Welcome Ashley and others. Spanish is fairly easy to learn, up to a point, and then it gets a bit bumpy in the details. However, it makes living here much more fun than just 'getting along' so keep studying and taking lessons as you practice chatting with your neighbors, clerks and professionals. I agree that this Lake Chapala area is the best choice for retirement for several reasons. It isn't perfect, but it is as close as you can get. We retired to Ajijc in early 2002, bought a house and lived there for three years. In 2005, we sold the house and bought a larger place in Chapala, where we now live. Actually, it is only five miles from one house to the other with most of the places we frequent lying in between. Ajijic is more of an 'artsy' town, while Chapala is a complete small city with all of the inherent conveniences. We like both for different reasons. Yes, both have grown and prospered and the winter 'snowbirds' tend to clog the streets in Ajijic while weekend 'Tapatios' clog them in Chapala; it is good for the merchants, even though Mondays can be a bit messy. It seems there is no better climate anywhere on the planet that one might consider for retirement. The air is cleaner, the food fresher and the people smile a lot more here than anywhere in the 30 or so countries I have experienced. Recently, we made a 'duty visit' to relatives in the USA and we were really glad to get back to peaceful, friendly and stress-free Mexico. We'll try to avoid doing it again and only hope the NoB folks will visit us here instead. Besides, we're getting old and tired of long trips. So, climb aboard this forum and strike up a conversation which will benefit the curious readers quietly lurking in the shadows with their questions.