Why I Left America for the Dominican Republic

I get this question all the time: why did you leave America? When people find out that I'm currently living in the Dominican Republic, I can see the confusion on their faces. They're thinking — I know the country has beautiful beaches and nice resorts, but why would anybody want to move from the US over to the Dominican Republic?

My answer to that: not everyone thinks the United States is great.

Do I see America as a bad country? No, not really. There are some good things about it. But if you remove the best quality of America — which by far is the greatest country in the world to earn money — then it's just an average country compared to anywhere else.

Back in 2009, I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a business trip and something about that visit just totally changed me. I didn't know what it was at the time, but that experience kind of lingered with me over the years. I would travel here at least two to three times a year for the next several years until I finally moved here permanently in 2021. The culture, the people, the way of life — it all kind of put me in mind of how America was back in the '80s when I actually grew up.

1. The Growing Tension and Division

The America I grew up in in the '80s — that America no longer exists. When I'm there, or even when I'm watching the news from Dominican Republic, I can hardly even recognize the country. America, in my opinion, has lost some of their greatest strengths — their social norms, their traditions, their values.

Having lived outside of the country for two years, on the outside looking in, it looks like a free-for-all. Everybody seems to be on edge. I feel uncomfortable when I'm out in public there. Here in Dominican Republic, I don't feel uneasy. You see people enjoying themselves, having a good time. Nobody seems to be on edge here.

2. The High Cost of Living

The high cost of living is making it almost impossible for people to just live a normal life, especially in major metropolitan cities like Miami, New York, LA, Chicago, Houston.

Before moving to the Dominican Republic, we lived in the Fort Lauderdale area and our monthly expenses came out to be around $4,600. That included rent, utilities, car insurance, health insurance — you name it. When we moved here to Dominican Republic, we cut our expenses down by 50% and at the same time we upgraded our lifestyle.

To be honest, we could have cut our expenses down by 65%, but we chose to live where we live. We wanted similar accommodations to what we had back in Florida.

3. The Continuous Rat Race

The funny thing about this one — you don't really realize you're running the race until it's almost too late. You're just subconsciously reacting, living the same life over and over each day, chasing some super superficial goal that doesn't have any real purpose.

Yes, it's okay to have a big house and nice cars. But at what expense? Your quality of life — which many of us have sacrificed and are still sacrificing just to pretend we have money, only to create more and more debt.

Here in the DR, we have a better quality of life. Being able to cut down expenses has allowed us to enjoy our lives more, save more, and invest more than what we did in Fort Lauderdale.

4. The Excessive and Senseless Violence

From mass shootings and gun violence to police brutality — this part of America, in my opinion, has gotten way out of control. The thought of me raising my daughter in that environment — as a parent, I'm terrified.

Think about sending your kids off to school and in the back of your mind having the thought that they may not even make it home. This wasn't even a thought when I was growing up back in the '80s. Living here in Dominican Republic, a thought like that never crosses my mind.

5. A Different Experience with Race

Growing up in America, you're always the minority — and they never let you forget it. When you go to these Caribbean countries — Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas — you're not treated as if you're a Black person. You're just treated like a normal person. Like a human being.

If anything, I'm treated better here because I'm an American versus because I'm Black. The feeling of walking around not feeling like a minority — it's hard to even describe. It's like a weight just released from your shoulders.

The Bottom Line

I don't believe that there's a perfect place on this planet. But there is a perfect place for us as individuals at certain times of our life. Right now, it's Dominican Republic for me. In 5 years, will I feel the same? I don't know. Does anybody know how they're going to feel in 5 years?

Be present and live your best life.