There are a lot of negative things said about the DR, but I wanted to start a thread talking about the ten things I like the most about the DR, and the reason I've decided to remain after living here just over a year. Below are the top ten things that make me want to stay in the DR:
1. Warm weather all year round
2. Low rental costs
3. Low healthcare costs
3. No serious penalty against non-residents who overstay their tourist visa
4. The ability to move up the social ladder
5. The ability to blend in (more so than the USA)
6. The ability to own property as a non-resident
7. The ability to avoid property taxes on certain property
8. Simple lifestyle
9. The Women (to some extent)
10. The DR is Anti-Abortion and Anti-Gay Marriage
You guys will notice I put women near the bottom of the list, along with the views on abortion and gay marriage. I share the same views towards gay marriage and abortion as do most Dominicans, and the issue of women is complicated. But overall these are the top ten reasons I've decided to stay in the DR rather than returning to the USA.
DS I can give you around 20 countries off the top of my head that fit the bill for this entire list. Lets go with 1 and 8 you can find these same two qualities about a city in Salvador Brazil.
What does the DR offer you that you can't find in Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Costa Rica, because a lot of what you posted many people say the same thing about their new country.
I remember some of your posts in the past and if I can recall you are not wealthy but you have nice nest egg you are sitting on, and living in DR does not make a lot of sense when I read your posts. You are the one who is going to create the "perfect son" right??? I would think a country like Spain would be more to your liking and they have decent weather all year round which is your number 1 reason for living in DR.
BTW If you are a SINGLE man in your early 30's healthcare should not even make your list IMO and the 2nd number 3 about tourists overstaying their visa is NOT a good thing.