Lakeside is a jewel set in beautiful Mexico and we expats have chosen to live our lives either year-round or temporarily in what some would call paradise. For those among us who have been here a long time, some lament the loss of the small Mexican village environment that continues to give way to an almost Anglo suburbia setting; for those among us who have lived here just a very few years, we, too, see a "little America/Canada" encroaching; and for those among us who are here for the first time, there is still the wonder of living in a foreign country which may actually become home. Regardless of the length of time you have lived here, there is always so very much to learn about living in Mexico in general and at Lakeside specifically. Review, or perhaps view for the first time, the sites listed below to learn more, or vigorously reject, that which is said about this place many of us call home.
People's Guide to Mexico (http://www.peoplesguide.com/ ) The People's Guide to Mexico is an amazing book that should grace the bookshelf of anyone's home who desires to have an understanding of Mexico. The online version of this book, while obviously not as comprehensive as the book itself, is filled with a great deal of useful information. A companion website, http://www.peoplesguide.com/1pages/info/urls/1urlindex.html , provides additional website links to help you in your quest to learn more about Mexico and how to become a part of this beautiful country.
MexConnect (http://mexconnect.com/ ) MexConnect is both an online website and an online magazine. The current issue of the magazine is available online. More important to the many Anglos considering moving to Mexico is the extensive information resources about moving to Mexico, the multitude of things to be considered prior to and upon arriving here, etc. Alas, this information is not free. An annual subscription is $30.00 USD; happily, if you are not sure if you want a year's subscription, you can subscribe on a month-to-month basis for $5.00 per month. Perhaps the best feature of this site is the ability to communicate with other expats via their forums and to actually use the "Contact Us" feature to ask a question and be assured you will receive an answer within a reasonable period of time.
Chapala (http://www.chapala.com/ ) This is a good site that includes information on topics of interest to most people considering moving to Lakeside: cost of living; shopping; housing; medical; sites of interesting; activities, and much more.
Rollybrook (http://www.rollybrook.com/ ) I found this site quite by accident. I was looking for information about car ownership and insurance in Mexico when I came across http://www.rollybrook.com/living_in_mexico.htm , and I did find some of the information useful. In writing this article, I decided to go to this site's home page. This site is actually a delightful series of vignettes about one man's journey from the States to Mexico.
Canadian Club (http://www.canadianclubmx.com/driving_in_mexico.htm ) The website is designed specifically for Canadians, but there is useful information for others, too. The information about driving in Mexico, in the State of Jalisco in particular, is very useful.
Mexican Laws (http://www.mexicanlaws.com/ ) If you are going to live in Mexico, you need to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of Mexican law; this site will provide you with the basics -in English!
Profeco (http://www.profeco.gob.mx/ ) is the go-to organization if you have a complaint against your landlord, a utility company, or other business associations and have been unable to resolve your differences. It is a consumer advocacy organization backed by Mexican law. Most of this website is in Spanish, but if you will go to http://www.profeco.gob.mx/consumidor/denuncias1.asp#extranjeros and scroll down the page to "Attention to Foreign Residents," which explains in English the procedures, forms, needed, etc. to file a complaint, along with the address to which you need to send it. I've never had to deal with Profeco, but I've known a couple of Anglos who have used their services and found them to be friendly, thorough, and very much people who work in the best interest of the consumer.
Forever Young (http://www.foreveryoungnews.com/post/article/8803 ) Well, it's an intriguing title, and I suppose one does feel younger living in such a wonderful setting as the Lake Chapala area. The article is written for Canadians, but is somewhat useful to anyone considering moving here.
Mexico Adventure (http://www.mexicoadventure.com/Lake_Chapala.htm ) I am including this site because it reads somewhat like a fairytale -reader beware. Yes, Lakeside is beautiful and one can live here more cheaply than in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. One cannot live here as listed: "$1,200 per couple is about the average cost for a comfortable (but not elaborate) lifestyle in Chapala." Prices listed as typical for everything from coca-cola to utilities to maid service are woefully inaccurate, and I sincerely hope anyone who comes across this site doesn't use it as the sole source of information about the cost of living here. It should be noted that I could find no "Contact Us" option to ask them to update what is clearly outdated information; I do, however, think it is reasonable for viewers to expect to be presented with a realistic picture of what the cost of living is at Lakeside. Still, there are some useful links on this site, so anyone considering living here might still want to follow some of the links provided.
Mexico Insights (http://www.mexico-insights.com/ ) is an online magazine filled with the details of life as an expat in the Lake Chapala area. Written by those who have changed their lives dramatically by moving to this Mexican paradise, they share with the readers their personal stories and those of so many others, the realities of living here, both positive and negative, and the sheer joy of the continued adventure of life shared within this unique microcosm.
We Lakesiders are fortunate to have available to us three English-language publications. The Lake Chapala Review (http://www.lakechapalareview.net/ ) and El Ojo del Lago (http://www.chapala.com/chapala/ojo.html ) are magazines available in hardcopy throughout Lakeside; the current issue of each magazine is available online, along with some archived issues. The Guadalajara Reporter (http://www.guadalajarareporter.com/ ) is our English language newspaper, which is available at various Lakeside locations for 15 pesos per copy; its current issue is available free online, but not in its entirety.
An additional source of information is the Lake Chapala Society. The information, the services, and the fellowship offered are without equal. If you have not done so, be certain to visit in person or online at http://www.lakechapalasociety.org/ .
No matter the length of time you've been here or plan to stay, I hope the sites listed above will prove beneficial to you and to those who are considering joining our Lakeside community of expats.
