Navidad in Ajijic

Hi, I'm a newbie here and will appreciate your input about spending Christmas in Ajijic. I would like to visit and check it out as a place to live.

Christmas is very nice here.  The weather is usually nice, although it is the cooler time of year.  There are many craft fairs, bake sales, specials at restaurants, and the living nativity scenes at the church are not to be missed.  Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) is the big holiday for Mexicans.  Many party deep into the night!  PM if I can help further.

don't forget the posadas which are in many neighbourhoods.

It is a wonderful time to be at Lake Chapala.

here's a posada on my street

Great pic Pedro!  Holidays such as Navidad and Easter show us some of the real character of Mexico.  This week is the Passion Play.

Thank you all very much, David, Pedro and Lady! I'm very excited about this visit. I lived in SMA about 20 something years ago, where I got an MFA degree and loved it. But SMA has gotten so big that l'm not sure if l would like to go back to live. I wlll be retiring 2 years and 9 months from now (counting the days:). May l ask to the best of your knowledge and opinion: How does the Lakeside compairs to SMA nowdays in terms of costs, security, healthcare, etc.?

Oh dear, that opens a whole can of worms around here. There are fierce supporters of both places and every discussion seems to devolve into an argument.
No matter what opinion someone has one or more people will vehemently disagree.
For a prime example of what I mean, check this out in our Octagon (warning: it is not pretty):
http://www.insidelakeside.com/t11509-old-vs-youngsma-vs-lake-chapala-the-smackdown

I have a friend who lives in SMA and she is most concerned about a recent rise in crimes against foreigners (robberies, purse snatchings). Lake Chapala has its fair share of crime too. We have more cartel-related crimes here. You have to be smart about how you take care of yourself and your property no matter where you live.
Costs of living depend on how you live. Both places offer places at both ends of the scale.
Air pollution is a much bigger problem in SMA than at Lake Chapala.
Weather is more temperate at the lake.
I do not know about health care at SMA. Here it is excellent and we have ready access to Guadalajara´s hospitals and specialists.
We are also just a half hour from the Guadalajara airport if you will be traveling.
I am sure others will have a lot more information for you, but this is a start.

I think Coffeeguy gave a great comparative in that infamous thread.........although it may be best to spend a couple of months in both and decide from there.

Thank you so much, I''be going to the Lakeside in December and then take it from there.