Moving our family to France!🇫🇷

[@Pensées_depuis_mon_balcon]

When we decided to immigrate to France for retirement at 58, we were selling a 3,500 sqft house and moving into a 1,000 sqft apartment that would need to be renovated before moving in. It was an eye opening experience to see what had accumulated over a 15+ year period in our home. We arrived in Paris with just 2 suitcases each, a large dog, and cat for 5 months until our ISO container arrived with additional items. After reviewing our current furniture with our Parisian architect and interior designer, we decided that most of the styles and scale of the furniture would not be the correct for a Haussmannian apartment and so we decided to donate most of our furniture to some very happy relatives and friends. It was very difficult to part with some pieces that held a lot of emotional value, but at the end of the day it is just furniture. Clearing out our closets and minimizing our wardrobes was also a challenge. But how many suits, dress shirts, dress shoes, and ties does a retired guy need? Also, you realize how much you have that you just never wore or really never liked and so it was just textiles taking up space. The 5 SUV loads of books to our local library was also a bit difficult, but it was worth it to know that others could enjoy the volumes. The only regret is that I should have kept a few more tools, a 150 year old apartment (even fully renovated) always needs ongoing maintenance. If you plan to stay in France, 1. make sure you register your arrival with immigration for your long stay visa or else you will not be able to renew (very easy on-line) 2. you are required to go to your medical exam, schedule as soon as you can after registering 3. after 6 months you can trade in your US drivers license for a French one - very easy to do on-line (for most US states, but not all). Have fun

[@Roamaroo]

Wow! Thanks for sharing and for the wonderful tips. That’s one amazing experience you’ve had. Yes, it is amazing how many pieces of clothing we hold on to for no reason at all. While the purging can be quite difficult it’s also cathartic.

[@gualime]

À Nice, la question haussmannienne devrait moins se poser. Quoique, il doit bien y avoir un centre-ville. C’est très curieux de lire ces expériences d’Américains choisissant de migrer vers la France. Les joies des indépendants pouvant jouir d’un certain niveau de vie, je suppose, et capable de travailler à nouveau à leur compte depuis l’étranger. On imagine moins des Américains des classes sociales populaires ne serait-ce que songer venir en Europe. Cela doit être ça « l’immigration souhaitée » dont parlent certains, surtout chez les populistes. La France n’échappe pas à la trumpisation des esprits, et cette chasse aux immigrés dure depuis bien plus longtemps que Trump, mais c’est curieux de comparer ce type d’immigration qui ne crée pas les mêmes peurs irrationnelles chez certaines populations xénophobes qu’un autre type d’immigration venu d’Afrique, du Moyen-Orient ou d’Asie… Les migrations sont un luxe et la preuve de la bonne santé d’une société. Cela se vérifie depuis la nuit des temps. Félicitations à ceux qui saisissent leur chance pour découvrir d’autres horizons, se confronter à d’autres peuples, d’autres cultures, d’autres langues, d’autres… structures urbaines, qu’ils soient pauvres venus d’Afrique, d’Ukraine ou du New Jersey. Tous contribuent à leur échelle à la société qu’ils intègrent. On a autant besoin de migrants fuyant des zones de guerre, les persécutions, cherchant une vie meilleure malgré les risques de discrimination que les fortunés d’autres pays occidentaux.

[@T_Barb]

From your past babysitter…congratulations on your move. I take my good kitchen knives when I travel too! Lol. Tell mom and dad hello for me when you speak to them and wishing you a wonderful adventure.

[@antibash691]

À la semaine prochaine ! 😉❤

[@bessonnet]

And every electric device would need an adaptator to be plugged in France...

[@Roamaroo]

That’s true!