Pros and Cons of Living Near Other Expats (filmed at Lake Chapala Society.) 

A “soft landing” is exactly what Ajijic (and LCS) was for me on my first solo, non-vacation trip when I visited in 2022 looking for my retirement home and my “place to die.” I haven’t settled on my new home yet. But, regrettably, it probably won’t be Ajijic, even though I badly wish it could be. Why? The infrastructure issues are too overwhelming for me. With only a single main road, the traffic is bad a lot of the time, the internet connectivity and electrical services can be irritatingly inconsistent. The level of what is acceptable is different for everyone. So, you must visit and draw your own conclusions of whether Lakeside, and specifically Ajijic, is for you. Expat FB groups have their advantages but, as Steve suggested several times, for every question asked, there will be 10 differing responses. Boots on the ground is the very best way to evaluate your future home. Brighton, your video style is the best. Asking the question off camera and separately filming the response cuts through the “noise” that is persistent in so many other videos in the mexpat space. Well done, as always!

27:45 I love what he said there "We are all equals here." That is soooo important to me as a Mexican, I don´t want the woke culture of "I am a minority, please be sorry for me crap." We are all equal here and we try to behave that way.

Hey brother! It is amazing how professional your videos are becoming. Really love the b-roll as well as the content itself. Keep doing what you're doing, your channel is totally underrated!

Great info! I’ve been in the Ajijic area for 8 months. Extraordinary dental care at a fraction of the cost brought me here. The beauty, pace of life and graciousness of everyone brought me back! It is my forever home. ❤

I love the way you explain all the important info about living in Mexico as an expat. I want to thank you and the Mr in the video for such very good information.

I'm so glad to see you doing a video from Ajijic, especially covering some ground not previously covered. I noticed Steve mentioned Orange County, Ca. more than once and being a So Cal native I get the gist of what he's saying. At this stage I'm interested in being around more ex pats for the soft landing it affords given my lack of spanish fluency. Conversely, I'm interested in commingling with locals to expand my skills and boundaries, culturally and otherwise. And as anyone from southern California knows, it's really an extension of Mexico and working in the construction industry I've worked with more Mexican American than Anglos. I really admire their commitment to community and family. Thanks for your great work.

Hola, met you at Craig and KJs....ice cream is great in Mexico! We have lived in the Ajijic area for 1 year now and could not be more happy. Retired early, sold our house in Vegas, bought house and car in Mexico. Never going back, people are great and weather is near perfect. We are members at LCS

What I love about La Paz is that there are some expats but not too many plus it’s not a major tourist hub.

Living in Mérida. Awesome. I am a Yucatecan now. Accepted by all the folks in our neighborhood. I'm the only immigrant in this 4 block area. Expat...not a good word..

One of the best discussions about moving to Mexico! Muchas gracias!

I am drawn to San Miguel de Allende for a number of reasons. I’ve been twice and already have 5 friends there! My husband is not so keen (though he hasn’t been there) because there are so many expats. He says he doesn’t need the soft landing because he’s from India! He adores CDMX and though I love to visit it’s just too big for me. A place I really liked that is not well known among expats is Tepoztlán. It’s quite close to Mexico City but is very Mexican and so beautiful.

Great video and absolutely relevant advice on setting expectations, evaluating medical needs and setting a budget. We have been living lakeside for 6 years now. 4 years in Ajijic and 2 years now in Chapala. We did the soft landing by buying into a beautiful gated community of mostly expats which made for easy transition but then sold our home and moved to Chapala where we live in a mostly Mexican neighbourhood with some expats and love it. We pay out of pocket or ‘ self-insure’ medical care and most people we have met over the years have also cancelled their insurance as it is outrageously expensive and in most cases will not cover you after a certain age or if you have any pre-existing conditions. It is certainly something that must be in your budget or plan. The quality of care here is fantastic and overall, better than our experiences in Canada. Thanks for the video and interviewing Steve Balfour was a good choice.

I've lived in the Lake Chapala area (San Antonio Tlayacapan) for nearly six years. Love it.

Good video. I liked that you brought up the subject on the perspective of preferring to be in an expat community versus being in an "expat free" community, since this an important point for many foreigners. Steve Balfour suggested there might even be a "middle ground" between these two viewpoints as an option for some. Hearing his commentary on a wide variety of topics made this a much better video given his role in the community. Learning Spanish is always a good idea for EVERYONE. Don't buy into the "I'm too old to learn it." argument. Communicating in Spanish is a game changer.

knocking it out of the park again sir. you may already be aware...but you are changing lives.

I spent time in Ajijic last year and loved strolling around the LCS grounds, browsing their library, and listening to the Sunday morning talks. A lovely town, but watch out for those damn cobblestone streets and poor sidewalks. Real ankle twisters!

Thanks. Excellent video. I arrived in Ajijic 4 years ago ! Immediately after arriving at my AirBnb I walked over to Lake Chapala Society and became a member I’ve taken a few classes there Also got help getting my Mexican drivers license . I eat there Attend the Children’s Art Programs where I’ve purchased their art and some pottery. I go there to eat , relax and listen to music I suggest visitors go there once arriving in Lakeside. A very educational place , Cultural place and a springboard to many things including getting involved with other expats as well as other Mexican/ Latin American residents. Beautiful ground too as you covered so well. Very informative for the viewers 👍

Many other videos lightly touch on the Lake Chapala Society, but you went deep! THANK YOU for that! I really appreciate how you are able to share so many details in one video, your interview questions are the Key I think ... so keep that up! ( questioning minds) I think people want to know what they might be getting into and as for the "soft landing, I think the Lake Chapala Society really provides that for Newbies in this area. Great Video!

Great video as always Brighton. I was glad to hear him specify the difference between "Working with the government" and "politics". I read, possibly from the website when applying for residency: As a Mezican resident either temporary or permanent you are not allowed to participate in politics or any protests. Or something to that effect. I can search for it if you'd like. However, it's great to hear that it doesn't stop anyone from working with the government.😊

I rented lakeside 22 years ago. It was a great place to start and learn the ropes of living in Mexico. But, after 6 months, I was ready to go because the area was too expat heavy for me, and, at the time, the lake was drying up (the lakebed was grazing ground for horses and kids fashioned soccer field where the water once flowed. I joined the Lake Chapala Society and got their resource binder with information on trusted services in the area: doctors, insurance, etc. I now live in a traditional Mexican neighborhood in Morelia. I recently returned to Lakeside 2 years ago and was surprised to see a Walmart and even more traffic on the main highway than before. I was glad to see the lake had filled back up to normal levels.

What an incredible story and interesting lady! I say those dogs are very lucky to have an incredible caregiver and volunteer. Her husband recovering from brain surgery and having her parents with her must be an incredible blessing!!!🥰❤️🙏🏻🇨🇦

Great info... thanks for sharing!

Wonderful video! Thanks for sharing it!

Thank you very much for this thorough & much-needed video. As an expat for almost 20 years, in Asia and Europe, I have found that it is very important, if possible, to have access to at least 5-10 expats who plan to live in the community for the long-term. It's also good to know expats from different countries if possible as each group often has access to different information and your life also becomes more interesting, especially if you speak their language. Thank you also for telling us about different parts of Mexico and what is & isn't available in those areas. Take care & keep up the wonderful work!🌷🌷🌷🌍🎉

That was so informative. Thank you

Great video,lots of good information ❤! Thanks again dear friend and brother. You are doing the service of a great ambassador for both sides!

Great video! Thanks! Love you smile and dimples.😊

This was a great video. It was very informative. Thank you and keep up the good work.

VERY happy I found your channel. Thank you very much.

Excellent program.Thank you all.🇨🇦☝️🎬

I heard that many gringos move away from Ajijic to Chapala. Cheaper rent, easier to walk cheaper food, more choices in music etc etc. Ok, even less bugs. And those who have made this move have said that ok, if we want to visit Ajijic, it's so easy to just either drive your car or take the bus witch is so cheap so there it is. Ok, as the president here is saying WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT and wow, he is so right.

Many years ago I was a professor at a state university in Mazatlan. I talk to film history and basic film production, in Spanish. Though I was asked to teach English classes as well all right told them no thanks. It’s my intention to keep learning Spanish and when I’m in Mexico I try to avoid speaking English. Therefore being in places like San Miguel & Ajijic I’m hearing English way too often and most waiters and shopkeepers assume I speak English so they address me in English. When I’m in Mexico I’m all about Spanish a real focus on it. I lived in a building in an area in Mazatlan the historic district and at the time it was known as gringo Gulch since there were so many retired Americans and Canadians living there. I always greeted them in Spanish and if they didn’t speak much English well we just didn’t converse much. An example of the opposite of what my approach is to Spanish, I had a friend from the US who is teaching English classes at the same time. After school he was paid to hold conversation groups at a local coffeehouse and give private tutoring lessons in English in the late afternoon. He would come home to his apartment and watch CNN and other channels in English, listen to American and British music who is the lyrics were in English, and make phone calls to friends who are also English-speaking. Over the course of eight months he lost a lot of his Spanish simply by not using it very much. I just don’t want to be one of those people who loses any of my Spanish. I meet people all of the time who come to Mexico on vacation who studied for years of Spanish in high school but now it’s 10 years later and they can only remember two or three words. Can you imagine not being able to order a glass of water in Spanish? Some of them and calendar this difficulty, the most basic of survival skills. Comments?

Love your video and perspective. I was at LCS yesterday with a local Dr. Who was inquiring about various ads etc. The experience there is hot and cold! I thougjt they were trying to be more friendly....but still many off puting expats and entitled attitudes...just wish it were friendlier! Being here five years my any local call the attitude " toxic" at times. It is a beautiful place and grounds, however. If steve doesnt want to build bridges...then that says it all. Keep your videos coming!

Another interesting interview with comparisons to help people decide if Mexico itself or one of the cities within would be a good place to live. Thanks, Brighton!

Brighton: Yes, Kat is better looking. Yes, you may have better stories, but I haven't heard her stories to be able to judge who's are better. Thanks for your Chapala story. It was well organized and executed. It provides a nice glimpse of the Chapala area and tons of useful information packed in half an hour. You and Steve did a nice job of articulating the pros and cons of living there as an expat. For me personally, there are way too many ex-pats for my taste, but my wife/Arlene would fit right in.

I appreciate the nuance that's recognized in this video. I personally prefer to live around Spanish speakers bc linguistics are such an important aspect to living a full life in another country, but that's a personal decision. Regardless of circumstances, I'd encourage immigrants (sorry, I'm not the biggest fan of the word "expat" these days) to learn the local language.

Great information.

There was an ice cream store just off of the Ajijic plaza that sold goat milk ice cream … delicioso! I hope it’s still there as we return in October.

I lived in Puerto Vallarta years ago....really enjoyed it. But as I get closer to retirement I'm thinking Europe.

Hey Bud.. Nice seeing you. Met you with Craig n Kj . Great video.

I'm so glad that you're safe and well and away from the Baja coastline as the hurricane/tropical storm passes by

May god bless these men, they really take pride in helping the community.

I am so glad there’s no American politics! Lake Chapala strikes me as the Villages of Florida. Lots to do everywhere. I can’t decide between PV, Lake Chapala, or San Miguel

I love your informative videos, thank you for that. I am wondering what kind of camera you are using? the clarity and the quality of the picture is great. I you dont mind to share the name and model of the camera.

Brighton, I really appreciate the balanced perspective you provide in your videos. For my part, I’m retired and will be moving to Mexico in the next year or two. Your videos are helping me to select the places I first want to explore for my permanent residency (currently narrowed down to LaPaz and the Chapala area. I lived and studied in Mexico in my college years and am so looking forward to my future life in Mexico. I have no strong desire to live among English-speaking immigrants and snowbirds, BUT the Lake Chapala Society and the excellent hospitals/senior care, as well as the good climate, do place Chapala high on the list as I move along in retirement. Have you covered La Paz from the perspective of retired seniors in any of your videos (ex. activities, healthcare, senior care)?

Loved the ice cream comment ,I’m thinking LaPaz is more for me ,great info in the video though Hi from Canada 😀🌴

I'm tapatio and thanks for got my city the people of Guadalajara is very relax in comparition with others states 😊

My girls and myself love Mexican food and ice cream

Love all the info. Thank you for the great videos. Having had a flood in our area now I do worry about natural disasters. How is the earthquake preparedness there?

I would be interested in knowing how Mexican people are impacted by all the foreigners moving to Mexico.

First of all thank you for all you hard work providing this useful information for us Americans. Hope you can reply to this, we’re thinking to move there, who can we contact first for good advise in renting and general info, a good expat like us and avoid scams . I appreciate your help.

Brighton, cool. Well done. S0 much going 0n. I am tickled pink that i was able to buy/lease land in El Comit❤n. LSC is a great benefit. RU-vid BSC is a huge part of my days these days. Kraig or craig and AJ are helpful too. Thanks! Please 🕴let’s keep collaborating about healthcare and how to be an honorable and a fine ex-pat.

I've been down there last year and on RU-vid. A lot Americans come there and energy is getting expensive and overcrowded of a Canadian and American in ajijic It's not like used to be just to many Americans.there.

Ajjic is like riding a training bike with 3 wheels on the back. Good place to start to immurse yourself into Mexican Culture. Not quite real, but good place to start. I live in a City of 450K people, only about 30 are Gringos. Way superior, way cheaper and a lot of fun, once the neighbors take you in and adjust that you are there. Gotta start some where so Gringo Gulches are a good place to start if you have no Latino relatives and not very familiar with that culture. I would never go back and live in a Gringo Gulch community.

Interesting video. I lived in El Dorado for 2 years and Upper Chula Vista for 1 and then Mazatlan for one and went back to South Florida, I don't like it here and will be back in Ajijic in early July as there is nothing to do here. My days of boating and jet skis are over but the Harley I ride daily. I can't get a place on the beach anymore that is affordable so no more fishing or boating. I like feeling safe dowb there but Guadalajara at night is nuts. I like living in gated communities as guns are outlawed in Mexico and I would feel pretty vulnerable in a house outside of one. But to each his or her own...it is a very safe town so Steve was right on that point. I guess I just like nice stuff???

Ají ji is too crowded and over price for me i found a lake gem only 20 min from there and 30 min from the airport.bought a pc of land on a new development over looking this other lake. Don’t feel like there is only Ají ji or chapala there is many small lake towns outside the Chapala lake strip that are affordable and nice the language for some is the main reason people usually stay stuck in the immigrant bubble i suggest learning a few key words to get around im a dual citizen raised in Los Angeles and move out here from henderson NV . I m not retired yet but already im getting ready for when that time comes and Cajititlán lake is the place for me .

I'm in Texas planning to retire over there. Question: Can anyone tell me how SocSec payments can be picked up there? Thanks

San Juan De Los Lagos Jalisco is pretty much identical weather wise to this place but somewhat bigger 70,000 + residents according to wikipedia . I spent two weeks July 08 there and it was heavenly . I live in VERRRY HOT San Antonio Tx with heat index of 110 degrees F Rained during days keeping it cool lil daily showers that's all . Every day lil showers and carried an umbrella wwith me . Yeah fairly large numbers of foreigners who have more disposal income and are eating , drinking out more often than the locals and renting apartmens can and probably certainly do drive prices up in rentals and in restaurants / bars . This video didn't show if these expats spread out living in the local community or it's an expat specific area ?

The interesting thing about retiring in MX is that a US citizen needs about $2,500 passive income to retire. Isn’t that quite high considering that Portugal is only about $900 a month? And Argentina $600 a month? (Approximate)

As a Canadian couple contemplating moving to Ajijic, would you recommend going to the Mexican Consulate in Toronto? Our very first step.

I checked the Lake Chapala org on line and the services are $300 a month? It doesn’t explain what that $ is for. Of course I will inquire about that $ but that on top of regular monthly expenses is high for me. I’m sure it’s a great program. Hola. Hope to see you in the near future.

These videos are so helpful. I don’t think I’d enjoy trying to recreate the USA inside of Mexico. Blah. I mean why are you leaving in the first place? Doh!

Hey, HI!!!!! I was tryihg to find you earlier today. Is your lovely HOME okay in Mexico w this 140 mph winds roaring thru ????? Thinking of you. Realize you are in Portland but have to be only a phone call away from your home in MX. Hope all okay.

Ajijic was definitely not my vibe. Too much American and Canadian influence and the politics that comes with it. Check out Oaxaca and Chiapas there's more of a European population of foreigners and less political bias with that.

It sounds more like an older retirement community, no?

Shhhhhhhhh, secret ❤

No one talks about the drinking water. Is it safe for gringos?

Some expats gooood. Too many not so goooood. Too many and they can pollute and dilute the local community. Yes sometimes they might enrich or enlighten but sometimes they just tell the locals that isn't how they do it at home. But that's just my opinion and fear. PS Steve seems nice enough to be Canadian although he claims he's not. 😁 P n D

In general, Americans and Canadians who move to Mexico do not bother to learn Spanish. They spend more time talking about how they want to, would like to, and how difficult it is, than on actually learning Spanish. They don't want to shell out for private lessons and don't learn much in everyday settings. They also don't really need to learn Spanish to survive. Fancy restaurants and real estate offices will always have people who speak English to attend to their needs. They pick up a few words, usually related to food, and then showcase them to friends and family when they go home for a visit to display how integrated they are in Mexico. Meanwhile, they are generally just hanging out with other ex-pats.

No to be a hater but why do you still call yourselves "expats"? As far as I know, moving from a country or region to live in another is called a migrant. If I live in Mexico and move to the U.S. I am therefore called a "migrant". I get it you want your views or clicks from fellow migrants like yourself but please use the correct terminology.

Expats!!! 😂 why are you guys afraid to call yourselves immigrants?

"US IMMIGRANTS " Why you keep calling yourselves "expats" ? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Migrants not Expats

Expats? You mean immigrants?

Excellent job as usual. We have considered the Lake Chapala several times. One of my biggest reservations is the lake itself. I read that it is heavily polluted. I’ve read that it is receding. It would just be sad IMO to live next to a beautiful lake and not be able to let your dogs swim or go fishing and eat the fish. And if there is a lot of pollution in the lake, doesn’t it inevitably seep into the local soil and groundwater? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Chapala?wprov=sfti1