Living in Chapala and Ajijic is like living in the United States about 30 years ago. It is a less regulated society. You have more personal accountability. Mexico is not a very litigious society yet but I’m sure that will change over time.
Chapala and Ajijic are still Mexican communities so we still have the traditional comidas in the afternoon to take lunch when you will see families getting together for lunch between 2 to 4 PM. We also have a good-sized expat / foreign community so they hold breakfasts for the gringos. They also go to different places from noon to 1 PM to have lunch. Then, the Mexicans come for lunch from 2 PM to 4 PM. It is a really interesting community because it is a real blend of the cultures but it still is predominantly a Mexican culture, which is why many people like it.
The pace of life in the Chapala / Ajijic area is based around family. Families are very important here still and you see them together all the time. It is a very gentile and polite society. People in the street say “Buenos dias” and “Buenos tardes.” They hold the door open and there is a certain amount of respect for elderly people that you can see on the streets.
The lifestyle of people here is slow compared to the States and other parts of the world and less hectic. We have a pretty substantial full time community (approximately 10-12,000 foreigners) but there are also distinct seasons as well.
During the Snowbird or winter season, you will experience lots of arts and music festivals like the Northern Lights Festival that is sponsored by Scotiabank from Canada. During the winter, there are a lot of part-timers here so the non-profit organizations hold a lot of galas to raise money for orphanages, student scholarships, medical care, etc. There are a lot of activities from November through April here in Chapala and Ajijic.
Then after Easter, things slow down until the Sunbird season. When our rainy season starts here in Chapala and Ajijic around mid-June, it cools everything down and you will see a lot of Texans and Floridians, and people from hot climates in the US like Arizona, coming in order to get out of the heat.
Chapala and Ajijic is an interesting community and very cyclical. It’s a little seasonal in the sense of activities and the amount of activities but the most important thing about life here is, depending on where you live, whether it is in Ajijic or in a little pueblo like San Antonio, or in Chapala proper, you will find that each one has their own characteristics. Each one has their own vibe and ambiance. Each geographic area is unique in some way, but overall, living in the area is a very relaxed lifestyle. It is the land of mañana so things do not always happen when people say they will. People just need to get used to it because it is part of the lifestyle here. A lot of people adapt to the lifestyle of Chapala and Ajijic quite well and enjoy it.
(Pictured: Poster for expat band, The TallBoys Band from Ajijic, Mexico.)
Sure, you can get by in Belize with just English.
Personally, we have the Canadian Pension Plans plus we have the Old Age Pension, which are considered income so we still have to file on those. I believe that the only time you don’t have to file is if you supremely leave Canada; if you renounce your citizenship, etc. 
You can hire a gardener in Portugal in different ways. You may get a full time gardener, 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, or you can have them come over to your house on a monthly basis. The minimum wage for a full time a gardener is US $432 (£287) to $649 (£431) a month. If you are hiring a full time gardener, you have to pay for their Social Security and other benefits.
While I'm not a big cigar user, I like to visit one of the newest attractions in Nicaragua. We have, in the years past, driven all the way to Esteli to purchase cigars for resale or for gifts to my golf buddies back in the states. And my son Josh gets some real mileage when he produces a handful of freshly rolled Nicaraguan tobacco to his golf friends. So I'm always on the hunt for new product. 
warm and friendly people who welcome all nationalities. It has also been a place of transit since the 15th century, when visitors came with gold from Perú to Spain. Later, with the construction of the Panamá Canal (considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World), workers from all the world wanted to be part of this great mega-project. 
