Who knows where I get these crazy ideas? Probably a defense mechanism against despair. Around 10 yrs ago I worked with a bricklayer who claimed he had spent several winters in DR. Sounded almost too good to be true. He was middle aged, single never married, no kids, and restless. He told me he could work throughout the year and spend winters in DR for very little money. He planned to retire there. Although I have lived overseas twice before, in France, as a student in 1969-70 and again in college at Grenoble in 1973; when I decided to learn Spanish I went to Colombia in summer of 1974 and was SO ill-prepared for the experience I left after only one month. Looking back I realize it was not so much the vast cultural difference (I naively assumed that since I had already successfully acclimated to France...therefore I had this foreign thing down pat), but the fact that I was truly a stranger in a strange land...with no "sponsorship" or direction.
Anyway....lately I have become disillusioned with "livin' in the U S AAAaaaaaAA"! (or maybe it is just "livin"), that I have begun to fashion an escape scheme.
I am 50. No wife no kids and nothing tying me down. I went to college but never really benefited financially from it. I had the ridiculous notion that college was a place to LEARN, so I studied philosophy and did all the crazy things college students did in the '70s. Now I have no savings and no safety net, BUT I have a dream. Working as a bricklayer, if I discipline myself to become strictly an EARNING MACHINE for the next five years, I can realistically count on saving $100,000 USD.
My request is for some feedback concerning the viability of retiring in DR, or perhaps elsewhere, on the interest supplemented by a meager Social Security check. My wants and needs (barring a catastrophic health concern...knock on wood) are VERY modest. I could be happy with a warm sunny climate (not stifling), access to books and internet and intelligent caring friends, 2-3 times per week of eating out, local simple fare, and renting a small apartment with reliable and affordable amenities, being able to spend days at a pleasant beach reading.
I have read many threads in the last few days in this forum, and I feel I already know some of you a little bit from the tone and content of your posts. Therefore I expect responses from the sublime to the ridiculous.
So please advise me regarding the plausibility of my notion to retire in DR OR suggestions for elsewhere. Language, especially Spanish, will not present an insurmountable challenge. It mostly boils down to money and a simple life with not too many hardships.
I will be grateful for all responses, from cautious encouragement to abrupt declarations that I am out of my mind.
Most especially, I would be grateful for specific advice as to how much yearly income I would need and specific places where I may pursue my search (e.g. North shore vs. South, city vs. mountains, OR maybe I should look elsewhere, Panama, Costa Rica, Croatia (just kidding...I think).
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and congratulations on a very fine forum with lots of passionate, well informed, and funny people. If I could swing this, I already feel that the people whose posts I have read are a VERY EXCEPTIONAL group that I would love to meet and get to know.
Sincerely, John:bunny: :bunny:
Anyway....lately I have become disillusioned with "livin' in the U S AAAaaaaaAA"! (or maybe it is just "livin"), that I have begun to fashion an escape scheme.
I am 50. No wife no kids and nothing tying me down. I went to college but never really benefited financially from it. I had the ridiculous notion that college was a place to LEARN, so I studied philosophy and did all the crazy things college students did in the '70s. Now I have no savings and no safety net, BUT I have a dream. Working as a bricklayer, if I discipline myself to become strictly an EARNING MACHINE for the next five years, I can realistically count on saving $100,000 USD.
My request is for some feedback concerning the viability of retiring in DR, or perhaps elsewhere, on the interest supplemented by a meager Social Security check. My wants and needs (barring a catastrophic health concern...knock on wood) are VERY modest. I could be happy with a warm sunny climate (not stifling), access to books and internet and intelligent caring friends, 2-3 times per week of eating out, local simple fare, and renting a small apartment with reliable and affordable amenities, being able to spend days at a pleasant beach reading.
I have read many threads in the last few days in this forum, and I feel I already know some of you a little bit from the tone and content of your posts. Therefore I expect responses from the sublime to the ridiculous.
So please advise me regarding the plausibility of my notion to retire in DR OR suggestions for elsewhere. Language, especially Spanish, will not present an insurmountable challenge. It mostly boils down to money and a simple life with not too many hardships.
I will be grateful for all responses, from cautious encouragement to abrupt declarations that I am out of my mind.
Most especially, I would be grateful for specific advice as to how much yearly income I would need and specific places where I may pursue my search (e.g. North shore vs. South, city vs. mountains, OR maybe I should look elsewhere, Panama, Costa Rica, Croatia (just kidding...I think).
Thanks in advance for your feedback, and congratulations on a very fine forum with lots of passionate, well informed, and funny people. If I could swing this, I already feel that the people whose posts I have read are a VERY EXCEPTIONAL group that I would love to meet and get to know.
Sincerely, John:bunny: :bunny: