| Jennifer proclaims Dominica to be "the most beautiful place on earth." There are cultural beliefs and practices that need adjusting to, but she and her husband have found it worth doing. They love the place so much they're building their retirement home there. Read on for other aspects of her expat life in Roseau, Dominica. |
 Jennifer Miller |
-Where were you born?
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
-In which country and city are you living now?
Roseau, Dominica
-Are you living alone or with your family?
With husband, Roger, and pug dog, Chester
-How long have you been living in Dominica?
2 years
-What is your age?
53
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Dominica?
Several years ago we began to think about retiring to Dominica. We used to vacation here and fell in love with the island. We saw it as a place to live a simple, quiet life in a more sustainable way than we were living in the U.S.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
We do not have work permits. They can be hard to get unless you are filling a needed niche or starting a business. Simple residency is easy to get.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
We are self-insured.
-How do you make your living in Dominica? Do you have any type of income generated?
I have been writing since coming to the island. I have written an eBook about moving to Dominica. I have also written several articles for Escape Artist. Otherwise, we live off meager investments.
Most expats here with jobs have started businesses.
-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Dominica is English speaking but locals speak patois. Having knowledge of Creole would be very helpful.
Dominica is very conservative and homophobic. It is important here to dress nicely and be discrete in behavior. This is not the island to wear your bikini in the streets. Unless it is Carnival, or ‘Mas as it is called here. (Mas is short for Masquerade)
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss being able to buy things I need when I need them! I also miss having a job sometimes.
We are terrible homebodies. We moved here with 29 boxes of books! I guess that says it all, right? I do occasionally swim or snorkel. Or we will go to the mineral baths or go walking in the rainforest.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
We are building our retirement house on Dominica. If we can out wait the bureaucrats, that is.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home?
We currently rent a very nice 3-bedroom, 2-bath house for US $537.00/mo.
-What is the cost of living in Dominica?
People can live here cheaply. We live a more North American lifestyle (with some imported comfort foods) and we spend about ½ of what we did in the US.
-What do you think about the locals?
I have found it difficult to integrate into the local community. They are nice, but the culture has been difficult for me bridge. Some expats do better with this than others. We do not have an easy entrée into local society as in work or school. I think it would help if we were churchgoers. Dominica is very Christian.
Other than being ripped off because as “strangers” we are assumed to be rich, Dominicans are generally courteous and helpful. The crime rate is low here, but petty theft does occur.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Dominica?
Dominica is the most beautiful place on earth. It is possible to live close to the land and be awakened to birdsong in the morning. We eat the freshest of local produce and breathe fresh air scrubbed clean by the Atlantic and the rain forest. However, it is a third world country without much to do. The government bureaucracy is miserable to deal with, and everything runs on "island time."
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Dominica?
We were told before moving here that Dominica is not an easy place to live, and it is not. We have our share of frustrations with the island, but the quiet, tranquil life we live makes it worthwhile (mostly). My husband would be happy never to set foot off the island again!
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Dominica?
My eBook on moving to Dominica is available at livingdominica.com. I blog at livingdominica.blogspot.com.
Retiring in Dominica
Hello
You have a wonderful web site. I am 62 and live on social secirity of approx $1400 monthly and am looking for inexpensive safe serene and adventurous place to retire.
Is this possible in Dominca, I would have to rent a furnished dwelling and not have the luxury of an automobile. This island and what I have recently rsearched looks beiautiful. Would just like a current update of cost of living on my meager income. Thank yoy, Kindly Mike
Living in Dominca Isn't Easy
Hi Jennifer,
I enjoyed reading about your living abroad experience. It was very entertaining and informative. I had been investigating living overseas for only five months out of the year and Dominica sounds like the perfect place to consider. My wife and I are both retired from one job. But I am doing business consulting work for my former employer. I am only planning to work until I can collect social security benefits but now I looking at investing into property abroad. If you don't mind I do have a few questions I like to asked (See Below).
1. Is there broadband Internet, Cable/Satellite TV Digital/Video Phone Service available in the region?
2. Can you provide a price range for a 2 bedroom Condo?
3. Is Capital Gains, or Inheritance taxed?
4. Do you have any idea about property tax rates? Are they low or high?
5. What is the annual weather like?
6. I have a webcam if you have one would you like to communicate live?
Thanks
Clarence
Im Moving to Dominica in August 2009
Hello -
My name is Gina and my husband and I are moving to Dominica in August 2009. I am 35 years old, my husband is 40 and we have no children. My mother and her husband have been living there for the last eight years, off and on for the first four and permanently for the last four. We will be living off of my husband's military retirement money as he served for 21 years as well as some insurance money that I saved after my home was struck by lightening and burned to the ground. At the time we weren't living there and were renting it out. No one was home but the renter lost everything. But that's another story all by itself. :-)
Since my mother and her husband have moved, they have bought property, four acres now. I am unsure of how much the cost was, but I recall it was inexpensive according to American terms. They have a cement building that my mother uses for her massage therapy, the home they live in, the home that my mother's best friend lives in (who moved there almost 2 years ago), and an additional home that we are moving into. The bathrooms are separate from the house with a standing shower on one side (with hot water) and toilet & sink on the other side. It's like camping in a cottage, but you're in the rain forrest! My mother wanted to open a restaurant featuring American & Caribbean cuisine and my husband and I after visiting a couple of times were Sold on the idea! My mother was doing some massage therapy, but not enough. Since the beginning of the year, my mother and her friend starting to market themselves to the hotels and spas and their feature is an hour & half massage with hot stone therapy. Well the last few months they have been a lot busier than they ever were! So if the restaurant is going to happen now is the time to go for it! So we are!
The houses on the property are a meager, two room (that's right two rooms, not two bedrooms) home. One side is your bedroom and one side is your kitchen area. The porch is the living room. We all have tv's in our bedrooms and sometimes we'll all get together in the largest room, gather chairs and watch a movie together, but for the most part in the evenings we're on the porch talking or reading.
Yes there is cable, internet, cell phone....all of that! Dominica was the first island to go digital. Some areas, like in the valleys or 'wet area', your service may at times be touch and go, but otherwise, you have all of that stuff. There is also an internet cafe in town (the capital city). Roseau is the capital and its 'in town'. That's where you'll do any shopping and banking and such. Pretty much everything is in Roseau....except for trees. Its hot in the city. We go there, do what we gotta do, and go home!
As for rental properties, I'm not positive on how much one would cost. I think it will depend a lot on how you want to live. If you want to live like an American, then it will cost you. If you want to live like a local, well then it will cost you half. I believe the key is to go for a visit First. Let me know when you're coming and we'll have lunch! It is Very important that you visit First and make sure you have at Least ten days. After two weeks....you'll know. ;-) I also believe that the more you get to know the locals, your neighbors, the more they will treat you as such, if you know what I mean. My mother and her husband have Many friends!! They are loved by many and they don't have much to give. They have lots of Dominican friends as well as friends from all over the world that have moved there. Its a small island...its easy to know when someone new has moved to the island. :-)
As for questions 3 & 4....I have no idea. :-)
Annual weather...average temp is 72...all year long. You get dry and wet seasons, but over all it rains almost everyday...its the rain forrest...sometimes its a hard rain that last a while, but for the most part they short rains. My mother said that last 'winter' was colder than normal and the average temp was 60.
I suggest, you google Dominica and read up on all you can! I have found Jenny's blogs to be incredibly useful as well!! Feel free to reply to this and I'll be happy to tell ya what I know. Hope this helps!
Peace -
Gina