Well Diablo I am currently living in Sosua and just did exactly what you are considering. I am from Canada and moved here two weeks ago and I basically did it on a whim. I had been to the area many times and I had had it with my job. I came alone and basically knew no one outside of a few acquaintances. I have not been here long enough to tell you whether I made the right decision but so far so good. It took me about a week to find an apartment and I totally lucked out finding one for 4,000 pesos/month (aprox. $85 U.S.) with 24 hour electricity and it's in El Batey (basically in the center of Sosua within walking distance to everything). However, from people I spoke to and from my search for an apartment, it is hard to find something for less than $200 - $300 U.S./month. As for finding a job, it's very very hard. This is not a country where you can apply for something from abroad - it takes hard work and dedication to find something worth working at. Although you will read many times on this board that moving here is not like coming on holidays, you can't even imagine until you are here. I have to admit that I have felt a little homesick at times but I am feeling much better every day. Yes I am living in paradise but there are just so many things that are culturally different from home that it's all a little overwhelming at first. Making friends here is easy so don't worry about that. My view of picking up your life and moving here is this - worst case scenario is that if you come and don't like it after 4 months or so, you can always go home and will have had a wonderful experience in the meantime. Life is short - live it.