Open Circle
David Truly presents “Foreign Retirement to Lake Chapala: The New Cycle of Boom and Bust” at the next gathering of Open Circle, Sunday, January 14, 10:30 a.m. at the Lake Chapala Society.
In 1997, Dr. Truly conducted a multi-method study on retirement migration to the Lake Chapala area, which became a benchmark for examining the motivations and impacts of foreign retirees to Mexico. He continued to visit the area over the next few years and in 2010 moved to the area with his family. Since that time, he has conducted numerous studies for public and private agencies, and is currently duplicating his 20-year-old study.
This lecture focuses on the recent boom in foreign migration, the profile and potential impacts of today’s migrants, and the preliminary results of his ongoing 20-year follow-up study.
Truly has a PhD in Geography. Formerly a professor at Central Connecticut State University, he has taught at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and conducted numerous studies on senior housing and health care throughout Mexico. He is currently living in Austin, Texas.
For more information see opencircleajijic.org.
LCS Seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar titled “Why Humans Run the World,” presented by Yuval Noah Harari and facilitated by Clive Overton, Tuesday, January 16, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
About two million years ago our human ancestors were insignificant animals living in a corner of Africa. Their impact on the world was no greater than that of gorillas, zebras or chickens. Today humans are spread all over the world, and they are the most important animal around. The very future of life on Earth depends on the ideas and behavior of our species.
Why did our species become so dominant? There have been many theories, all with some credibility, but Harari presents a reasoned argument that is hard to refute.
Bingo Lago
Bingo games are held at Maria Isabel Restaurant each Tuesday, 1 p.m. A package of ten games for a 200-peso donation will give you a chance to have some fun, win prizes and to fund Have Hammer … Will Travel, which teaches woodworking and carpentry skills to lakeside area youth.
Neill James Lecture
Phil Rylett presents “What Are We?” at the next Neill James Lecture, Tuesday, January 16 at LCS.
Rylett asks, “Do we ever consider what we are? If we are asked, we may respond: retired, ex-accountant, Canadian, grandmother, etcetera. All true, but all incomplete.
Once we peel away the layers of nationality, work status, social/family classification, what are we left with to be able to answer the question? A bag of cells? A factory of chemical reactions? A collection of blind atomic forces? How old are you? Do you count from the day of your birth? Or do you include the nine months inside your mother? Or do you consider that the egg you came from was created a couple of months after your mother was conceived? Older than you thought? Well, that is just the start of it!
Our lives were billions of the years in the making – they didn’t start several decades ago – but often we are oblivious to this wonder. Discover a new approach of how to view yourself. You have journeyed from stardust to Ajijic. Reviewing this journey will help you understand what you are and, by doing so, better understand what you can do to keep this miracle machine ticking.”
Phil Rylett has a background in pharmacology, nursing and computer programming.
Jewish film fest
The Ajijic Jewish Film Festival celebrates its ninth year at Cine del Lago. Presented by the Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation and shown each Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the festival donates a portion of its 80-peso ticket price to a lakeside charity. On January 14 “The Frisco Kid,” starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, will be shown. This comedy set in the wild west follows the misadventures of Polish rabbi Avram Belinsky when he teams up with an outlaw.
Lakeside Freethinkers
At their next meeting on Wednesday, January 17, the Lakeside Freethinkers will consider the question: What is mind? Just brain activity, or is there something else? Phil Rylett and John Stokdijk will debate.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who is an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist or skeptic. They believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives.
If you would like to attend, or obtain additional information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Spiritual Naturalist Society
The Ajijic Chapter of the Spiritual Naturalist Society will present an Introduction to Spiritual Naturalism Friday, January 19, 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society Sala. The talk will be facilitated by John Stokdijk. Everyone with interest is welcome.
Singles
The Lakeside Singles will meet Thursday, January 25, 4-6 p.m. at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57, Ajijic. Special meal and drink discounts and live music will be offered. Free valet parking is available. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your space.
Scottish gala
This is probably your last chance to get tickets to Niños Incapacitados annual Burns’ dinner event, Thursday, January 25, 5 p.m. at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Cocktails and dancing will be held in the patio area and dinner, in the Eucalyptus Room. Tributes and toasts, dancing, singing, a delicious dinner including a bite of haggis, a wee dram of scotch and a no-host bar are all part of this fun evening. Kilts and tartans are encouraged. For tickets, 500 pesos, contact Anne at (376) 766-1609 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society heads to Guadalajara’s Galerias Mall and Costco Wednesday, January 24. The bus leaves promptly at 9:30 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta. Sign up at the LCS office.
Chiliheads unite!
Get ready for the 40th Mexican National Chili Cookoff to be held the weekend of February 23-25 at Tobolandia waterpark.
This three-day extravaganza provides non-stop entertainment and lots of food and handicrafts as a sideline to the margarita, salsa and chili contests, while raising hundreds of thousands of pesos for local charities.
To rent a booth, call Jorge at 331-279-1721. To enter any of the competitions, see mexicannationalchiliookoff.com.
Gala rescheduled
Niños Incapacitados’ annual Gala Dinner Dance fundraiser, White Night … White Lights, will be held Thursday, March 22, 5-10 p.m., at the Hotel Real de Chapala. Entertainment is by Great American Songbook, with Francis Dryden, Paul Brier and Jimmy Barto. Tickets, 550 pesos, are available via Sue Williams, (376) 766-0487 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers several opportunities each week for silent mediation. All sessions are open to the public and chairs and cushions are provided. There are brief written instructions on meditation for beginners.
One-hour meditation periods are offered Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 17, the regular 45-minute meditation period which begins at 4 p.m. will be followed by a dharma talk given by senior Vipassana (Insight) meditation teacher DaeJa Napier, who is in a brief residency here for the third consecutive year. The session ends by 6 p.m.
A Dharma Movie Matinee” is offered January 15, 3 p.m. Selections from “The Buddhist Shorts Film Festival 2018” will be screened. Admission is free and donations are welcome.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. All are invited regardless of experience or affiliation. For further information, see, heartofawareness.org.