Finding Home: Why This Dominican Lifestyle Feels Different

Well, hi. Welcome back. It's good to be with you. Uh, we're just getting back from a three-day off-road trip, which was just marvelous. But, you know, something that dawned on me, and I've lived in six countries uh, in my lifetime, and I never really realized it until recently. Every time that I used to go away on holidays or adventure trips or whatever, when it came time to come on back to where I reside where home base was, I always had that element of damn I don't want to go back. I want to stay and you know this is a great time and why I like where I I I'm going back to, it's not where I really want to go back to. I want to stay on this trip. This is the first place and that means a lot when you when you when you gather what I'm saying here. This is the first place that no matter where I go to, whether it's back visiting the states or Canada or any place in this country, and Leanne and I over 18 years have covered over 230,000 miles in this country, so we know a little bit about it. But the unique and the uncanny part is no matter where I go here and the diversification is second to none. We just got back from a trip that we were over 7,000 ft above sea level and you know that that the the smoke would come from your mouth and there was frost on the leaves in the morning and here we are 18 degrees off the equator. If that doesn't speak diversity, I really don't know what does. You know, there was my goodness, uh, pine, northern pine, uh, evergreen. Uh, I saw some birch trees, and then I also saw banana trees and palm trees scattered within. Again, if that doesn't speak diversity, I don't know. But here's the point. Living on the outskirts of Cabrera on a cliffside here where this is rush hour, what you're listening to behind me, just listen. I want to go back home. I've enjoyed the trip. The trip, wherever it is, is fantastic. But the important part in what I've recently learned is there's no place I'd rather be. I'm looking forward to going back home. Had a great time. It was wonderful. Off-roading or whether it's white water rafting or whatever Leanne and I do, it's all great. But when it comes time to come back home, we don't say, "God, do we have to go back home? Can't we stay longer?" We're a-okay with it. That says a lot about this region. So anyway, I'm looking forward. That's just a lesson I recently learned and I thought it was an important one. And uh I guess when you're really content with where you are, that speaks volumes. And I'm looking forward to seeing all the folks coming out to see us this winter and uh really didn't have much more to say other than that. It was just a very uplifting experience. For the first time and recently I just started noticing every trip I I am glad when it comes time to be coming home to where I live on the outskirts of Cabera. That says a lot. And you folks coming to see me and all those who are thinking about it, I promise you I'll show you more in four or five days together, then you're going to learn in months on your own. And without the least bit of pressure, you're going to find out right quick, is this area right for you or is it not? You're going to know inside. You won't need me to push you, and you won't need me to tell you. It's going to dovetail into two separate things. One, I can't wait. Let's find a place. um this is right for my family or this is the most beautiful place I've seen but it's not right for me. It's either too quiet or it whatever the case may be. But in any event, you're correct. But you're going to know it from within. So anyway, it's just uh wanted to share a a pretty valuable lesson that I learned recently and uh I guess I found our place or my wife and I guess we found our place. There is when you when you're happy to go back home after a holiday, no matter how much fun you had on it, that speaks volumes. Anyway, it's old Barry. We'll talk to you soon.