immediate equation. I am sure I can fall victim even in a church park picnic but in general, I am not worried about crime.
Now I am also a big fan of colombia. My next trip there will be soon. I love the small towns and pueblos. I will visit salento in quindio and then ocana in norte de santender. I am also in love with medellin. I will spend a few days in poblado. You have to go there to see the magic of the country.
AZB

 

[Bronxboy]

You have to go there to see the magic of the country.
AZB

And the women:bunny::bunny::bunny:

 

[AZB]

And the women:bunny::bunny::bunny:

that too but good women are here too. Colombia has other "encantos" apart from pretty women. The food there is just incredible, the bread in a local bakery would impress any ardent bread lover. The country is well organized in major cities and very developed. The land varies from region to region and so do the inhabitants. Its a mountainous country so civil engineer is pushed to the extreme. The roads are in good condition and the scenery would entertain you all the way on a 7+ hrs ride on the bus. I take buses there if I have to travel from one city to another. The people are very decent and educated. I feel more safe there than even in USA.
The women have a stiff competition among themselves. The paisas (women from medellin area) are all in their best presence and always try to one up each other as through its a beauty contest. I have never seen more beautiful women anywhere, except some eastern European countries. They are soft spoken and highly educated. There is culture there and people are very hospitable. I don't care for the CIA's warning on colombia. I didn't see any drugs or farc anywhere. I took a 24 hrs bus ride from bogota-cartagena and back and was stopped many times by military. Nothing happened to me. They didn't even talk to me upon seeing my passport.
AZB

 

[whirleybird]

You can build a house anywhere but you have to work at building a home....

I have lived in the countryside (nearby to Sabaneta) for 4 years this week and I can't wait to go back to my home country, England, for a 2 week holiday next Tuesday to visit my family and friends.

However, 2 weeks will be just long enough and then I will be returning home..... move back to England - not likely!

Also, I can't think of anywhere else I would prefer to be living than right here!

 

[Ken]

This has been my home 25+ years and I am pleased that I made my home here. Have no plans to leave. If I was going to be scared off, I would have left in 1995 when I was mugged, had my jaw broken in 2 places, and the lobe of my ear cut off with a machete.

But if I were looking for a place to settle now, I am not sure whether it would be here. This is certainly one of the places that I would be interested in, but I think I would also take a look at Panama and one or two other countries. AZB's description of Columbia sounds interesting; I have heard the same from others.

The other islands of the Western Caribbean don't interest me, except Puerto Rico where I could use Medicare. I have been on most of the other islands and found them too small and populated by locals not nearly as friendly as here.

 

[tjmurray]

No change of heart. We did get fed up with life in the capital - traffic, stress and increased insecurity - but our solution was to move to Punta Cana, not to leave the country. Haven't regretted it for one moment.

I feel like I'm right behind you. I could surf at Macao every morning and be totally content

 

[william webster]

I like these conversations....but find it a bit odd when a veteran like AZB says he wants to "go home" to be buried... beside his parents.

What about his adopted country? The one he advocates and has embraced?

I move around quite a bit and have difficulty deciding what do with my remains.

I have yet to arrive at an answer

Unlike AZB, I do not find this a conversation to avoid...... what will or should your family and friends do with you after the ultimate demise?
This is being responsible, adult, grownup.... avoiding problems for your heirs.

Forgive me here AZB, but you being so cavalier as to say " Don't talk death, just let me live ! " reminds me of the freeze-dried hippies of yesteryear.
Such people exist.... is that what we have here?

Retirement and/or relocating requires thought and planning.
I want what I want now, but do I want to leave a mess behind me?

Leaving that mess might anger those called to clean it up.
Is that fair to them ??

Where are my assets?
Are they accessible?
Ad infinitum.......

Basically, "how do I exit?" is a fundamental question not to be avoided.

Yes, we can all be happy here.... but all good things will end.
What then???

Here endeth the lesson )

WW

 

[Rumble2005]

You Live In Paradise

I have lived in the countryside (nearby to Sabaneta) for 4 years this week and I can't wait to go back to my home country, England, for a 2 week holiday next Tuesday to visit my family and friends.

However, 2 weeks will be just long enough and then I will be returning home..... move back to England - not likely!

Also, I can't think of anywhere else I would prefer to be living than right here!

You have a heck of a piece of real estate there (AKA - Slice of paradise).
Enjoy it, and thanks again for sharing it :glasses:

 

[dv8]

So far only one nay. I thought with the wave of crimes against ex-pats, there would be more nays. I guess you guys don't perceive the situation as dire as I thought you would.

please count me as a "no" as my sole reason for being in DR is miesposo. i did not like it here when i first visited and four years later i still do not like it. it has nothing to do with crime, thou.
and i will say it again: for miesposo i would move here thousand times over, my heart is with him
but not with DR.
as for my demise: i want to buried at home, in poland. i know it is going to cost a lot but i made miesposo swear he will take me there.

 

[Bronxboy]

please count me as a "no" as my sole reason for being in DR is miesposo. i did not like it here when i first visited and four years later i still do not like it. it has nothing to do with crime, thou.
and i will say it again: for miesposo i would move here thousand times over, my heart is with him
but not with DR.

Your honesty is to be respected. Kudos to you!!!!!:cheeky:

 

[AZB]

I like these conversations....but find it a bit odd when a veteran like AZB says he wants to "go home" to be buried... beside his parents.

What about his adopted country? The one he advocates and has embraced?

I move around quite a bit and have difficulty deciding what do with my remains.

I have yet to arrive at an answer

Unlike AZB, I do not find this a conversation to avoid...... what will or should your family and friends do with you after the ultimate demise?
This is being responsible, adult, grownup.... avoiding problems for your heirs.

Forgive me here AZB, but you being so cavalier as to say " Don't talk death, just let me live ! " reminds me of the freeze-dried hippies of yesteryear.
Such people exist.... is that what we have here?

Retirement and/or relocating requires thought and planning.
I want what I want now, but do I want to leave a mess behind me?

Leaving that mess might anger those called to clean it up.
Is that fair to them ??

Where are my assets?
Are they accessible?
Ad infinitum.......

Basically, "how do I exit?" is a fundamental question not to be avoided.

Yes, we can all be happy here.... but all good things will end.
What then???

Here endeth the lesson )

WW

You are right, DR is my adopted country but my real roots are sinked in USA. I have been to pakistan 2 times in the past 20 yrs so this tells you how much connection I have with my native country. I may not agree with US government and their military involvement all over the world but it seems, Americans are not bad people. I am proud to be Pakistani American and this is why I would like to be buried there, right next to my loved ones.
Remember, I am in my mid 40's so I do not worry about dying at this moment. Most of my family male members do live well into their late 70's so dying in the near future is not in my plans. Now in case of an unfortunate event, my family is right behind me. Maybe you don't understand pakistani culture, we do not leave our people behind to be taken care by the government or dump our parents into nursery homes. My both parents died in our arms and lived at home all their lives, even when they were bedridden for the last 5 years of their lives. My mom was paralyzed and she was taken care of by my niece and my sisters.
I know if I am in trouble, my family and my friends (even non-pakistanis) will come to my aid. This is the case all my life and this is how it will be. Believe me, I will not end up on some university's dissection lab. I have faith in my family and we are very close. You would be surprised to see what we do for each other.
AZB

 

[william webster]

Very enlightening.

Do you sense a similarity in cultures.... Pakistani and Dominicans?
Strong family units.... elder care ?

I would agree that the American culture comes up short compared to some others in that regard. (Flak sure to follow that one!)

My point was that not enough people look far enough forward when they retire abroad.
Will they want to return "home" to die or to have their remains returned?

This is all part of the basic retirement planning package.

I have seen people move away for retirement and tax purposes only to have one of the partners die.... the remaining one goes back home and thereby negates any of the plans.

There is a well to do Canadian from the Maritimes- Irving - who emigrated to Bermuda for many reasons.
His will stipulates that if any of his heirs pay one cent in Canadian taxes, they will be disinherited.
That may be a bit overboard, but you get the idea )

WW

 

[bigbird]

WW, enough......... let's get back on topic.........

Very enlightening.

Do you sense a similarity in cultures.... Pakistani and Dominicans?
Strong family units.... elder care ?

I would agree that the American culture comes up short compared to some others in that regard. (Flak sure to follow that one!)

My point was that not enough people look far enough forward when they retire abroad.
Will they want to return "home" to die or to have their remains returned?

This is all part of the basic retirement planning package.

I have seen people move away for retirement and tax purposes only to have one of the partners die.... the remaining one goes back home and thereby negates any of the plans.

There is a well to do Canadian from the Maritimes- Irving - who emigrated to Bermuda for many reasons.
His will stipulates that if any of his heirs pay one cent in Canadian taxes, they will be disinherited.
That may be a bit overboard, but you get the idea )

WW

 

[Onions/Carrots]

please count me as a "no" as my sole reason for being in DR is miesposo. i did not like it here when i first visited and four years later i still do not like it. it has nothing to do with crime, thou.
and i will say it again: for miesposo i would move here thousand times over, my heart is with him
but not with DR.
as for my demise: i want to buried at home, in poland. i know it is going to cost a lot but i made miesposo swear he will take me there.

Details Dona Polaca as to why the DR is not for you. Please, qualitative descriptive essays not evaluative one liner emotional responses.

The WHY for your NAY decision.

 

[Criss Colon]

I Came Here For The GIRLS!

I stay here for the GIRLS!
It's just that the Girls I stay here for now are my daughters!!!
In the end,they are the only girls worth staying for!
Since I have been celebit for the last two years I find my life is now 100 % better than "Before"!
Now I can enjoy what really matters in the DR, Family,and friends!
Besides,I had more than my share of local girls!
Cris Colon

 

[Ken]

Since I have been celebit for the last two years

Will wonders never cease?

 

[Lambada]

Will wonders never cease?

:cheeky: I thought Tennessee Williams patented Born Again Celibacy when he wrote Camino Real................

 

[pedrochemical]

Correct me if I am wrong, but.......

Will wonders never cease?

Wait a minute - disclaimer....

Without going to the dictionary to find out the truth....

Celebate means you do not get married - like catholic preists.
Chaste means you do not have sex - like Catholic nuns.

(Never did seems fair that!!)


:bunny:

 

[william webster]

Wait a minute - disclaimer....

Without going to the dictionary to find out the truth....

Celebate means you do not get married - like catholic preists.
Chaste means you do not have sex - like Catholic nuns.

(Never did seems fair that!!)


:bunny:

You can kiss a Catholic nun on the cheek once, you can kiss her twice....... but can't get in the habit !!

WW

 

[Chip]

Oh brother.

At any rate life here in the DR is better than the US for Dominicans or those with a affinity for the culture.

They aren't building all these new homes and apartments for nothing. Scores of Dominicans come here to retire after many years in the States. Why not? Arthritis hurts less, cost of living is less, the sun shines a lot and medical care is sufficient. Not to mention all the benefits of having family close by; especially when one gets old.