Hi Sparks, PPP, and BlueDiamond --
Thanks for all the replies, your comments are so appreciated!

Sparks, checked out your website and joined your forum, as well. Lots of great info over there - thanks so much.

I'm actually pondering Ajijic for many reasons, even though I do have that coastal vision of walking the beach.

Blue Diamond, you're got good advice on avoiding the tourist hotspots ... thx! ... I'm looking for a peaceful, happy, contented atmosphere, not one with lots of bars and music and jello shots. Those days are now fond memories LOL ....

With Ajijic, I'm thinking that I should be able to travel to the coast relatively easily, renting something nice and staying there in 2-3 week blocks periodically. Should get my need for the ocean and sand met, and still keep me away from the tourististas and the hot, humid conditions that I keep reading about on the coastline itself.

Ajijic seems nice: friendly, cool, established expat community, and close enough to a big city if the need arises. Still researching, but it sure looks purdy. Mighty purdy.

PPP and Sparks, thanks for the heads-up on the pups. I'm thinking I'll finish my research, take a trip down to investigate and explore in person, rent a place, then return to Texas and pack up some stuff, sell more, and then take the dogs with me in the drive down.

Any thoughts or comments on Ajijic? Am I missing a great coastal spot that I need to check out?

Muchas Gracias!!!!
Rebecca