I live in an area called Lakeside, the area on the north shore of Lago de Chapala (Lake Chapala) from Jocotepec to Vista del Lago, which is a short drive east of the town of Chapala. I live in the town of Ajijic which has the highest concentration of expats living in the area. I love living here.
During a difficult period in my life shortly after I turned fifty, I began to realize that my hopes for a good retirement were fading fast. My career had taken a significant downturn which had a big impact on my financial situation. At the same time, real estate prices in attractive retirement areas in Canada were escalating rapidly. Like many Canadians I had thought that retiring in either the Okanagan or on Vancouver Island would be lovely. But I had to face the uncomfortable reality that that would not be possible.
Beginning in 2004 I began to search for alternatives on the internet. I remember researching Belize and Costa Rica but I soon began to focus on Mexico. I found five attractive areas but only remember three - La Paz, San Miguel de Allende and Lakeside which emerged as my first choice.
In December, 2006 Pat and I took a one month vacation in Ajijic and we liked it. The weather was great and that year almost everyday had clear blue skies. The prices were afforable for us. And we found Ajijic charming with lots of activities and decent restuarants. On many days we walked many kilometers to the various neighbourhoods.
We decided not to come back for two years because we were not ready to retire and we did not want to get swept up by our own enthusiasm. In December, 2008 we again came for a month of vacation and again we liked it. I remember feeling as if I had come home. Our third trip was in April, 2011 and we moved here in 2012.
All things considered, I like it here more than I had expected to. The two main reasons we came were, firstly, the lower cost of living and, secondly, the climate. But this area resonates strongly with me for several other reasons. I have found it easier to make new friends than I had expected. I am enjoying the activities more than I had expected. I have been able to successfully launch a couple of my own initiatives. All together, I can live the life I want to live here.