I have foreign neighbours who have lived here part- and full-time for over 20 years. They tell me that when they arrived and invested in the DR, they felt very hopeful about the future of the country, but in 20 years they have seen no progress, and in fact, many things have gotten much worse.
Their personal security seems to be the biggest issue, as they are getting older.
My personal security is the single biggest reason I can't envision living here?
So where is the country going?
I lived in Venezuela pre-Chavez, and can honestly say it was a wonderful experience. I returned several years ago and found the country had changed greatly and the crime rate had skyrocketed.
I've lived in Colombia as well, and it is even more stable and prosperous now than it was then; there seems to be a steady increase in the quality of life there.
Politics aside, where is this country going?
For the long-term residents and those who are nearing retirement, or are retired? do you worry about your safety here? Do you plan to pull out at some point?
I am very curious about the direction the DR will be going in the next few years.
I can't quite articulate it, but I have a gut feeling this place is going downhill and will no longer be a welcoming place for foreigners and expats, outside the AIs. I think crime, extortion and violence will increase against foreigners, as people feel more desperate and their morals continue to decline.
Do other members share this feeling?
I'm someone that really follows my intuition; I came here with full intentions of making the DR my home, but knew I would give it a year, and if it wasn't feeling right, I'd go. I would say from probably the third month, I just had this unsettled feeling that it wasn't a good place for me to be.
Would welcome others' opinions.
Their personal security seems to be the biggest issue, as they are getting older.
My personal security is the single biggest reason I can't envision living here?
So where is the country going?
I lived in Venezuela pre-Chavez, and can honestly say it was a wonderful experience. I returned several years ago and found the country had changed greatly and the crime rate had skyrocketed.
I've lived in Colombia as well, and it is even more stable and prosperous now than it was then; there seems to be a steady increase in the quality of life there.
Politics aside, where is this country going?
For the long-term residents and those who are nearing retirement, or are retired? do you worry about your safety here? Do you plan to pull out at some point?
I am very curious about the direction the DR will be going in the next few years.
I can't quite articulate it, but I have a gut feeling this place is going downhill and will no longer be a welcoming place for foreigners and expats, outside the AIs. I think crime, extortion and violence will increase against foreigners, as people feel more desperate and their morals continue to decline.
Do other members share this feeling?
I'm someone that really follows my intuition; I came here with full intentions of making the DR my home, but knew I would give it a year, and if it wasn't feeling right, I'd go. I would say from probably the third month, I just had this unsettled feeling that it wasn't a good place for me to be.
Would welcome others' opinions.