Deciding between Ajijic and SMDA, Mexico forum

jonathan49

New member

Member since 18 January 2023

jonathan49

18 January 2023 16:35:07

jonathan49

18 January 2023 16:35:07

My wife and I plan to move from the central coast of CA, to live October to April in Mexico. We are deciding between Ajijic and SMDA. I spent time in Ajijic and like it a great deal, though with a some concern about the expat community. It largely is retired and, perhaps this isn't fair, seems to lack a certain grounded-ness. I've not yet visited San Miguel de Allende. Do you know if there is much difference? Does SMDA attract more people who are 1) younger and more professionally active 2) less anti-American and 3) more clear-eyed and grounded? That said, there are wonderful people in Ajijic and perhaps it isn't fair to generalize, especially as I've not spent a lot of time there.

Any comments would be helpful. Thank you.

MexicoAfterlife

Active member

Member since 22 July 2021

MexicoAfterlife

18 January 2023 16:59:33

MexicoAfterlife

18 January 2023 16:59:33

Wow I can tell you have spent time in Ajijic. Yes at 49 and retired me and my wife feel like unicorns because we are so rare. And yes some of the local old retirees have to us to our face we don't belong here.... Lol.

Also there are non liberals who live here. I'm a libertarian and the local magazine written by local liberals is a hate filled rag that gives me and my wife great comedy once a month. The local message boards are filled with hateful old liberals too. But I have met tons of great normal x pats too. It's just that the hate filled liberals just stand out more.

We have made friends with a lot of locals over the past year and they have opened up with us and let us know they would love more of our type here. Heck a old liberal ran over a local dog walker while he was on the bike path and all the hateful libs defended her. She saw no penalty for straight out running him over and then they had the gal to ask other x pats to cover the poor man's medical bills because the old liberal didn't have the money too. She should of at min been deported.

But there are a lot of us non liberals here and the locals love us. And more and more of us Gen x types will be filling spots here to. I know we retired really early here but we love it. The people (locals) are awesome and most of the xpats are great to live with you just have to learn to ignore and laugh at the old liberals and how much hate they spew

S Mqz

Member

Member since 26 July 2021

S Mqz

22 January 2023 04:40:38

S Mqz

22 January 2023 04:40:38

@jonathan49

I grew up in the lake Chapala area. My dad retired there. I have done research on the retiring community.

https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/items/85d0 … dce06cb56f

I also have family in San Miguel who owns businesses. Both areas share similarities, they both have attracted retirees for decades . Still, they are different in several way, for example, weather, cost of living, etc.

It sounds like you are younger than the average retiree, perhaps a coastal area like Puerto Vallarta or a city like Guadalajara or even Mexico City might offer more activities for you.

Good luck