It’s safe to say that anyone who came from abroad at least five years ago to reside at lakeside no longer counts as a newcomer.

They’ve learned the ropes, figured out how to get by in an unfamiliar cultural and linguistic environment, and fit in with compatible social circles to make friends.

Yet I hear grumbling going around among some seasoned expats about the negative ways the community is changing.  The daily traffic congestion and deplorable condition of village streets seem to top the list of things getting on people’s nerves. There are legitimate worries about insufficient infrastructure to sustain the pace of urban growth. The increasing loss of surrounding natural terrain is another concern.

A flood of newbies are coming here with different perspectives, tastes and values compared to earlier settlers. Many seem to have a penchant for modern-style housing that looks a lot like the places they came from. They don’t appreciate the charm of cobblestone streets, rustic homes with hand-made tile roofs, hand-decorated azulejos in kitchens and bathrooms, and multicolored décor. Instead, they seek properties with sleek architectural styles, granite or marble countertops, and interior designs in pallets ranging from blah beige to ho-hum gray.

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