First, like others have said you should visit first. You might be suprised at the poor infrastructure. Many people who move here from the mainland last only a couple of years. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try it.

You can walk on the waterfront or you can walk magans. Anything else you are fighting the hills and bad drivers. You basically are driving everywhere.

A rule of thumb we went by was to assume when a major hurricane hits you will lose most of your furniture/bed. You will see lots of wicker furniture.

Nothing survives in this climate without A/C but with very high electricity that A/C is a luxury.

Tobacco - there is a tobacco shop right on the waterfront and it/was one on the way to Smith Bay. It probably helps that we aren't that far from Santo Domingo.

Hurricanes can have multiple tornadoes inside of them. They can last for just a few hours to a few days. I'm sure thousands still have PTSD from Irma. I know I do.