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Annieloraine - yes that's my work I'm hoping to join an art group myself but still haven't had the time to search for one.

Planner - the taxis are almost as bad when driving as the carros publicos, so far I've get better traveling with the gua guas

Planner, lately the blackouts have been much much worse than when we first came down - two days this week it's been so bad that our inverter didn't have time to charge!

Supposedly there is a generator off the electrical grid but I've seen nothing in the news to confirm this!!!! 

By the way, electrician showed up about 5 minutes after my post - way cool!!!! Now he is finishing the install by removing things like fridge, hot water heater,  microwave etc from the circuits hooked up to the inverter.  this  house doesn't not have a good electrical set up!  But slowly this will be set right!!!

Planner Welcome to the 21st century

Bob K

Shucks  thanks Bob,  I had one before a few years ago in Puerto Plata when we had at least 5 hours of outage a day..... I sold it when I left that apartment. 

Now I bit the bullet and bought a new one.  Soon it will be finalized.....

Felicidades Planner!!!

Thanks honey!

And now an update of a different kind.

I received a puppy as a thank you gift. I had mentioned to someone that when I am out at meetings and Jack is home along (my other dog) that he gets lonely. I had said I would find Jack a puppy. 

Meanwhile I am babysitting 3 dogs for my friend who has gone on vacation.

About 10 days ago,  someone rang my bell at 10pm!  Strange......  I answer it and there is my friend with a box.   It is a gift for me he says.......... I open it to find a puppy!!!!

Oh dear now there are 5 dogs at my house......   This puppy is adorable,  they call this breed "peluche" or teddy bear. She is a cross between a shitzu and a poodle. She was 8 weeks old and soooo cute.

She took to Jack immediately. they plan and cavort most of the day. Just when I think  Jack is a bit rough the puppy jumps on him again and keeps coming back for more.........

She is a black ball of fun with just a hint of white in places.  I named her Hershey - cause she gives me hershey kisses all day long....... She follows me everywhere.

Well she did till Friday night when she started vomiting. She was a bit better yesterday and then this morning vomiting again refusing to eat, it was time to call in the reinforcements. Yup the vet.

I have a "Campo" vet, he makes house calls. Turns out Hershey has a bad case of parasites as the previous people did not get any of the puppies checked (contrary to what I was told)  Well the vet came, hooked up an IV,  gave her 2 injections and soon she will be back to a loving, playful ball of fur.......

The vet also  gave Jack an injection for parasites as a preventative measure - and not a bad idea anyway. Total cost -  about US 40!!!!! 

PS - dogsitting ends tomorrow, so 3 are going home soon....

Dogs become like kids. I know we feel that way about our two. We have a barker (Havanese) and a biter (Rottie). Can't imagine the house with out them.

Bob K

yes Bob I am now a committed dog person.  Who would have thought it??? I cannot imagine my house without Jack - my watchiedog and Hershey the furball...........LOL 

It is interesting Hershey - about 5 pounds - has zero fear of anyone or anything. She wrestles and play with Jack - about 28 pounds - without fear.......  they crack me up all day long.

Our Havanese at 12 pounds also has no fear and bosses the 140 pound rottie all day long.

Bob k

LOL they are quite something Bob!!!!  Right now  she runs in and bites Jacks tail then runs..... then goes back for more. Cheeky little bugger.

Planner, you have any recommend for dancing school in Naco?
Thank you!!!

what kind of dancing????

Well we are back from our summer trek through Europe and still trying to settle in.

First thing I did yesterday was get a massage from my favorite massage lady in preparation for the crazy week ahead.

Today it is off to Puerto Plata to get the brakes replaced on the car. Then tomorrow off to Santiago to take Robby (friend who baby sat our house and dogs for the last 4 months) to the airport for his trip home.  He will be returning in January for another 6 months.  On the way to the airport a stop at my favorite cigar factory for new cigars as I smoked most of mine on the trip and Robby needs some to go home with.  Then off to price mart to restock the house.'

Wednesday meeting a friend for breakfast than off to la Sirena  to restock food for the house and staff.

Thursday will be bill paying day with probably no less than 7 places to go to including the bank.

By Friday I will need a vacation

Bob K

welcome back Bob!!!!  Enjoy your week.

Thanks, It was a great trip and good to be home.

Bob K

Had a great day today in Cabarete, started off with a day at the beach, which was sunny and had a great breeze.  I also met bob who along with planner are always so helpfull.  Meeting Bob was a great experience, it is so much better to connect with the person behind the wisdom. As always Bob was filled with knowledge regarding living here, but most of all I appreciated hanging out with a fellow expat and absorbing some knowledge.  Bob is an all around great guy with great stories, so I would suggest if you get a chance to meet up with him in person and chat a bit, it would be a great experience.  I truly appreciate you taking time out to meet with me Bob, and hopefully in the near future, I won't be just vacationing, but actually living here.  Thanks again for those leads, I will look in to them both.  Have a great week and thanks again.

MASSAGEWIZ you are most welcome. It was a pleasure for me as well. Please let me know if you need any more information or whatever.  I look forward to seeing you again in the near future.

Bob K

Its is amazing the nice people you can meet here!!!!

Actually you are correct there are lots of nice folks here

Bob K

There are Bob!  From the poorest of the poor to the wealthy,  educated and or street smart,  the humble, the overdressed..........take your pick. There are awesome people here!  You just have to get to know them and that can take a while!!!!!

I alluded on another  forum to something that happened to me last Friday.  I was in an office waiting area, somewhere I didn't want to be, dealing with issues that were really not mine to deal with.

It was a long wait -  my appointment at 10 am became 1:45pm before we were done.

After that came another wait while paperwork was drafted.  So I was NOT in a very good mood.

And then arrived my new best friend!  Yes what appeared to be about 4 years old,  dressed in khaki shorts and a yellow golf shirt, this little guy looked at me and smiled!!!! My whole demeanor and attitude changed in an instant!  This little guy was so cute, so intent on getting my attention.  We spent over 30  minutes giggling,  playing, tickling, doing silly little kid games in both languages and it was truly liberating!

Our paperwork was done,I signed,  the little guy came over took my hand and said Adios Mama!  He was coming home with me.....LOL

Now Imagine that back in North America!

What a precious story Planner! Thanks for sharing that!

Some more questions... Do they have vets pretty much around/close enough to access conveniently? What about dog food? What are the options? Do they have any brands you find here? Pardon the silliness but my dogs are important to me. They don't get the most expensive but try not to feed junk food either. Learned from experience that they will not be healthy if poor diet.  Also does anyone know if you can purchase fresh goat milk anywhere?

Is it critical to own a car there? Know it would be nice but is it possible to live say in the mountain area but get a lift to the coast? Have a car now but figure too much to bring it am I right? How/where would you get buy car there? Again pardon the question just no clue if its like here or not.

Also did you all bring personal possessions with you? I read the story in IL about a couple that only brought five (5) suitcases with them! I would  travel light but not that light. I have books and personal photos, etc. that couldn't leave behind. Can you get household décor items there? Or is it best to bring things like curtains (sheers) and dishes with? I usually use curtains and towels that need to go to pack fragile stuff.

Does DR have a rainy season? If so when is it? Thanks for your answers?

Thanks,  so dogs - I have 2.  Vets are abundant. Lots of variety of dog food in most grocery stores!  Some vets sell product as well.

A vehicle is not critical. I use taxis and frankly it is less expensive and less hassle for me.  there is an intricate system of "gua guas" or buses here.  You can get almost anywhere with the system.  It is not always pleasant though depending on where you are and your tolerances!

Almost anything you can imagine is available here! Sometimes there isn't as much choice as you want but it is all here. I live in Santo Domingo where we have the most stores and options. 

Shipping things like dishes etc will be a waste.  By the time you pay the shipping you could have bought brand new. For most things  - dishes for example - there are lots and lots of choices.  And we have many stores selling fabric so have the curtains made if you cannot find what you want.

Rainy season - that used to be easy to answer and not so much anymore. Our weather patterns seem to be shifting so  I cannot say there is a season.  And it also depends where you plan to live. Santo domingo can be very different from say Puerto Plata.

Hope that helps.

"Almost anything you can imagine is available here! Sometimes there isn't as much choice as you want but it is all here. I live in Santo Domingo where we have the most stores and options."

Hi folks,
Well I am looking for a vinyl fence post jacket about 5"X5" square at both ends and about 8' long. It looks kinda like a pvc pipe but only rectangular not round (cylindrical). I could not find any in the fereterias on the NE coast. Should I buy them from HomeDepot or Lowes in  the U.S. for $25 each and ship them there or is there someone in the know? It's for hydroponics ---growing plants in water.

Depending on where you live you might want to try Ochoa in Santiago  or American Hardware in Santo Domingo

Bob K

Also americana in  Santiago is worth a try

Thanks a bunch Bob and planner.

You are welcome and  good luck

Bob K

Update on life:

Life is still pretty darn good here in paradise!  Up until last night our heat had not started to ease off as it normally will in October.  It was still pretty damn hot day and night.

Last night a storm system started to effect us and it cooled off overnight. This morning was hot but that has changed.  We are now overcast and rainy with bits of sun showing thru at times. It is currently only  80 F! 

Yesterday I  had some work done in my house, some electrical repairs (lights, switches) some concrete work, had mirrors and pictures hung and some other odd jobs!  I  have a great handyman that I will recommend to anyone in Santo Domingo! 

In addition the landlady is getting around to installing the  closet doors!  This should have happened in August - nope.  September.......kinda.  The guy shows up after a bit of pressuring from me and the owner,  he installs 3 "frames" for the closets and leaves.  OK.  Well he will be back next week he says.  Right. 

Define next week!!!!  For me that means in the next 7 days, but here it means in some future 7 day period......LOL

He showed up yesterday evening at 5:30 pm and proceeds to install the  linen closet doors!!! Oh man,  the man cannot measure,  he had to trim everything and bang it around.  Finally  at 7pm  he is done. NICE - doors are painted white! nothing else in the house is white.  they are marked up.  AND no door pulls or handles! So how do I open the doors????  YUP I get on a friggin stool and reach to the top and hook one door open!  Really,  are you kidding me...........  so he says he will fix that the next time he is here............ahahahahaahaha

He then spent 20 minutes trying to get me to invite him out dancing!  Here,  the person who invites pays.  that is the general rule. So, no I am not inviting this man out dancing. And no I am not recommending him to anyone! 

At least he sorta, kinda, more or less cleaned up his mess!!!!

Too funny...love your daily life chats!

Oh and thanks all of you for the info on "stuff"...Not attached to much but do have few things would want to have with...

Also hoping for a visit prior to Christmas. Not sure yet but really trying to see if it can be orchestrated.  If it comes together will let ya'll know. Love to say hi in person if so...

Also Planner somehow got onto a site that was advertising "jobs" in the capitol. One was a call center, can't remember the others. Do you think this could be legite? Is there a call center in the capitol?

Also do you all think its reasonable to use a storage unit if I come and want to leave some stuff until I actually move there?

There are many many  all  centers here in the  capital, so likely it is legit. 

Sure using a storage locker can be a good idea!

Thanks for the info...

I had a record setting day today.  Usually if you can get 3 things crossed off  you list in any one day you are doing well. Especially if you don't have to go back and redo what ever it is again. So today I got the following done and was home by 3:15PM
1.  Got the car registration numbers on three care titles of my neighbor's cars changed.  They got new passports so the numbers on the registration no longer matched. He was evacuated via air ambulance 10 days ago (doing better in Canada but won't be retuning for months) and did not know about this problem. I discover it last week when I went to get their new stickers for the windshield (marbattas sp).
2. Went tot he fiscal to find out how much I owed on ticket for driving the wrong way on a one way street. They changed this one block a month ago (I was traveling) and there are no signs only the arrows (faded by now) on the street. Funny they stopped three of us; two Dominicans and the gringo.  Guess who got the ticket????
3. Went to the bank to pay my $1000RD fine
4. Went to a second bank to get the car stickers
5. Went to a third bank to change some money
6.  Paid ours and our neighbor's Trash bill for the year to the home owners association
7. Stopped at a friends house for coffee and for him to see if he could help me reset my new camera...he could not so this one was a failure
8. Got medications refilled at the pharmacy
9. Met a friend for lunch
10.  Stopped at three feratarreas (hardware store) looking for rat traps. No one had them
11 Paid our cable bill
12. Stopped to pick up milk and butter at the grocery store.
All done and home by 3:15
This deserves a glass of some very good Port I got in Porto Portugal and a fine Dominican cigar out on the terrace overlooking the ocean.
All in all a pretty good day by local standards

Bob K

Wow, its a miracle you got all that done in one day honey! I am impressed!!!!

Good day indeed Bob. Very impressive.

So today:
No electricity for over 24 hours. Thank god for generators
No internet for 15 hours so hanging out at the local bar this morning.
Glad to see that yesterday was an aberration and that today all is normal in our world.

Bob K

Well that sucks Bob.  I can't find anything online as to why you are out so long. We have had some outages here in our "24 hour" zone as well.  2 to 3 hours every second day, they say there is not enough electricity being generated to match demand.   NO surprise there....