Whether or not you need a car in Ajijic and the Lake Chapala area is completely dependent on where you live. Many people living right in the heart of the village do not own a vehicle and have the capability to walk to just about everything that they need. Others who live outside the village tend to own a car although the area is well served by local buses which run on a very regular basis. 
My experience as an American woman in Portugal 30 years ago was not good; at that time I found it a frustratingly "macho" country. However, this has definitely changed, perhaps as Luis da Silva mentions in an earlier post, this is due to most women now working, better education, and greater exposure to global influences. 
You can receive your Social Security check outside of the US directly to a foreign bank account. However, there is some paperwork that is required to do this. It's easier to have your Social Security check deposited into a US bank account and just access that money through a debit card. 
The best things one can do in San Juan Del Sur is to take advantage of the beautiful surrounding beaches. Surfing is very popular here, too. 
Clayton is a secure area so there are only 2 gates for access. One is off the road coming toward the Albrook area of Panama City from El Dorado. The other is at the entrance to the City of Knowledge and the Panama International Technopark. This gate is located on the road from Balboa to the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. Clayton has become a popular upscale housing suburb since the...
The best thing in Placencia, Belize is living on the beach. I personally like living on the beach because of the different cultures. The people are friendly and open. We have a great community spirit here. I like the fact that we are able to go to the mainland, a 45-minute drive and be back the same day and have a great adventure. I like that we have the cayes and the reefs are very near to us, so you can go and be back the same day. Reading, Writing and Reinvention in Granada, Nicaragua
To take a line from his own newsletter, Nica Nuggets, for and about the expats of Granada, Nicaragua, Darrell Bushnell is as busy as a one-legged rooster in a three-story hen house. Jet Metier talks to the man who mesmerizes her with his tales of his life in the land of fresh water sharks and steaming volcanoes. 
Jet Metier: How are you Darrell? How are Amy and the dogs? I like to think of you starting the morning doing something wonderful and unique...
rebellion, their name was changed to "Republic of Tulé". According to historical information, this community was helped by a Canadian adventurer named Richard Marsh . Then, they were known as the "San Blas district", and their name was based on the first name that...