i am a new member to your forum. i spent an entire rainy, cold weekend reading the forums and archives. i went from relative ignorance to total confusion...all part of the learning process.
we too would like to move to the DR and have been researching like mad.
We would like to live on a small (less than 10 acres?) farm outside of a larger city where we can access services and goods when needed. We do need telephone but can provide our own electricity if we have to. We are envisioning a "middle class" Dominican home and an older car/truck. The cooler hills are attractive for us. Some Dominican middle class or farming prosperity would be good. Schooling is a big issue, we will accept more basic public schools and supplement at home if needed. We assume that most infrastructure drops away quickly once outside the cities. We would like to have access to the expate community, but not too close or else our immersion will not be as profitable. We have experience renovating/repairing houses and can do almost all work ourselves except forming concrete.
Here's the catch, can we do it for around $1000 USD per month for the first few years? We cannot rely on any business/employment income until we become proficient in language and culture (a good 12-24 months). We already own an entire household etc...
most of the forum discussions are about living as a retiree or a couple without school-age children. and most of the income estimates etc... are tied to more developed cities and communities. the discussions about maintaining a middle classs lifestyle are not dissimilar to issues we have in Canada(to a different degree, of course).
About Us:
a younger Canadian family already living in a rural setiing on a farm about 100 km southwest of Toronto. my wife and I are under 40 and in good health, we have 2 children, ages 10 and 12.
we are already hobby/subsistence farming and raising our own pigs, chickens and garden crops. no profit but excellent food and good exercise.
we have experience with:
intermittent power (up to 2-3 days without power!)
wells with contamination or running dry
heating all winter with wood
very poor roads, almost impassible in winter and spring without a 4*4
driving 25-45 km for every just about everything except eggs & smokes
paying for "private" or alternative health care
reduced level of education and school funding
freethinking in a very closed, white, European community
some petty theft and rip-offs for the "city" family
stray/wild animals, farm dogs, lots of insects
contributing and volunteering in our community
we too would like to move to the DR and have been researching like mad.
We would like to live on a small (less than 10 acres?) farm outside of a larger city where we can access services and goods when needed. We do need telephone but can provide our own electricity if we have to. We are envisioning a "middle class" Dominican home and an older car/truck. The cooler hills are attractive for us. Some Dominican middle class or farming prosperity would be good. Schooling is a big issue, we will accept more basic public schools and supplement at home if needed. We assume that most infrastructure drops away quickly once outside the cities. We would like to have access to the expate community, but not too close or else our immersion will not be as profitable. We have experience renovating/repairing houses and can do almost all work ourselves except forming concrete.
Here's the catch, can we do it for around $1000 USD per month for the first few years? We cannot rely on any business/employment income until we become proficient in language and culture (a good 12-24 months). We already own an entire household etc...
most of the forum discussions are about living as a retiree or a couple without school-age children. and most of the income estimates etc... are tied to more developed cities and communities. the discussions about maintaining a middle classs lifestyle are not dissimilar to issues we have in Canada(to a different degree, of course).
About Us:
a younger Canadian family already living in a rural setiing on a farm about 100 km southwest of Toronto. my wife and I are under 40 and in good health, we have 2 children, ages 10 and 12.
we are already hobby/subsistence farming and raising our own pigs, chickens and garden crops. no profit but excellent food and good exercise.
we have experience with:
intermittent power (up to 2-3 days without power!)
wells with contamination or running dry
heating all winter with wood
very poor roads, almost impassible in winter and spring without a 4*4
driving 25-45 km for every just about everything except eggs & smokes
paying for "private" or alternative health care
reduced level of education and school funding
freethinking in a very closed, white, European community
some petty theft and rip-offs for the "city" family
stray/wild animals, farm dogs, lots of insects
contributing and volunteering in our community