Just checked out the hobotraveler on YouTube giving advice about the Dominican Republic: "one of the most dangerous places on earth." Duma still looks good compared to most of the alternatives.
I believe I viewed one of the man's videos and he was in West Africa. He had a large well appointed apartment that cost $35 or in that range. Problem being, I just don't think there is that much of interest for many in that area. As for DR, it shares the island / border with Haiti. I think I will pass.
He doesn't think much of Philippines, I think his travels here were limited. It's also interesting to review the other places he doesn't care for, like Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The street scenes, compared with here, are another world. The gringos complain of smog when one pickup drives by. It's fun to make a list of other places to consider but let's hope we never need them.
There are many great places in the world. For many, the Dumaguete area may be one that falls into that category. Deciding where to hang one's hat is such an individual and/or personal family choice, and that choice can be based upon so many different factors, with each one being weighted differently by person/family. The nice thing to think about is that many readers here do have a choice, and having a choice (no matter how limited) is still a good thing to have. Better to have a choice than none at all, right? Though I've travelled all over the world, I still have many places I've yet to see and explore. So I'm not too keen on putting down strong roots anywhere until about five years from now. And then, I'll still be visiting places anyway as I doubt I'd like to stay put rocking on the porch swing, watching the grass grow (or trees for that matter - they grow even slower!). It's just good to have an exit plan if that old SHTF thing comes up. But it's a good feeling in a body/spirit when one knows they are at ease just where they are at. Just my personal opinion, but methinks it's a wise thing to have a bit of diversity. Travel can always be fun, and so can having a permanent place to hang one's hat. I look at the exit plan more in terms of using it when there is instability/repression in my world in the basic values I have which I would not like to be violated. The exit plan card would come into play. Meanwhile, life goes on with me in it, so I may as well enjoy life where I'm at until I do go elsewhere. But I am strengthening the cards in my hand.... V/R, nwlivewire
Yes! but at some stage you are going to have to play that hand and none of us are getting any Younger
HAHAHA You are so right my friend. So very right! I suppose at my age, I've already played through a deck or two and am just starting this hand from a new deck. I think when my spouse died suddenly, that game ended, and for these past few years "the Dealer" was busy re-shuffling the deck (sometimes I think with me in it). Good Grief! Life for me was very unsettling for awhile as everything most folks consider "major" just happened to hit me all at once (son off to the Navy, death of spouse, myself injured in service, death of best friend, etc). 12 months of pure hell, never-ending multiple losses, with feelings of deep sorrow, pain, and anguish. Took me five years to get to an even keel again from those life quakes, and it seemed during that time, even the smallest ripple of an after-shock was likely to capsize my boat. But for sure, I've now got a new hand dealt to me and am greatful for this. Just now looking at these new cards in my hand, sizing up my chip stack, watching the players, and determining the size of my bet. Just being patient now and waiting my turn, knowing I've paid off almost all my backers (still working on the IRS - but not for much longer). And I do my best to focus on the here and now, all the while remembering and valuing the steps I've taken to come this far. For sure, I'm not getting any younger. But I do want to play my hand wisely so my Son can take over my seat and stack when I'm gone and hopefully, give him something to play with. The forestry agriculture thing I want to do is a win-win situation for my family. I get to have my outdoors "Jones fix", be close enough to the ocean to go fishing when I want to, and I get to leave something for my Son that he'll be able to use when he gets old - and/or his kids, too. In the meantime, they can always come down to visit Granny Annie. I'll only be a few hours by plane - still in the same Earth quadrant as they're in. But yepper yepper. Not getting any younger. And I'm doing everything I can to be patient for these last few months while I finish breaking these large rocks into smaller ones. My freedom is near! V/R, nwlivewire
He has been to the Phils about a couple dozen times and prefers a cooler climate (currently in Panajachel Guatemala at about 5,500 ft in the mountains). His travel has been limited to continuous since 1998 to 108 countries. He actually does like Vilcabamba, it is the extremely high percentage of conspiracy thinking and hiding epats there that he doesn't like. *disclaimer, I know him personally. Don't always agree with him but then again, what 2 people always agree about everything?
