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joaquinx wrote:

Way too many gringos. Reminds me of Miami Beach.

Yep , got to agree Joaquinx, plus expensive and not safer. That is available in the U.S. But like you, it is my opinion, except for the more expensive, and not safer part.

People do feel more expats equal safer, but from what I have seen, and read that is not true. Both cities were affordable and more tranquil in the past.

rmajijic wrote:

I can't comment on crime in SMA. There is crime here in Lake Chapala but it is all petty theft type stuff.
It" all fine and dandy to for one to say that they don't want to live among the gringos but one has to ask themselves "What will I do all day, every day?"
Finding a place to live is very different from a vacation of a few weeks or a few months.

I couldn't let this one go majijic. "what are you going to do all day" really ? You can't have Mexican friends to do things with ? it requires gringos ?
I think you might want to preface every glowing report with a disclosure of your girlfriend being a real estate agent there.  It presents a more balanced picture. As for crime to be completely honest along with "petty theft" there was the murder of a Canadian couple before you moved there, Chapala is not Disneyland, but like Disneyland it is more expensive than many other places in Mexico. Saying only what is great about a place is selling.

rmajijic wrote:

Well, I don't think I deserved that kind of attack. I am just trying help people in their decision making process.
Is Ajijic for everyone? Of course not. Do you need gringos to have friends? Of course not. But most people (especially if you don't speak Spanish) cannot make that kind of cultural transition.
Is there crime in Ajijc? Of course there is. I am not trying to sugar coat things but trying to keep perspective as to how much crime there is compared to elsewhere. As for a Canadian couple being murdered, I think you could say that about any city in the world. Is there muggings and murders every week, every month, every year in Lake Chapala????
Of course not.  Keep some perspective.
Is it cheaper to live in other areas in Mexico?  Of course it is. Would you want to live in those areas?  Maybe, maybe not.  Is Lake Chapala cheaper than SMA?  Yes, I believe it is.  That is what the topic question was about.  What is the difference between SMA and Lake Chapala.
I am sure SMA has lots going for it too. If people prefer it there, then great.
All I am doing is helping supply information so people can make their own informed decisions. Some will come here, some will go elsewhere.

I am not in fact attacking, but trying to get you to reflect in a more balanced way. Your postings are often very much like sales presentations, not unbiased at all.  If you included your girlfriends business address, or your business address you would be asked to move to the business directory . There are "not muggings and murders every week, every month, every year" in many parts of Mexico. So Chapala is not an exception in that regard, "is it cheaper to live in other areas in Mexico?  Of course it is. Would you want to live in those areas?  Maybe, maybe not" is an attitude about something you don't know about, but clearly feel that those that move into mostly Mexican neighborhoods, or look into other towns, have been foolish.

To fairly make that decision people need facts while showing respect for the people whose country is Mexico. I think the 'one or two can go live with the Mexicans if they want' , and 'you can decide what to do with the rest of your day while the Mexicans do all the work at your house', attitude is not showing that respect. We need to remember that this is not our country. We came to this country as guests we should act like guests.

I'm glad you are so happy with Chapala, but please be fair to others, and the natives. Some of them have likely been displaced from their homes, and the town they grew up in because the gringos like it so much. It happened in many parts of the U.S. and SMA and Chapala are probably examples of it happening here.