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Yes, but this is a criminal case with serious consequences. I've been on another DR site recently, which shall remain nameless, and the speculation was getting out of control.

Really you want to tell me how to do this job??! The one that I volunteer to do and do the best I can to keep things relevant and at least decent?

Don't push me today!

Just wanted to chime in on the basic discussion.  I am newly retired (2 yrs almost) and I have been coming to the DR since 2001.  I am here for two very basic and selfish reasons; for the weather (I can wear shorts and a tee shirt everyday) and because of my wife who is dominican.  My idea of retirement was to live in a different country every two years and learn the different customs around the world (I like traveling and learning).  My wife, who raised 4 children on her own, wanted to live in her home town near her children and own a house, so that's what we are doing.   I live in Bonao, a very small and relatively safe city, but it does not have the conviences of a large city or a resort community.  I don't speak spanish very well but I am learning little by little. 

I had to laugh at some of the comments because I am always asking my wife "por que" when I see or experience something that seems totally out od sorts.  Like why is the steak here really not steak, why must there be a cement "fregador" in the back of the house, why does everyone wants "propina" for doing their job, why does everyone insist that there is 24/7 electricty and water, when several days a week they disappear for several hours and why don't people show up when they said they would be somewhere at particular time (My trash pick up is scheduled for Thursday but sometimes they don't show up until Saturday or not at all). 

As an American, especially one that had certain prerks and priviledges at home it was difficult at first to change my thinking.  Slowly I am adapting so that my discomfort for what seems to me as disorganized chaos is lessening.  Change is hard for many people, especially at my age but truly that is the one thing that is always certain.

Bonao is a likeable town and was where I did a lot of shopping when I was living south of Piedra Blanca especially after La Sirena opened. My Scotiabank bank accounts are still based there. I did like the local market but not the hoardes of motos or the 'river' that flows down the main road into town when it rains. It is nestled in beautiful surroundings with that mountain backdrop. It was a town where you got to know people with ease and there are a few expats, mainly Canadians, living there with associations with the nickel mine. There is crime and unions but it never felt a harsh place. There are some good drinking holes and 'car washes' during day and evening. A favourite was a small place that made leather horse saddles and harnesses on the old Duarte about a km past La Sirena at the traffic lights. Real casual for a cold beer whilst your car is getting looked at next door. The other spot to enjoy is by the river to the north of the town. It is a town surrounded by rivers and the nearby lakes.

It is good to hear of expats settling in the heartland of DR with their spouse and I would very much hope you grow to appreciate the challenges and values found in DR family life as I did when I first relocated to a small pueblo twenty minutes from Bonao. You are truely trying to integrate away from the expat communities and expat success stories are to be found in such places.

My aim is to relocate out of Santo Domingo in the next year into the campo again between Cevicos and Sabana where we are building a small place.

There are clearly alot of layers to this topic, but I agree to caution against generalizing and stereotyping.

One piece of worthy advice we took from this forum is to visit a number of different places in DR and then test living in a desired area for a few months.

For instance, our original perception of Las Terrenas radically changed once we actually formed relationships with locals. A few years ago if someone had of told us that we'd spend 3 months there one year and then rent there for an entire year, we would have laughed.

Also infrastructure and amenities can be dramatically different from one part of DR to another. Everyone's situation is different and I'm not sure the measuring stick should be how many move "permanently". Having the flexibility to "make it work for you" is part of the incredible opportunity DR offers.

So true.  Many only experience one area. Because of my work I have lived in many areas of this country.  While this country is small by Canadian standard, areas can be very very different!

I suggest to everyone to visit various areas of this country.  Live wherever it works for you!  No one size fits all. Find what works for you!