BENCH QUESTION FOR CBOB

Over on...gasp...TOB, a poster claimed:

"A lot of the money for the bench project came from people who do not live in Ajijic." (Ginger)

Is the "a lot of" the case, or did most of the contributions come from Ajijic-ers? Would appreciate an answer, since I doubted the "lot".

I received about 6 donations from Chapala/ Riberas residents, 3 from snowbirds and the remaining 30 or so from Ajijic & SAT. I don't know what they consider a lot to be.

Could you break it down by area CBob please.

No, because I'm not 100% sure exactly where everyone lives (Ajijic vs SAT). From SAT I know of 6 for sure.

Since most of the money raised was through this board (90%) it is logical that not all the money would come solely from Ajijic as many of the regular members that post here don't live in Ajijic. The other 10% was raised through Facebook from snowbirds, a couple of my friends from Vancouver and even 1 person who I didn't know and visited here once 10 years ago.

I do have a list of names if anyone wants to do the research...….

CanuckBob wrote:I received about 6 donations from Chapala/ Riberas residents, 3 from snowbirds and the remaining 30 or so from Ajijic & SAT. I don't know what they consider a lot to be.

"A lot" was speculation, and it really doesn't matter. I'm just glad the job got done. It does seem a shame that money gets spent on Chapala projects, but we in Ajijic are the last thing on the budget deciders' minds. We're way below the Jesus island, clearly.

I bet that if you look at the towns on the other side of the mountain they get even less...Chapala gets it and Ajijic is probably next after that  , I bet the budget goes way down..

gringal wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:I received about 6 donations from Chapala/ Riberas residents, 3 from snowbirds and the remaining 30 or so from Ajijic & SAT. I don't know what they consider a lot to be.

"A lot" was speculation, and it really doesn't matter.  I'm just glad the job got done.  It does seem a shame that money gets spent on Chapala projects, but we in Ajijic are the last thing on the budget deciders' minds. We're way below the Jesus island, clearly.

Well I went and looked at that thread and MC is wrong that the muni is paying for the Chapala benches. Problem Child bought them all the paint, etc. and another friend of mine is seeking donations for the wood. The muni will supply the labor like they did for Ajijic.

gringal wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:I received about 6 donations from Chapala/ Riberas residents, 3 from snowbirds and the remaining 30 or so from Ajijic & SAT. I don't know what they consider a lot to be.

"A lot" was speculation, and it really doesn't matter.  I'm just glad the job got done.  It does seem a shame that money gets spent on Chapala projects, but we in Ajijic are the last thing on the budget deciders' minds. We're way below the Jesus island, clearly.

Maybe the Big Fish Gringo's (in a small pond) feel slighted when compared to being Minnows in the larger part of the Chapala community... where regardless what they think..The Jesus project gets a priority over fixing benches or fixing pot holes...just Mexican thinking, so suck it up

The Jesus bridge was privately funded (or at least a portion of it). The muni probably supplied some labor.

It's the same in most municipalities that I know or have lived in. The seat of the muni is where the gov offices are, where decisions are made, and they routinely get a bigger share of the pie. One way or another!

Go ask SJC if they feel they get a fair share from Joco muni, or El Molino, or or San Cristóbal, or Trojes!

"Maybe the Big Fish Gringo's (in a small pond) feel slighted..."etc., etc.

What's with the snarky tone some posters use when referring to the residents of Ajijic? Reverse snobbery? Most of us who live in this town didn't choose to do so because we had any ideas about being "big fish" at all. If I had found as good a deal in San Antonio or Chapala as I found here, I'd be living there instead.
Wherever they are, those potholes should be a higher priority than prettifying downtown anywhere.

Yo Gringal, just for the fun of it and maybe a bit of insight, next time you meet someone in Ajijic and are having a nice chat ask them where they live. If Ajijic then you respond by telling them you live in Chapala. After few of these trial balloons if ya would maybe post your observations of their expressions/attitude/etc. I'm sure more than a few of us would gain and interesting insight or two and appreciate your efforts.

oncesubtle wrote:Yo Gringal, just for the fun of it and maybe a bit of insight, next time you meet someone in Ajijic and are having a nice chat ask them where they live. If Ajijic then you respond by telling them you live in Chapala. After few of these trial balloons if ya would maybe post your observations of their expressions/attitude/etc. I'm sure more than a few of us would gain and interesting insight or two and appreciate your efforts.

Tell ya what: you do that instead.  

I'm just trying to point out that in recent posts, I see some folks with an "attitude" towards those who happen to live in Ajijic, and since it adds nothing positive to the discussion.....why?

Well over the years I have done it on more than a few occasions and most of the responses were comical. From the (I sweard to God) chin rising high w/sniff to a lowering of the chin saying nothing more than "Oh" (like, sorry to hear your dog died). Quotes: 'Oh I heard they have some really cheap houses over there' to 'Aren't you afraid of the gangs?'  Of course there are more, I just thought you might get an insight as to how some folks could take umbrage and get snarky.

As to why? Let me take some time to think about it. ty

I have refrained from asking but since I am moving there soon.....and at the risk of getting pummeled, will I recognize the jesus bridge when I get there? Thinking it must be really something to behold?

Type "Chapala Jesus statue" into your search engine and behold.

gringal wrote:"Maybe the Big Fish Gringo's (in a small pond) feel slighted..."etc., etc.

What's with the snarky tone some posters use when referring to the residents of Ajijic?  Reverse snobbery?  Most of us who live in this town didn't choose to do so because we had any ideas about being "big fish" at all.    If I had found as good a deal in San Antonio or Chapala as I found here, I'd be living there instead.
Wherever they are, those potholes should be a higher priority than prettifying downtown anywhere.

If the shoe does not fit do not jam it on and go stomping around. There are Big Fish Gringo’s in Ajijic even if you are not one of them. I have experienced the attitude Oncesubtle talked about. I also have many friends in Ajijic whose feelings are hurt when they are lumped in with those people. Likewise, people in Chapala are tired of being told we live here because we can not afford to live in Ajijic. Yes, some people actually say that.

Well said, LOL! "If the shoe does not fit do not jam it on and go stomping around." may be one of the all-time best webboard comments ever! I may even borrow it from time to time, LOL, with your permission of course.


A few years ago a (then) friend, who lives in the state of Chiapas, came to visit a friend in Ajijic. She had already been here and we had both visited each other in our respective houses and pueblos and she knew how happy I was where I am.

So. The three of us got together for a visit and when I arrived at the mutual friend's house in Ajijic the first thing they did was sit me down and excitedly proclaim that they had an amazing opportunity for me as they had found a way for me to live in Ajijic. I would have a roommate, they said, but would have my own entrance and privacy. I was stunned, completely speechless. The friendships went south shortly after that.

Moral of the story is: even someone who lives in another state, thousands of miles away, was under the impression that anyone who lived anywhere other than Ajijic was unhappy and needed to be rescued.

Well I send anyone that contacts me about moving here to Chapala or SAT, even "the big fish"...…

And I would like to say thanks in advance for anyone not living in Ajijic to stay in your own hoods...….it's too busy here sometimes.

CanuckBob wrote:Well I send anyone that contacts me about moving here to Chapala or SAT, even "the big fish"...…

And I would like to say thanks in advance for anyone not living in Ajijic to stay in your own hoods...….it's too busy here sometimes.

I wish you would stop doing that, CBob. Ajijic is a very busy place. And, that is wonderful for people who are looking for that. Chapala seems about the right level of busy for me right now but is getting busier all the time. Sigh.

Yep....that's what happens when the glass overflows......

Of course, not everyone in Ajijic are snobs who look down on the poor unfortunates who don’t live there. That said, the majority of complaints I hear on forums and Facebook are from SOME Ajijic residents about everything - potholes, noise, abandoned cars, roof dogs, cohetes, broken sidewalks, street dogs, the list goes on. I don’t hear that from other areas in near the amount. Makes me wonder why those folks live there unless they’re just chronic complainers. At least C-Bob took the initiative to do something about the bench problem after Problem Child started the ball rolling in Chapala.

As for the snobbery, there is actually a group in Ajijic who refers to themselves as the A list. There really needs to be a TV show called the Real Housewives of Ajijic.

Do the hang out in Bar El Cameleon?