Why does anyone live in DR??????

I love a dominican woman, yes, ONE woman, medical doctor and army officer (many people/men on this board seem to look only for that Shangrila woman of their sex-dreams?) and I want to move to Santo Domingo to share my life with her! But, I am feeling more and more confused now... Everybody writes about how expensive DR is (as expensive as Miami, someone said), I read that "decent" or "classy" dominicans avoid expats (so I can forget about making friends!?), there is no wildlife (not much of that here in Saudi-Arabia either...), the place is noisy (where? I have been to DR three times now and it was peaceful!)and so on... I come from Sweden! I have visited 26 countries (on business and as a traveller) by now and met bad people and good people everywhere. I have worked in the Middle East since 1996, with colleagues from all over the world. I have friends on 4 continents who keep inviting me to stay with them. But when I read the messages on this board, I often get the impression that DR is a hellhole, best avoided!? And those who claim the opposite are quickly labelled as romantic fools. So perhaps I should stay in Riyadh? Yet, I will stiffen my jaws and spend Christmas in Santo Domingo... and be a romantic fool!

My best advice...

The Dominican Republic holds many different experiences for many different reasons.

Come here for 6 months and experience "actually" living here.
Bring enough cash as if you had to do this in Miami or similar city.
It's not hard to spend money here, I know from experience.
Being a newbie to the DR you will burn more cash as opposed to someone that knows the ropes.
The longer you live here, the easier it is to slow the burn rate

Read every post on this board, plus the archives.
Everything you ever wanted to know about living here is on dr1.com, you just need
to spend the time and do the research.

If you can survive the first 6 months, you can survive the rest of your life

If this place was as bad as some make it out to be, then none of us would be living here.
I have lived all over the world and once again I find myself living back in the DR

Rob.

Anyone who could claim it is more expensive than Miami must be living one extravagent lifestyle. Sure, there's a few problems but where are't there. You learn to live with them or you go somewhere else. there's also those who will say, "Don't come its terrible. We don't need more immigrants here, now that I've found my paradise and immigrated here."

Re: Why does anyone live in DR??(John)

Have you ever noticed that its always the minority anywhere that make the most noise or complain the most. Probably because the rest are enjoying life and do not have time to be bitter, angry, complaining and wasting time on reading negative vibes from a small handful of people who have nothing better to do that try and make others be as miserable as them.
If someone takes the time to say nice things then those miserable few jump all over them saying it is not possible they are enjoying themselves and why are they being blind and ignoring all the bad things. My question is why are THEY being blind and ignoring all the good things in life..especially in the DR.

I was glad to be able to respond to your post.As I was going home for lunch today,fighting the crazy traffic,the garbage in the streets,if you can use the word streets, I was trying to think of the Dominican Republic "Top 10 List".Not in any order. #1 The family is always there to help when there is a problem #2 If you break down in your car,10 people will help you push your car.#3 The music/dancing.#4 The Presdente/ or the rum of your choice.#5 The food/produce.#6 The beaches/mountains/rivers #7 You never have to be "on time",even 2or3 days late is ok. #8Winter League Baseball. #9 Restaurants /hotels/casinos/discos/colmados.#9 Cable TV from all over the world. # 10 Dr1.com(So I can be nominated as the "bigest Brown Noser" on the Board! Any more "top 10" out there? Tom

Windsurfing in Cabarete; Bodysurfing in Sosua

Colmados(did I spell that correct?)
The whole life style!!
Thats why I'm going!!

TO WL: Re: Why does anyone live in DR??

Your response is perfect. My thoughts exactly!!!! Thanks for "posting for me!" Also, people have to understand that it's "okay to be INDIVIDUALS - being themselves - not having to "go with the flow..." We're going to live there someday, too!!!

Ed and Mame

TR: Re: Why does anyone live in DR?

Except for the last of your top 10 - YEAH!!!!! Great post.

Ed and Mame

JOHN : Re: Why does anyone live in DR??????

Reading all the replies to your question, it looks like you've gotten all the positive reasons to live there!! I could add a few, but you get the idea ... Just go and enjoy love and life!!

-Mame-

10 More Reasons to Live in D.R.

1. The food
2. The sun
3. The women
4. The food
5. The sun
6. The women
7. The food
8. The sun
9. The women
10. Those gorgeous women

Could you guess that Hedonism is a part of my lifestyle? I think it was Criss Colon that remarked a few days ago about that woman I had at Naco. Which one? Yeah, I know which one. I just spent a couple of days with her last week.

Please come,you sound like a great addition to the country.As far as dominicans wanting to associate with "foreigners" I would not worry at all about that.Your wife-to-be,s family will have a circle of friends and family to welcome you like a "lost son".You see negative posts here from a small group who are "self-important" bores. You read them twice,you got their whole story.Most of us are the "silent majority" who only post in response to questions.Those who try to give the benefit of our experiance. So ask your questions, and ignore the"chaff" of those who respond only to see thier name in "print" Tom

Most of above responses were obviously written by people younger than I am. But for those thinking about retiring to the DR, it isn't the sun, surf and women that appeal.

After 16 years of living in the DR, I'm long past the point of being labeled a senior citizen in the US. But that isn't the case here. You are accepted for who you are and what you can contribute; age doesn't enter into it. Keep in mind that someone in his 90s can still be a serious presidential candidate.
I haven't visited the US since 1995, not just because my income is limited. I felt so old while there that I could hardly wait to get back.

Also, you can live better on less money than in the US. I couldn't afford to live in Miami, but I am comfortable here. Certainly my condo is far above class open to me in the US.

If you choose your location, you can find friendly people with like interests, good supermarkets, and good medical care that costs far less than in the US.

Finally, you really don't need a car. We've lived here for 16 years without one, easily getting around by guagua, publico, and, on occasion, taxi.

Rob is right that it gets easier and cheaper as time goes on. But if you start off living on the economy--by that I mean forget about exchange rates and think in terms of numbers--you can get along fine during the learning/familiarization process.

And now that the US seems to be on a perpetual high state of alert, it's kind of nice being in a place like Sosua.

No anthrax.....

Easy life, stress free.

natural beauty, exotic beaches and refreshing rivers (even in winter)

Laxed traffic laws: fewer red lights, ample parking (atleast in santiago), no traffic tickets, no points on license (first 2 years, drove without a valid license), can drink and drive, can cross red lights after dark (if no traffic or police nearby). Never got my car towed. If stopped by police for traffic violation, 20 pesos solution (if that doesn't work, double your offer).

No police fear when driving (if you see one in rear view mirror)

Slim friendly young girls, lots of them for you (even if you are older than her father).

Slim beautiful girlfriends of your girlfriend.

Low income taxes or no taxes at all.

Property tax? what property tax?

Great beer, good food and plenty of aguacate

Did i mention tropical sweet fruits? mangoes... lots of them

sunshine in december... beach time!!!!!

Mini weekend beach vacations (all inclusive resorts)

Cheap car repair (if you own japanese auto)

Cheap labor (maids, handyman etc)

More time to live and enjoy your life.

2 hours lunch break

You can be late and don't have to appologize.

late for payment and no affect on your credit history.

What credit history? No credit history (for an average ex-pat)

all incoming cel calls for free to your cel.

Hot dominican music. Exciting night life.

Peaceful people, almost no crimes, no visible drugs in the streets, no crazy postal workers.

And the # 1 reason for living in DR:

No terrorist attacks against the democracy and freedom of the dominican Republic by osama bin laden. just joking folks.

Cheers.

TO KenDP: Re: Why does anyone live in DR??????

Loved your response here! and we ditto that!! Yeah, people must begin to learn what a magnificent place it is to retire!!
All the good things you said, yessirreeee!!! Ed and Mame

TO; Canada BobRe: Why does anyone live in DR??????

Yeah...!!!!!!!! and that's only for starters!!!!! Amen!!

-Ed and Mame-

2 days ago the American Government officials put us on high alert against more terrorist attacks. They say it is most probable.

Everyday we hear of new threats and pending problems from almost every sector....the war, economics, anthrax, crime. We have become a nation living under a cloud of fear. Today we anticipate fear and bad things when only a few months ago our outlook on life in general was favorable.

We will be in the DR on Nov. 3rd. and cannot wait. Looking forward to some much needed R&R. Looking forward to spending 10 days when my biggest fear is falling coconuts. My biggest decision will be what to have for dinner or whether to take a guagua or publico into Sosua.

On the other hand I am feeling a bit guilty as all I am doing is thinking of myself. My biggest fear is that a new terrorist attack may prevent us from being able to travel to the DR. I have not been thinking about the overall impact or lives lost in another attack, only on how it may effect my departure. I have been praying for nothing new to happen; not because of the harm it will have on my country but the effect it may have on my vacation.