Do you regret moving to the Dominican Republic?

[PeterInBrat]

1 USA
2 Just about.a year now, though I lived in Sosua for six months ten years ago.
3 I have acclimated so that I wear long shirts if it goes below 80?. Early mornings are the nicest time of day. I'm usually up before six.
4 I eat 90% Dominican diet and buy imported foods about once a month. My biggest change has been reducing my beer to two or three a week. I've lost 20 pounds in six months from walking more and eating less convenience foods. I miss decent cheese the most.
5 My Spanish is clunky but I can get by. It's more getting used to the dialect.
6 Nope, not interested in driving. I consider it a perk of living here to not need to drive. Mi esposa puts about 1500km on her TRex every month mostly for her business.

 

[Fulano2]

Chapeau with the weight-loss!
There are very decent Cheeses here, I like the queso frito for example.

 

[Danceelite]

This should be different

I love it here, I like the people, adore where I live and can take whatever the weather chooses to throw at me.

1. Moved from England.
2. Lived here in the winter for the first two years and pretty much full time for the last 12 years
3. Love the weather. It's why I moved
4. Have Dominican food when the maid cooks, otherwise eat American, European or cook myself.
5. Had some Spanish lessons at the beginning and can get by, but no more. I am not part of "Dominican Life".
6. Driving has always remained need me of a computer game. I no longer drive for anything other than essential journeys.

I moved to the DR in 2005 from the USA quit my job and bought all my savings
I stayed about a year first a house in the barrio relatively inexpensive rent the a furnished apartment downtown
The heat took a bit of getting use too as I moved from DC where the weather changes weekly
I can eat anything and did but some of that strange stuff to getting use too loved the rotissere chicken though
Spanish was and still is a challenge but when forced to learn you learn I am semi fluent
Driving was easy as I drive as badly as the average dominican however the traffic during rush hour can wear on ones patience but I have driven from PC to Caberete to San juan del la maquana pretty much all over the island
I went back home March of 2006 went back to work but now I am coming up on retirement and I thinking of moving back in about two years.

 

[BelgianMik]

I'll agree with that one, but I know that the Dominicans really want to destroy my "rich *ss" as well as everyone else.
We've gone through other threads where we discuss the Dominican mentality and not believing in win-win situations. That is why I'm saying it is just not worth being in this environment over the US when the culture is out to get you.
Not saying America is perfect - I left (and then returned, and thankfully I was in a position that I could), but of the choices in my position it is a better choice. Hey, at least I learned something.
I would not recommend the DR as an option for someone that is just sick of America, but in a good position financially. I am saying maybe it is a good option for someone that is not in a good financial position in America, and hence the positives may out way the negatives.

Lol, I was in the financial position that if I stayed in Belgium, I was earning really really good, but I needed to keep on working untill I was 65 to keep living that way. But I could come to the DR at 33 and never have to work again. And I'm happy I did it and would recommend it to everyone who is in the same position.

 

[DRDone]

Lol, I was in the financial position that if I stayed in Belgium, I was earning really really good, but I needed to keep on working untill I was 65 to keep living that way. But I could come to the DR at 33 and never have to work again. And I'm happy I did it and would recommend it to everyone who is in the same position.

*

Well then it worked out better for you. *I was in a similar situation and I would not and do not recommend it to anyone. *
How long have you been in the DR? *What area if you don't mind telling?
I was in the North coast.*

 

[DOMINCAN JOE]

*

Well then it worked out better for you. *I was in a similar situation and I would not and do not recommend it to anyone. *
How long have you been in the DR? *What area if you don't mind telling?
I was in the North coast.*

http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.ph...can-Republic?p=1734839&viewfull=1#post1734839

 

[BelgianMik]

*

Well then it worked out better for you. *I was in a similar situation and I would not and do not recommend it to anyone. *
How long have you been in the DR? *What area if you don't mind telling?
I was in the North coast.*

Puerto Plata.
I live here now a bit more then 3 years.*
Have my money placed in the bank so that I can live out of my interests that they pay me every month and I have a house in Belgium that people are paying me rent for. So if I ever decide to go back, I will still have my money.
It is perfect here for people who have money, I know a couple of people here that live from the interests that the banks pay.

 

[Muntic0re]

I am from UK. I have been living for half of a year here. I love the local weather ( no snow, no coats). I like the food, drinks. I have no regrets

 

[JD Jones]

Puerto Plata.
I live here now a bit more then 3 years.*
Have my money placed in the bank so that I can live out of my interests that they pay me every month and I have a house in Belgium that people are paying me rent for. So if I ever decide to go back, I will still have my money.
It is perfect here for people who have money, I know a couple of people here that live from the interests that the banks pay.

Smart man. I did the same thing for years.

 

[Milo Mitt]

The set-up that for example BelgianMik describes sounds good. There is also a lot of people that live half year in DR (winter) and half year in their home land (working) and that is an option that appeals to me, however my employer would not allow it which I think is the deal-breaker for most.

The key is to not be too dependent of DR income in my opinion so either one is retired and gets a steady pension payment each month or have enough money/investments abroad to "retire" early and enjoy life in the DR.

Just my 2 cents

 

[LTSteve]

Puerto Plata.
I live here now a bit more then 3 years.*
Have my money placed in the bank so that I can live out of my interests that they pay me every month and I have a house in Belgium that people are paying me rent for. So if I ever decide to go back, I will still have my money.
It is perfect here for people who have money, I know a couple of people here that live from the interests that the banks pay.

Not many at age 33 can afford to leave their home country to "retire" to the DR. You say you live off your interest? You must have a decent amount of Euros in the bank to be able to do that. Most people coming to the DR these days, are of retirement age and have enough assets to live comfortably. By retirement age I mean 55-65 years old not 33. You are very fortunate to be in this position.

 

[Donnad722]

Do you regret moving to the Dominican Republic

My only regret was being so far from family the day my Dad passed away.

1. Country bumpkin from the UK
2. 6.5 years
3. Acclimatized well and learned long ago that trying to keep up with the locals when it gets hot is futile for this gringo. AC, what's that? Campo style cooling is open doors and windows, the shade of a tree or sitting in the river with a Presidente.
4. Cooked and not moving works for me every time. I like Dominican food be it in a good restaurant (a rare treat) or having a meal with the workers that has been cooked campo style in the shade of a mango tree. I do miss English real ale and admit to smuggling Marmite into the country.
5. No Spanish when I first arrived but picked it up relatively quickly. It's not perfect (call it semi fluent) but learning is an on going process and is good enough to make myself understood.
6. From the orderly roads of the UK to what seemed to be the live set of Death Race 2000 was a big culture shock. Having to get used to things being on the 'wrong' side (steering wheel, traffic) while getting to grips with the apparent free for all road rules was stressful for a while. I'm used to it now and chug along with inner peace at my own pace in a beat up pickup truck. However it's always in defensive mode just in case the next idiot moto, taxi, Mack truck or jay walking farm animal or human is just around the next corner planning to mess up my day.

I have been living here for almost 30 years, of course, there are things that are not to my liking, but that can be said for anywhere in the world. I have no problems with the food, I am a vegetarian. Everything in terms of food can be found here in the mayor supermarkets or the wayside venders. I only buy drinking water in the colmados, as they deliver. Any country in which one has to live, it is best to master the language and cultural habits. This country has come a long way in development since my arrival. The only thing that is really bad now is the crime. That is of course a world wide problem. The local people are very warm and friendly, sometimes a little too much. The public transport is better than in some other countries, there is always room for improvement. I'd rather not say what country I came from. Life here can be good, if one has a good income, or just live within one's means, I have no regrets.

 

[BelgianMik]

Not many at age 33 can afford to leave their home country to "retire" to the DR. You say you live off your interest? You must have a decent amount of Euros in the bank to be able to do that. Most people coming to the DR these days, are of retirement age and have enough assets to live comfortably. By retirement age I mean 55-65 years old not 33. You are very fortunate to be in this position.

Yes, I was lucky that I bought my first house when the prices in Belgium where really low (sold it 10 years later for 3 times the price, but I could only do this because I started working really young, even when I went to university, when my friends where always out, going to parties etc, but thanks to that I had 3 houses at the age of 33, all payed for) and the luck that I got a really big bonus when I quit my job.
I know most people don't get to be that lucky.

 

[Fulano2]

That's not luck Mik, I know Belgians (lived there for 12 years) as very hard workers.

 

[Dominicanese]

^^ egh europeans always have it lucky when it comes to money and economic status, but not for us dominicans ^^

 

[Dominicanese]

Yes, I was lucky that I bought my first house when the prices in Belgium where really low (sold it 10 years later for 3 times the price, but I could only do this because I started working really young, even when I went to university, when my friends where always out, going to parties etc, but thanks to that I had 3 houses at the age of 33, all payed for) and the luck that I got a really big bonus when I quit my job.
I know most people don't get to be that lucky.

which by now your friends proly still havent even payed off one house, we live in a very soft world

it is so sad that very strong men such as myself and many others cannot do the things we love which is physical work and not sit behind a PC making ridicoulus amounts of money or the medical field or engineering, we dont make ****, i have to rely on American Airlines employer since i work for them ahve been very very lucky to have been able to travel to 35 countries for free otherwise i would have not gone anywhere

ppl who live in the DR from other places would never be able to experience the real DR simply because they do dnot have dominican familymembers and do not speak the language correctly nor the culture, iv lived in arroyo hondo and iv noticed the europeans (even the ones born in DR) stick with the europeans and never really the dominicans, but we are still in the colonial era arnt we, its just modern is all and most europeans leave the DR after a certain amount of time due to that very reason i explained, not the same european - dominican

 

[Dominicanese]

That's not luck Mik, I know Belgians (lived there for 12 years) as very hard workers.

im gonna agree with you but to be completely honest with you

i know ppl who have gone through hell and back and to me they deserve a better life but end up with most familymembers dead, still trying to pay off a house despite working like belgianmik and getting a PHD, never gone partying or clubbing, and end up dead at the end or just suffering economically and miserable, what do you call that?

yet i know ppl who have partied all their life or have been very lzay and have not done **** lived with their parents until almost 30 and with the tiniest effort they ever put in their life are living in mansions and do not have to worry about ****, how do you explain this?

this is why i stopped criticizing someones status or why they are like that (bad or good) now. Life is very weird and we live in a very retarded world i do not think for one sec that just because a man makes more than someone else means that that richer guy works harder, no no to me the ppl who work 2 jobs to maintain a house with family are much are harder worker than the richer guys and before ppl get on me about that person not going to school or university, now endays that doesnt really matter anymore, alot of ppl believe it or not cannot go to school for many reasons also many of the ppl who have PHDs or whatever the hell their called still end up working two jobs for nothing, all for nothing, modern day slavery

the only ppl in this world that truly have it the so called free or happy lives is ppl born into already rich parents who pay for their univiersities after school and even many times pay off their own teachers to pass em and wallah they get the best jobs in the world, why should someone struggle doing things they dont want to do when theres ppl that have it easy like that, i sure as **** wont struggle i work for AA and the only struggle i love is working iwth my hands (powerlifting) but theres no monmey in that despite that being what we as men have been doing for thousands of years

 

[Fulano2]

ppl who live in the DR from other places would never be able to experience the real DR simply because they do dnot have dominican familymembers and do not speak the language correctly nor the culture, iv lived in arroyo hondo and iv noticed the europeans (even the ones born in DR) stick with the europeans and never really the dominicans, but we are still in the colonial era arnt we, its just modern is all and most europeans leave the DR after a certain amount of time due to that very reason i explained, not the same european - dominican

What a bunch of wrong assumptions. Colonial era? 
Now the other way around, with whom do dominicans stick in foreign countries? Well I have met a lot of them in Europe. Don't speak the lenguage (yes of course in spain they do) and mainly stick to dominicans or antillanos.

 

[Dominicanese]

What a bunch of wrong assumptions. Colonial era? 

we still are bratha

i live in DR so i know what i see here

 

[Fulano2]

I think I know what you mean, but you cant blame the spaniards and Libanese having a lot of succesfull businesses, it is how it is.