Rest assured you will not be the only newcomer visiting here right now, not by a long shot. In my 11 years here I have never seen so many newbies moving here and visiting this area at once. I am speaking as someone living in Chapala. Chapala is being swarmed, the other afternoon I saw more gringos on the Chapala malecón than Mexicans and that had never happened before. I can only imagine how it is in Ajijic. But don't forget to check out Chapala too, its layout and affordabillity among other reasons may make it more rewarding than the other towns. It all depends on what the expat needs if you prefer gringo bars and gringo restaurants in an over crowed expat town Ajijic is your town. If you prefer to attempt to melt into the Mexican community surrounded by mostly flat, smooth and wide avenues and sidewalks with ample shopping and stores and not feel constantly bombarded by English being spoken then Chapala may be more of your cup of tea.