This is my first post (cyberspacedog ate my other one) - having been brought up in South Africa and now living in the UK, am wondering how much worse/better DR is compared to SA or UK.
Most of what I have read in this post has been common sense (to me) and something I would most certainly practice whether on holiday or living in any country.
Travelling to SA, I would remove ALL my jewellery and trust me, I wear a lot even travelling back from London or walking at night anywhere in UK, I would be very vigilant and aware of my surroundings. Is this any different to any other major city, New York, Mexico City, Birmingham UK?
While I found myself reading this thread, it did seem as if the veneer of the DR paradise vision has tarnished somewhat but if anything seems too good to be true, it generally is!
So is the need for this thread and everything associated with the information contained herein worth it? To all DR dwellers old and new on this site, a simple yes or no to whether I should choose to retire to DR would be appreciated.
Lin
Hi Linmagic.
You mentioned a few places and I can say that I was born and raised in New York City and have spend considerable time in Birmingham and other cities throughout UK. I have never been to South Africa.
If you are looking for an answer as to whether or not you should retire in DR, my answer, based on what you have written, is an emphatic “I don’t know…… only you can figure that out”.
Unless you plan to live in one of the gentrified areas of the Country ie. Punta Can, La Romana, etc, you should not expect to experience the “paradise” you write of; tarnished or otherwise.
DR is a third world county with typical third world strife, poverty and dissension. Read through some of the posts on this board and notice an increase in crimes against expats in expat communities.
The DR, and I generalize, is a place where every house should have metal bars protecting windows and doors, a guard dog, an alarm system and a glock in the night stand. If you’ve made it okay in DR so far without these things, count yourself lucky.
You must be wondering why I live in DR if I think this way. Well, DR is one of a handful of countries where I actually feel free. Real freedom, not the type that you need to be reminded of and have shoved down your throat everyday when living in places like the US.
Places like the US, where a police officer can lock you up for drinking a beer in you car or for disciplining your kid to name a few. Places like the US where you can face harassment charges or litigation if you tell a woman she’s got a “GREAT A$$” !!!
Places in the US & UK, where a comment about somebody’s race, religion or sexual orientation, if not exalted in the most complimentary light, could have you labeled a racist or bigot and may define you as a violator of civil rights. This of course can lead to harassment charges or litigation also.
Places like the US, UK and most of Europe where you are, for most purposes a SERF of the state, constantly paying into the tax till; your money spent to support special interest projects and the dregs of society that won’t pull their own weight.
Although the DR has its many faults, for me, the pro’s outweigh the cons, and I will stay here until the opposite is true.
My advice is to sample the DR life for 6 months to a year before making a commitment.
people arre tumbling over temselves to get out of the way.