Yesterday was Halloween and today is the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day and tomorrow November 2nd is All Souls’ Day and also El Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.

The Day of the Dead is celebrating around the world in different cultures but here, in Mexico, it has attained the status of a National holiday.

It is a day when Mexicans celebrate their loved ones, who have passed on. Altars are constructed honoring the dead and sugar skulls and marigolds adorn these altars along with the favorite foods and beverages of the deceased.
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Americans and Canadians out-number Europeans who retire in Mexico by a significant amount. This is simply to do with geography and although some Canadians will travel just as far in terms of number of miles, there is not large body of water between the two and the psychological impact of this is greater than we realize.

So, if you eventually decide to retire in Mexico, and you decide to live inside one of the expatriate communities such as Ajijic, Lake Chapala, you will most likely be sharing the company of Americans and Canadians who will all speak English with you. You will not want to miss out, however, on the warmth of the Mexican people who you will also share your life with.

People who retire to Mexico come from all walks of life. Many have had jobs either in large companies, small enterprises, or have had had their own business and sold it and moved to Mexico. The reasons for moving to Mexico are as many and varied as the people who make them. In many cases people tend to amplify their previous experiences to a more impressive level. For example if you were a private in the army by the time you reach Mexico you were a decorated four star general.

It is a personal choice, and usually research trips or having spent annual holidays in Mexico over several years during their working lives. This is important: if you are going to spend important years of your life in a county other than your own, it is imperative that you get to know Mexico and experience it first hand. My husband had traveled to Mexico for holidays together and separately over 9 times before we made the move to Ajijic, Lake Chapala in 1994.

As a country Mexico has an enormous amount of offer retirees. You have a choice of climates, ranging from spring-like weather all year-round to warm humid sea front location and the dry heat of the desert. In Ajijic, Lake Chapala the weather is 75 degrees and sunny 90% of the year which suits us perfectly. We love traveling to the beautiful beaches for vacations but prefer our more temperate climate to live in year round.

The infrastructure is excellent in developed areas, and the areas you are likely to choose from are as safe as any modern town or city in your home country and in many cases are far safe. (In fact, Mexico has extremely tight firearms and lethal knife laws making it statistically safer than many cities in the US. Outside of Mexico City and away from the drug rings, violent crime is extremely rare in Mexico.

Mexico’s pace of life is ideal for retirement – you can relax, and still lead an active retirement. Here in Ajijic, Lake Chapala you can be busy every night if you so choose or happily do nothing at all. Stress levels are insignificant here.

The food is wonderful. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish are available at the local markets and you’ll get great value for your money. There is an enormous variety of tropical fruit which is sweeter and juicier than the kind that is shipped to colder climates. Food is also less expensive in Mexico.

Healthcare is widely available. Mexico has good doctors, dentists, hospitals and other medical specialists. There are a range of insurance services available for you to buy to safeguard you and your dependents from the cost of private medical bills.

Your retirement income can go further in Mexico. Exactly how far with depend on your lifestyle expectations. The essential point to remember is that the basic foods and drink are considerable less expensive in Mexico than they are in Europe and most places in the US and Canada. Eating out can be less expensive too and extremely good value for your money.

Utility bills can be lower (with the exception of electricity which has risen significantly recently) property taxes and maintenance coasts are very low, and you may be able to structure your finances so that your retirement income is very tax efficient for you.

If your retirement income is generated in hard currency, you will find your earnings stretch further on the basics needed for everyday living that it would in Europe, the US or Canada.

You will have a lot of questions about retiring or moving to Mexico and specifically, Ajijic, Lake Chapala so feel free to contact this site to get answers to all of those questions. We did it 17 years ago and are happy to share our knowledge with you.

Here is some positive news about our beautiful village in the sun.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1074406–peaceful-canadian-port-thrives-amid-a-mexican-drug-war

Canadian Thanksgiving is over and Fall began September 23rd and now American Thanksgiving is a month away and winter is in the air.

When I go on my daily walks with my dogs the weather is magnificent and although it may be a little cooler at night and in the mornings, afternoons are still warm and sunny.

The yellow flowers have not yet appeared on the mountains heralding the end of the rainy season but they will pop up any day now. You would think this might be a cause for melancholy but, for us, it is far from it.
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We have Star Choice television from Canada which we get from Shaw Direct and for more information you can access their web site at: www.shawdirect.ca

We also have local cable. Prior to Star Choice we had always been very professionally looked after by Ajijic Electronics S.A. de C.V. Ajijic Electronics is located at Las Flores #2-A in Ajijic and the telephone # is 766-1117 and 766-3371. The emails are: satelites2002@prodigy.net.mx or ajijicelectronics@yahoo.com
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As you know I am very happy with Maskaras Clinic for a number of reasons. Dr. Carlos Garcia being the main one. When I was first here 17 years ago I sent every diagnosis to my team in Toronto and they were always of one mind which gave me total confidence in Dr. Garcia. Over the years Dr. Garcia has looked after my family with great care and now his wife, who is a pediatrician at Maskaras Clinic, is looking after my grandson.
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Fall is officially here and it is decided cooler but still lovely and today is Canadian Thanksgiving.

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday as our son-in-law is a chef and has to work today.

It was truly a family affair but without the snow and football games. My husband did the appetizers and pre-dinner drinks. He made barbequed red and white wine salami with country Dijon mustard and chili gueras stuffed with an Asian beef and pork concoction reminiscent of the filling in Crystal Chop, a wonderful Asian dish with iceberg lettuce. He made a pitcher of Whiskey Sours which were very 30’s and reminded me of a cocktail hour with Cole Porter.
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In the eighties we had our own business in headhunting for advertising agencies in Toronto, Canada.

One of our best clients was an agency called Scali, McCabe, Sloves out of New York and they had the Apple account in the early days and they were working with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. This was a very exciting and demanding account and everyone had to learn quickly and on the run. I remember even the then Media Director of the agency took apart a Macintosh computer and put it back together again so she totally understood the product.
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Friday, September 30th, the Hole in One Restaurant on the carretera in San Antonio Tlayacapan across from the Chula Vista Country Club reopened. It was standing room only as patrons were offered free margaritas, botanas and live music. It was a very successful reopening and we wish them the best of luck in this less than perfect economy.

This is our local restaurant and the food is excellent with even better prices. The menu is limited at the moment but they are quickly adding new items to it.

Soup of the day is offered along with Salmon Carpaccio (thin slices of smoked salmon Carpaccio with capers aioli and Parmesan cheese).

Poire Salad (fresh organic lettuce with pears, pistachios, sesame seeds, goat cheese, asparagus with a balsamic vinaigrette and white wine). Very tasty.

Grilled Calamari (American Calamari marinated and finished on the grill with eggplant and cherry tomatoes).

For the main they have:

Lamb Shank (slow cooked and baked with a variety of spices served with cambray potatoes with fine herbs with raspberry jelly and sautéed vegetables).

Beef Filet (USDA choice medallions of beef with mushrooms and Parmesan cheese served with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables).

Grilled Salmon (Salmon filet marinated in ginger, mint and honey served with couscous and sautéed asparagus). The couscous was the best I have ever tasted.

Lasagna (meat lasagna with pomodoro sauce mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and served with spinach salad and sautéed green beans.

Dessert is Chocolate pudding with pecans and special desserts.

The new chef is Erika Delgadillo Fernandez formerly of Number FOUR.

The phone # for reservations is 766-4477.

I personally have had the Lamb Shank, Beef Filet and Grilled Salmon and all were excellent.

I hope everyone supports this very welcome reopening.

Buen Provecho!

LCS HEALTH CARE FAIR

This is wonderful opportunity to get checked out before the Winter season and onset of snow birds. Take advantage of this Health Fair!

The Lake Chapala Society is located in downtow Ajijic on 16 de Septiembre # 16A.

Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 October 2011, 10-1 PM

* Sign-up @ LCS Office, Lake Pharmacy, 293 Medical Center
** NOTE: Diabetes & Lipid Profile tests take place only from 10-12. If
both tests are desired, they must be done on separate days due to testing
criteria. $ Charge: Tests & Price lists at sign-up locations & test sites
during fair. Pay on the day service received.

11 OCTOBER TUESDAY

*/** $ 10-12: CARE Lab: Various Cancer Screening, HbA1c Lipid Profile
(12 Hour Fast) – Gazebo
** 10-12: Diabetic Testing -High carbohydrate breakfast TWO HOURS
BEFORE (Pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fruit, juice) – Gazebo
* $ 10-1: Shots: Pneumonia, Tetanus & Flu – Gazebo
10-1: Blood Pressure – Talking Book Room
10-1: Eye Pressure Testing – Clinic
10-1: Vendors – Neil James Patio
12-1: Lecture by Dr. Bernie Metcalf: Immunizations For Elderly – Sala

12 OCTOBER WEDNESDAY

*/** $ 10-12: CARE Lab – Various Cancer Screening, HbA1c Lipid Profile
(12 Hour Fast) – Gazebo
** 10-12: Diabetic Testing – High carbohydrate breakfast TWO HOURS
BEFORE (Pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, granola, fruit, juice) – Gazebo
* $ 10-12: Skin Cancer Screening (Sign-up LCS) – Clinic & Insurance
* $ 10-1: Shots: Pneumonia, Tetanus & Flu – Gazebo
10-1: Blood Pressure – Talking Book Room
10-1: Vendors – Neil James Patio
12-1: Lecture: 4 Must Have Documents presented by Erik Slebos – Sala

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LCS HEALTH FAIR

Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 October 2011
10 AM – 1 PM

The semi-annual Health Fair offers various health screenings, lab
tests and presentations from medical and health professionals. Open to
all Lakeside residents and LCS members, so please take advantage of
these health services and seminars.

This year’s Health Fair, under the auspices of the LCS’s new Health
Program Manager Hebina Hood, will include the traditional screenings
as well as vendor booths occupied by healthcare providers including
Lakeside and Guadalajara hospitals and clinics, physicians,
pharmacies, spas, fitness centers, organic health stores, insurance
agents and retirement and convalescence facilities.

The representatives will be available to answer your questions and
share tips on how to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Many free
health care screenings will be available, including blood pressure
checks, diabetes testing and hearing tests. Various cancer screenings
as well as lipid profile and HbA1c tests will be offered by Care Lab.
Lake Med Pharmacy will be offering pneumonia, tetanus and flu shots
for a small fee.

Two lectures offering specific health information for Lakeside
residents will be presented. On Tuesday, Dr. Bernie Metcalf will
discuss “Immunizations for the Elderly”. Dr. Metcalf, who specialized
in family practice and emergency medicine in Arizona before retiring
to Lakeside, will discuss considerations for seniors relating to
various immunizations, as well as specific recommendations for living
full-time in Mexico.

On Wednesday, Erik Slebos will present “End of Life Planning: Four
Essential Documents.” Erik’s specialty, thanatology, is the science of
the social and psychological aspects of death, dying and grieving.
Erik provides guidance to individuals and families relating to end of
life issues, as well as proper arrangements individuals and family
members can make in preparation for the last phases of life.

There is no entry fee for the Health Fair and all Lakeside residents
are encouraged to attend. You can find a complete schedule on LCS’
website. Interested vendors not yet registered for a booth at the fair
should contact Lorena Rule at (376)-765-7777.