Sunday, September 17, 2023
Day to Day
Living here on a day-to-day nothing much changes. The people here are very kind and for what they have very generous. The greatest problem a foreigner has is making the adjustment from one believe and value system to another. In Canada, US, England etc. There is a certain respect for time, and values [what is important]. In the US if you told a person you would arrive at a certain time you would be expected to be there. In the DR that does not exist not even the courtesy call to explain. Most Dominican people are in time people [this means their living in this moment] and don’t thing of the future. They seem to be family oriented but cot community oriented. They will say what’s in it for me and care less about the community. Catch 22 they are afraid of thieves but wear all their valuables so everyone can see. They are always trying to impress their fellow Dominicans.
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Monday, March 5, 2007
Sailing to paradise
Living in Paradise on a pension
My name is Doug Walters. I retired from Ford Motor Talbotville 11 years ago. I started my new life by sailing the Caribbean for 6 years visiting US east coast, where I met many very nice people and getting to know all other boater that where doing the same as me. When I crossed the gulf stream heading to the Bahamas was very exciting for a person who lived in Ontario Canada and never seen the ocean before. Bahamas is a group of hundreds of islands some uninhabited the land is dry and vegetation very sparse but the water is alive with fish, lobsters and conch it is a snorkels dream. When hurricane season came I returned to the US working my way up the east coast. November returning to the Bahamas and each time learning more about the different islands and people. Each year we would go to other places. One year it was Cuba is an enigma the people are pleasant and friendly and the country is undeveloped but they have so many little bosses that make their own rules and spies everywhere. {Example} When we sailed into Santiago we filed all the papers and got permission to sail the south coast but after reaching the next port all the rules changed and they would not except their government documents. In the restaurant in the marina in Santiago we seen person hiding with binoculars watching fellow workers we were told this was a government officer. After much disappointment we set sail for Jamaica. . Jamaica is a lush island with fruit and vegetables and lots of friendly people. It does have its problem with drugs and murder. The people are very paranoid about strangers. They thought I was a DEA agent simply because I had a ham radio and a computer on my boat. I spent a year there getting to know many of the locals and having fun but always watching my back. It was amusing that when I was in Port Royal which is across the harbor from Kingstown. When the people found out that I had sailed from Canada they told me boy are you brave. I just laugh and told them they need a reality check. They just drove through one of the most dangerous cities in the world to tell me I’m brave. After one year we returned to the Bahamas and US. Next year we sailed through Bahamas and on to the Turks & Cacaos. The Turks is similar to the Bahamas accept now very expensive. When I visited 20 years ago it was a paradise you could have bough all the beach front very reasonably, now all tourist Sailing is an excellent way to visit a country because you meet the real people and not the tourist route. When I finally reached Dominican Republic is a untapped paradise. By the time I reach the DR I had been sailing about 6 years and find although it is possible to do it on my pension it was not easy. There was a constant fear of a problem with the boat that I could not afford to repair, as the boat needed constant repair. The cost of entry fee of all the countries have increased dramatically The DR is very reasonable place to live. I move ashore built a 4-bedroom house [built with my pension]. The cost of living is very low. {Example} I live in the countryside and as of now the electricity is free there is no house or land tax. The temperature only changes ten-degree summer to winter. My medical insurance for my wife and me is US$ 500 per year. You can buy prescription across the counter. I don’t have a car if I want to go somewhere I call a taxi. Taxi fair for a whole day to Santiago from my house about 60 kilometers is 1600 Paso or US $ 50 at these prices I don’t own a car. I do have a motorcycle and the insurance for the year is US $ 23. I have married a beautiful young Dominican Lady and saving money while living just on my pension.
My name is Doug Walters. I retired from Ford Motor Talbotville 11 years ago. I started my new life by sailing the Caribbean for 6 years visiting US east coast, where I met many very nice people and getting to know all other boater that where doing the same as me. When I crossed the gulf stream heading to the Bahamas was very exciting for a person who lived in Ontario Canada and never seen the ocean before. Bahamas is a group of hundreds of islands some uninhabited the land is dry and vegetation very sparse but the water is alive with fish, lobsters and conch it is a snorkels dream. When hurricane season came I returned to the US working my way up the east coast. November returning to the Bahamas and each time learning more about the different islands and people. Each year we would go to other places. One year it was Cuba is an enigma the people are pleasant and friendly and the country is undeveloped but they have so many little bosses that make their own rules and spies everywhere. {Example} When we sailed into Santiago we filed all the papers and got permission to sail the south coast but after reaching the next port all the rules changed and they would not except their government documents. In the restaurant in the marina in Santiago we seen person hiding with binoculars watching fellow workers we were told this was a government officer. After much disappointment we set sail for Jamaica. . Jamaica is a lush island with fruit and vegetables and lots of friendly people. It does have its problem with drugs and murder. The people are very paranoid about strangers. They thought I was a DEA agent simply because I had a ham radio and a computer on my boat. I spent a year there getting to know many of the locals and having fun but always watching my back. It was amusing that when I was in Port Royal which is across the harbor from Kingstown. When the people found out that I had sailed from Canada they told me boy are you brave. I just laugh and told them they need a reality check. They just drove through one of the most dangerous cities in the world to tell me I’m brave. After one year we returned to the Bahamas and US. Next year we sailed through Bahamas and on to the Turks & Cacaos. The Turks is similar to the Bahamas accept now very expensive. When I visited 20 years ago it was a paradise you could have bough all the beach front very reasonably, now all tourist Sailing is an excellent way to visit a country because you meet the real people and not the tourist route. When I finally reached Dominican Republic is a untapped paradise. By the time I reach the DR I had been sailing about 6 years and find although it is possible to do it on my pension it was not easy. There was a constant fear of a problem with the boat that I could not afford to repair, as the boat needed constant repair. The cost of entry fee of all the countries have increased dramatically The DR is very reasonable place to live. I move ashore built a 4-bedroom house [built with my pension]. The cost of living is very low. {Example} I live in the countryside and as of now the electricity is free there is no house or land tax. The temperature only changes ten-degree summer to winter. My medical insurance for my wife and me is US$ 500 per year. You can buy prescription across the counter. I don’t have a car if I want to go somewhere I call a taxi. Taxi fair for a whole day to Santiago from my house about 60 kilometers is 1600 Paso or US $ 50 at these prices I don’t own a car. I do have a motorcycle and the insurance for the year is US $ 23. I have married a beautiful young Dominican Lady and saving money while living just on my pension.
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