I closed on my casa in sosua. It was so awesome, exciting and challenging.I got to stay there a few nights get afew basic things for it. Everybody who gave me info on DR1 I really appreciated it and was very helpful. I stayed pretty conserative on furnishings nd appliances.I found that my original list of must haves to survive changed drastically. Fist thing that happened was i got to my airport 15 miniutes before takeoff and was not allowed to check in my bags that had my tools and basic things we gathered up to take to our new casa. So naturally my wife started off the trip with very little of any thing just 1 carryon and a laptop. No waiting for the luggage carosel. we go to closing it was a breeze with century 21 agent martin haase.then came utilities we struggled with all mainly language barrier but our agent helped us get through this.then the shopping started.We need everything and had no tools to assemble anything so I went to Puerto Plata, looking at furniture appliances ac etc. MY head was about to explode so I started rethinking whats important. I went to playero bought a cooler, ice ,blender, lots of great fruit ,fresh bread, proscuitto, rum, hot plate, cheese, skillet, coffee pot, beer and a float. i had just about everything I needed. I spent a day at the pool and then started over.The following dayI got a bedroom suite, sofa, and pool furniture and another trip to playero for more of the same. The next 10 days we just enjoyed our casa in a very minimalistic way; a step above camping.we just went to the local mercado and bought lots of bread fruit ice water beer and rum.we did step up to a 2 fan system and a small radio. We normally have about 4 tvs on at our house in the States, but never missed it.We still have a lot to do; but going slow with time to enjoy the more simple life was the best. I realized that the "I got to have it all" makes more work and more effort than just smelling the roses. I dont know how simple it will stay but it sure was nice just getting out of the great rat race.