Where is the preferred/safest place to live?

juanrey wrote:

joec wrote:

juanrey wrote:Hey CanuckBob, what speeds were you getting when you lived next to John?
I know you couldn't possibly live with his dial up speed.

Bob still rents the house next door to me, but a nice couple that are his friends will move in soon.

So you think your new neighbors are a nice couple, huh?
Boy, are you in for a surprise....
You should have been able to figure out what kinda folks they are based on the people they hang with.

It's a good thing you're joking otherwise CBob would throw your a.s of this forum. LOL. I've met Lisa and Mike many times, especially Lisa. We have always had good renters next to us.

Having met Mike and Lisa, I have to wonder if they fully considered the neighborhood?

CheenaGringo wrote:Having met Mike and Lisa, I have to wonder if they fully considered the neighborhood?

I'll let CBob answer your sarcastic comment or I can refer it to them. I CAN tell you for a fact that they're gonna love it!!!! Especially since its one of the "BEST" in Ajijic, although you wouldn't know that since you don't live in Ajijic nor have any interest in Ajijic.

I think a good idea for you would be to join an Albuquerque forum where you belong.

UNCLE..............................................

Well since you asked John, here is my opinion.......... LAS is indeed a beautiful gated community like you have stated a thousand times however it was not for me. I came to Mexico to experience the Mexican lifestyle and culture. I found that these "gringo inhabited" gated communities keep you isolated from the Mexican culture. I also found that living there requires a vehicle in order to do anything and I prefer to walk as much as possible. As I stated earlier, if I were to ever live in a gated community again it would have to be more centralized and not be double walled.

CanuckBob wrote:Well since you asked John, here is my opinion.......... LAS is indeed a beautiful gated community like you have stated a thousand times however it was not for me. I came to Mexico to experience the Mexican lifestyle and culture. I found that these "gringo inhabited" gated communities keep you isolated from the Mexican culture. I also found that living there requires a vehicle in order to do anything and I prefer to walk as much as possible. As I stated earlier, if I were to ever live in a gated community again it would have to be more centralized and not be double walled.

Well said, CBob and your comment inspires The Dawg to add my own. We are in San Cristóbal de Las Casas at present and, after a week on the road meandering about on a circuitous drive from Lake Chapala through Puebla and Oaxaca States and the Soconusco, we are finally at our Highland Chiapas home, have parked the car and are prepared to walk or taxi (cheap in San Cristóbal) everywhere in the weeks to come pulling the car out of the garage over the next months only when venturing to areas remote from San Cristóbal. In fact, we even take taxis to the supermarkets (Chedraui, Sam´s Club and Bodega Aurrera) here where taxis cost $25 Pësos anywhere in town and are plentiful with courteous drivers always lined up to ferry one from home to market to home and help with the loading and unloading of groceries. One reason we chose San Cristóbal as a community for a second home was its excellent walkability especially in the city´s historic colonial center. Relatively flat and concentrated in a small area with several pedestrian-only streets crowded with shops and restaurants. A walker´s dream. Within a couple of blocks of our home here, a huge indigenous market with a selection of vegetables and produce, animals both alive and slaughtered and dressed and countless other items too many to mention - overall a huge variety of comestibles fresh off the farm or goods from the taller and dirt cheap in comparison to the mostly abastos supplied tianguis at Lakeside.

While Ajijic is not a similar walker´s dream, it is also a great walker´s town if one pays attention to a few cardinal rules one of which is to never, ever reside up the hill, especially in some gated community where one becomes a slave to one´s automobile and beholden to his/her neighnbors and can walk nowhere without first driving down and then back up some steep hill where one has isolated oneself from the goings-on in the commuity below. The fact is that we moved here about the same time John did and, in Six Corners, paid about the same price he did for his home in LAS but only after we forbad the real estate agent to even so much as consider showing us a house up the hill - especially in a gated community. I say that not to criticise John´s choice but to tout the alternative.

We lived on hills and seaside cliffs in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years with splendid views but this was to be our retirement haven and we knew that as we grew older, access to public transportation, easy walking distances and relatively flat terrain in a lively community would become more precious over time as we aged. We knew from our years in San Francisco that walikng up steep hills for the sake of a view was a heavy price to pay for that amenity. The features we insisted upon at Lakeside included:
* One story home with pleasant grounds so we could always retire to a garden during the day.
* Walking distance over flat terrain to essential shops, cafes and medical services.
* A property close to a community bus line.
* Easy access to lakefront beach strolls with our dogs without having to resort to driving. (The lake was then quite low and beach walks with dogs from San Juan to San Antonio feasilble.)
* A property set amidst the local community - not isolated among foreign retirees loath, generally speaking, to mix with the folks inhabiting their adopted community.

We have been in Ajijic for 12 years now and San Cristóbal for six and these rules set out above have proven to be even more important as we have aged. That is not to say that living up the hill with splendid views is not also a great idea - just pointing ouut the advantages of living in the flats versus in relative isolation up the hill behind a gate. To each his own.

Ditto re Dawg's comments. We've never regretted our choice and as time goes by and walking uphill takes more stamina......it's a pleasure to live in the middle of Ajijic village, walk to the lake (where you get a fine up close and personal view of said body of water), watch the water loving birds, dogs and kids having a fine time. If we go up on our roof, there's a lake "peek" through the trees.

It's all about choices, though. John is obviously pleased with his, so no blame.
That doesn't make it the "best", though, and the over-hyping can get tiresome. Properties are beginning to move, however, and I wish him the best in selling his.

Dawg:

You make a most interesting point! We visited Patzcuaro in February and met up with some folks who had volunteered to provide us with some "local's secrets" on finding artisans in various towns surrounding Lake Patzcuaro. After having a few cocktails at a local establishment, we took a hike UP to their house, which according to my GPS was just over 800 vertical feet higher than where we started at 7000'. Needless to say: I was reminded of just out of shape I was! On the flipside, it was a beautiful house but I sure wouldn't have wanted to tote groceries from the local market up that hill on foot.

"Especially since its one of the "BEST" in Ajijic."

Now there's an oxymoron for you.

My 2/2 in the gated community (24/7 guards AND Lobo, our German Shepherd) of El Parque is available for long-term rent. Anyone interested, pl email me at sandykayak at yahoo dot com

Excellent amenities such as solar heated pool, spa, clubhouse, mini-gym etc. The small, front yard is fenced in and suitable for breed dog.

sandykayak wrote:My 2/2 in the gated community (24/7 guards AND Lobo, our German Shepherd) of El Parque is available for long-term rent. Anyone interested, pl email me at sandykayak at yahoo dot com

Excellent amenities such as solar heated pool, spa, clubhouse, mini-gym etc. The small, front yard is fenced in and suitable for breed dog.

There is also pool volley ball twice a week.

My departure for Ajijic has been delayed several months for business reasons...damn! Anyway I'll likely come down for a 2 week vacation in the next couple months to explore the area. I want to live in the community, able to walk everywhere and not own or drive a car, enjoy the village life and people. Cant wait to get there...thanks everybody for your posts, much appreciated.

If you are interested in a casita (with a pool) right in the heart of Ajijic village, 2 doors down from the LCS, 1 block from the lake and 3 blocks from the plaza let me know.

Hey Everyone,

Seemed best to jump into this thread, instead of making a new one. My wife and I will be coming from San Miguel to Lakeside next Wednesday the 20th of March to look for a place to rent long term. We've noticed a few places in"The Raquet Club" online and also noticed there were no bars on any the windows. She is from Bogota and is always concerned with safety, as one is growing up in Bogota.

We presently live in a gated community in San Miguel called "El Encanto", that is well guarded and there are no bars on any of the windows. There hasn't ever been a robbery here according to the guards and residents. Just looking for the same level of safety. As with anyone, we don't want to be robbed.

So, I'm looking for some feedback on the safety and general lifestyle in the "Raquet Club" as well as some other suggestions as where else to look. We have a brand new SUV and we both speak Spanish if those are factors.

Raquet Club is fine,,, as long as you upgrade the doors, windows, alarm system, the family dog ( bigger is better) keep a large chunk of rebar by your bedside.... and a large container of Gin....
or so I'm told!!

Oh... Stay Outta The Pool.... U can catch Crabs or Herpes .. or sumthin

And don't mind driving 15 or 20 minutes (or more in traffic) to just about everything.......

CanuckBob wrote:If you are interested in a casita (with a pool) right in the heart of Ajijic village, 2 doors down from the LCS, 1 block from the lake and 3 blocks from the plaza let me know.

Time for a banner ad CBob?

Great Idea Bart...jaja.

Since you asked, the apartments across the street from the police station are pretty safe...:)