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[QUOTE=Frannie;1941390]Well, would you park your spare cash in a savings account paying 2% interest versus one paying 0. 2% interest, all other things being equal? I would.[/QUOTE]Well, of course, that is either a 90% difference or a 900% difference, so it's a bit exaggerated. And, since money is fungible, one would never see such a difference in real life, absent regulatory restrictions. Probably not your best example.
[QUOTE=MrGogo;1940534]Here is a little to the killings in the DR and you will see that even though the south coast has as some here say, 30 times the people, 30 times the space, and 30 times more men that the north coast is holding its own with murders. So if you want a little hick country town that's dangerous and the ex pats sip the same hot beer all day, then maybe POP is your place. Oh! And don't forget that expensive ass airport.
[URL]http://www.dominicanwatchdog.org/dominican_news[/URL][/QUOTE][URL]http://ensegundos.do/2016/09/26/vivir-en-santo-domingo-cuesta-un-29-mas-que-en-la-region-del-cibao/[/URL]
Interesting report. Cost of living in SD is almost a third higher than in Cibao. Can it be even higher compared to the North Coast?
I like big cities and enjoy my visits to SD.
But costs can be a factor in this argument / discussion.
[QUOTE=Parkinsons;1941817][URL]http://ensegundos.do/2016/09/26/vivir-en-santo-domingo-cuesta-un-29-mas-que-en-la-region-del-cibao/[/URL]
Interesting report. Cost of living in SD is almost a third higher than in Cibao. Can it be even higher compared to the North Coast?
I like big cities and enjoy my visits to SD.
But costs can be a factor in this argument / discussion.[/QUOTE]So true, it's about cost but also lifestyle. I consider myself a young guy that's super energetic so I need multiple venues. Some guys are content with a low cost of living, a bar, cute girls around and a beach which is cool I guess. But it m not going to retire to retire, I'm going to retire to start a new chapter in my life.
SD has a great Spanish school, aquarium, zoo, subway, movies and nice towns within an hours drive. I'm willing to pay extra for this, plus they have a great airport where I can zip to Cuba or the Caribbean in less than two hours at a reasonable price.
WRX is visiting me here in Florida right now and he is giving great info about my move to the DR by years end, he lives in the DR. From talking to most ex pats; the fucking goes down when you move there and so does the drinking and partying (if you are smart). You are no longer a tourist and look for more normal things to do. Naturally you are going to find the cheap expat that bases his entire DR living on cost to fit their limited income but I didn't work 30 years to be broke gringo.
The last thing I want in retirement is to be stuck, meaning having no desire to do anything and having a meager existence based on counting pesos.
I just used the "cost of living comparison application " and Puerto Plata is actually a higher cost of living compared to Santiago especially in housing. I was even surprised by this.
[QUOTE=Dickhead;1941359]However, we don't tend to descend [I]en masse[/I] from cheap Ryan Air flights to places like where I am now (Tallinn) [/QUOTE]Whoa, in Estonia? I called it Talinin, before the Berlin walls crumbled. The closest I have been to, is Helsinki. If your job takes you there, wow, if it is the hobby, a double wow. Don't know anything of those three countries except that they were part of the Soviet system.
The reason I wanted to comment was I thought your comments were amusing from my perspective and true. I actually learned driving in Western Europe and was perfectly comfortable driving high speed in the autoroute / Bahn / Stradas and so first time renting in Vancouver, it was kind of funny getting into an automatic and I did have a little apprehension which disappeared quickly though. Just the way renting in Sydney and driving on the other side was another of those jolts but you get used to the idea. Fact is, driving in manual requires skill, all the more so, on a slope when you have to deftly maneuver the accelerator vs the clutch to keep the car stationary.
Like you, I travel alone but it was a personal choice as traveling alone allows for more alert eyes not to be taken advantage of, and the good thing is that by being alone, you get to discover others around you which enhances the learning. It also allows me to do things without having to plan for others.
Yes, it is true that for the US perspective, the landmass being so big, life begins and ends inside the national boundaries. Also many Americans have been brainwashed to believe that everything they have is the best so, the last twenty years have been an interesting wake up call for many as the economy in the era of wage arbitrage, lost jobs to everyone else. But I do see Americans as simple people at heart and in particular the Midwesterner to be particularly nice. I do need to add the Texans as well, their politics is awful but they are such big-hearted people and a state like Iowa, which is 97% white choosing Obama over Clinton in the primaries. There is a soul of goodness in this country; So yes, notwithstanding their calling the 24 hour time, Military time (LOL), and many other idiosyncrasies, I like America.
[QUOTE=MrGogo;1941917]I just used the "cost of living comparison application " and Puerto Plata is actually a higher cost of living compared to Santiago especially in housing. I was even surprised by this.[/QUOTE]I think that's due to the large number of expats on the north coast. It's seems to me the mentality on the north coast is rip off the gringos as much as possible. Labor Day weekend some young chica approached a group of us on sosua beach and said she was a school girl who needed 200 pesos to get home. I said, el pblico es 60 pesos. She pretended not to understand me. My point is, she asked for more than double! That to me is the north coast mentality. Solo me dos centavos.
The mayor and turismo announced that the closing hours for bars in Sosua will be changed back in ten days to Sunday-Wednesday 1 am And Thursday. Saturday 3 am Great news.
[QUOTE=Manizales911;1942692]The mayor and turismo announced that the closing hours for bars in Sosua will be changed back in ten days to Sunday-Wednesday 1 am And Thursday. Saturday 3 am Great news.[/QUOTE]Damn I'm headed to the Sue. 10 days too soon. Oh well still good new!
[QUOTE=Manizales911;1942692]The mayor and turismo announced that the closing hours for bars in Sosua will be changed back in ten days to Sunday-Wednesday 1 am And Thursday. Saturday 3 am Great news.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the update!
[QUOTE=GrownMan1;1943718]Damn I'm headed to the Sue. 10 days too soon. Oh well still good new![/QUOTE]I'm here now sitting in front of the Cajun place. Just started pouring raining. And this fine mf from Santo Domingo just came over and forced me to take her number. (Oakie do not look. That is too much woman for you. I might have to pass her off to Old Kool.)
[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1941996] I do need to add the Texans as well, their politics is awful but they are such big-hearted people and a state like Iowa, which is 97% white choosing Obama over Clinton in the primaries. There is a soul of goodness in this country; So yes, notwithstanding their calling the 24 hour time, Military time (LOL), and many other idiosyncrasies, I like America.[/QUOTE]Excuse me, but I'm from Texas, I think your politics are awful, and not we are not such big-hearted people anymore, especially to people like you. I think the only Texas you have visited is in your imagination.
BTW, we call it military time, because only the military uses it. Does that make sense?
You can pull winners in Sue without any hard work.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;1943730]I'm here now sitting in front of the Cajun place. Just started pouring raining. And this fine mf from Santo Domingo just came over and forced me to take her number. (Oakie do not look. That is too much woman for you. I might have to pass her off to Old Kool.)[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tempoecorto;1941996]Fact is, driving in manual requires skill, all the more so, on a slope when you have to deftly maneuver the accelerator vs the clutch to keep the car stationary.[/QUOTE]I use the hand brake for that.
[QUOTE=Dickhead;1943875]I use the hand brake for that.[/QUOTE]Ladyboy. You know your good when you can drive a stick in San Francisco. Slopes are 50 degrees. Driving a stick shift is the best. Especially with a great car like my old Mit Eclipse. Can we get back to pussy, and off cars and racist politics? Thank you.
Using the hand brake saves your clutch lining, no matter how good you are. Statistics show that people who drive stick shifts get 32% more pussy.