I don't actually remember the moment when the decision came to me, but it had been incubating since August of 2014 when Noah and I spent two weeks in France and Switzerland.
The evolution of an idea.
In June of 2015 I went to Ireland with my dear friend, Debi, and we vowed that when we got home we would learn Gaelic together. There was just one problem; I had promised myself that one day I would learn French. So before learning Gaelic I had to learn French. I purchased some books and CDs and started to learn French, figuring I'd have that knocked out by Christmas and Debi and I could start the new year learning Gaelic together.
Very funny. It became quickly clear that I was not going to learn French by Christmas. Although, I have learned a lot in a short time, maybe even enough to get by, but I want more than enough to get by. So I continue to study and plan to take classes at the community college this fall.
Learning French, I think, helped fuel the idea that was incubating in my heart. Sometime in late 2015 I decided that I wanted to move to France when I retired. By February "when I retired" was too long. In March I went to my financial advisor and said "what do I need to do to be able to retire in 4, 6, and 8 years ... oh, and move to France?"
The numbers in 4 years didn't really add up so great.
As I was talking about my grand plan to a co-worker he suggested I try to get a job in Germany first, and move to France from there.
So that is the new plan. In three years get a job in Germany. Sell the house. Find homes for the horses and llamas. Sell all sorts of stuff. Bring Nick with us so he can go to school in Germany where tuition is almost free for Americans and the schools are good. Work in Germany for 3-5 years. Retire in France.
That's where we are at the moment.
My head is filled with information, sometimes conflicting, often confusing, and almost always overwhelming. How does an American, a US citizen, relocate to France? Easily? Not sure yet, although, probably not. But I've got three to six years to figure it out.
So why do I feel like I need all the answers now?
Because I like to plan.
1. The basement has to be cleaned (started)
2. We have to find homes for the horses and llamas.
3. We have to sell many of our "things" (started, sort of, first ad went on Craigslist today)
4. There are things in the house that need fixing.
5. We have to SELL the house!!!! As soon as I get a job.
6. I have to get a job!
7. Timing timing timing.
If I get a job in Germany my company will move me, my household belongings, my family, pets, and one car. They will pay my living expenses in Germany.
Because it is late, I will finish here. But there is oh so much more to say about figuring out how to move to France!
The evolution of an idea.
In June of 2015 I went to Ireland with my dear friend, Debi, and we vowed that when we got home we would learn Gaelic together. There was just one problem; I had promised myself that one day I would learn French. So before learning Gaelic I had to learn French. I purchased some books and CDs and started to learn French, figuring I'd have that knocked out by Christmas and Debi and I could start the new year learning Gaelic together.
Very funny. It became quickly clear that I was not going to learn French by Christmas. Although, I have learned a lot in a short time, maybe even enough to get by, but I want more than enough to get by. So I continue to study and plan to take classes at the community college this fall.
Learning French, I think, helped fuel the idea that was incubating in my heart. Sometime in late 2015 I decided that I wanted to move to France when I retired. By February "when I retired" was too long. In March I went to my financial advisor and said "what do I need to do to be able to retire in 4, 6, and 8 years ... oh, and move to France?"
The numbers in 4 years didn't really add up so great.
As I was talking about my grand plan to a co-worker he suggested I try to get a job in Germany first, and move to France from there.
So that is the new plan. In three years get a job in Germany. Sell the house. Find homes for the horses and llamas. Sell all sorts of stuff. Bring Nick with us so he can go to school in Germany where tuition is almost free for Americans and the schools are good. Work in Germany for 3-5 years. Retire in France.
That's where we are at the moment.
My head is filled with information, sometimes conflicting, often confusing, and almost always overwhelming. How does an American, a US citizen, relocate to France? Easily? Not sure yet, although, probably not. But I've got three to six years to figure it out.
So why do I feel like I need all the answers now?
Because I like to plan.
1. The basement has to be cleaned (started)
2. We have to find homes for the horses and llamas.
3. We have to sell many of our "things" (started, sort of, first ad went on Craigslist today)
4. There are things in the house that need fixing.
5. We have to SELL the house!!!! As soon as I get a job.
6. I have to get a job!
7. Timing timing timing.
If I get a job in Germany my company will move me, my household belongings, my family, pets, and one car. They will pay my living expenses in Germany.
Because it is late, I will finish here. But there is oh so much more to say about figuring out how to move to France!
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