We are moored half way between Saumur and Angers. Nantes is the regional capital. Great city. If you head this way, give me a shout here and I will tell you where to go. Away from May 6th to 20th inclusive. The French will be supportive if they feel you are making the effort to learn their language.
Wow-this is a great interview. Thought provoking too-i had to ask myself the answers to some of these questions! I can’t wait for the second half! You are both very courageous for just taking your life back! So many people allow life to happen TO them instead of making the life that they want! Well do-ing (not well done-because we are all in the process).
I'm so glad you liked it! It's kind of amazing to me to be asking Quin these questions and really, not knowing most of the answers.
It doesn't feel courageous, if that means anything. Mostly confusing is the word I'd use, but it also does feel like more of our choices, which matters a lot.
Very interesting interview. For me home is where the heart is. Your wife is spot on when she says "you can do anything if you have love". It's more fun.
I think there is a difference in moving to another country because you're jaded and wish to seek something better and moving because you love this other country and just want to spend time there. We initially moved to France 25 years ago just to have a holiday home. We were happy in England but wanted our children to experience life in France. It gave us the opportunity to make friends , improve our language skills and generally immerse ourselves into our new home and community. In the beginning it wasn't all plain sailing but our love for this country was a driving force.It has taken years to feel at home. I can't say that it's total but it's enough for me. Now,when I return to England it feels different, even though I lived there for 35 years. I have to add that I moved to England from South America as a
teenager to study and lived there for
35 years. It takes guts to uproot but if it's what your hearts truly desire then home in all its forms will happen.Courage .Look
So glad you liked it! This interview felt important for me, for obvious reasons, bit also because there were so many surprises in it for me as well.
Part 2 came out over the weekend and it's now linked at the bottom of the post, so you'll have to go to the stack for that. I keep forgetting to update people...
I have to agree that living in another country changes the way you think about both places. Or at least that's been true for me. I think that there does have to be a draw to a new place - that jadedness, as you put it, seems to just travel with you unless you deal with it somehow. I know that when we left the states, it took me a long time to kind of mellow out a bit, to get my head clear.
Well done you... not an easy transition. Have you learned French? If not, that is top priority if you want to be truly happy here. Being an ex-pat is no fun!
Agreed! We’re learning French as quickly as we can. Folks are patient but I am good on paper, but still a lot of work to do for casual conversations. I fully intend to get there.
We are moored half way between Saumur and Angers. Nantes is the regional capital. Great city. If you head this way, give me a shout here and I will tell you where to go. Away from May 6th to 20th inclusive. The French will be supportive if they feel you are making the effort to learn their language.
I love it! We were out around Saumur for about a month last year. I really liked the area.
Overall, I have found the French incredibly helpful and I still have a lot of learning to do, but folks have been very patient.
I’ve also been meaning to get some in-person meets to happen. I’ll send a message about it.
Wow-this is a great interview. Thought provoking too-i had to ask myself the answers to some of these questions! I can’t wait for the second half! You are both very courageous for just taking your life back! So many people allow life to happen TO them instead of making the life that they want! Well do-ing (not well done-because we are all in the process).
I'm so glad you liked it! It's kind of amazing to me to be asking Quin these questions and really, not knowing most of the answers.
It doesn't feel courageous, if that means anything. Mostly confusing is the word I'd use, but it also does feel like more of our choices, which matters a lot.
Very interesting interview. For me home is where the heart is. Your wife is spot on when she says "you can do anything if you have love". It's more fun.
I think there is a difference in moving to another country because you're jaded and wish to seek something better and moving because you love this other country and just want to spend time there. We initially moved to France 25 years ago just to have a holiday home. We were happy in England but wanted our children to experience life in France. It gave us the opportunity to make friends , improve our language skills and generally immerse ourselves into our new home and community. In the beginning it wasn't all plain sailing but our love for this country was a driving force.It has taken years to feel at home. I can't say that it's total but it's enough for me. Now,when I return to England it feels different, even though I lived there for 35 years. I have to add that I moved to England from South America as a
teenager to study and lived there for
35 years. It takes guts to uproot but if it's what your hearts truly desire then home in all its forms will happen.Courage .Look
forward to part 2.
So glad you liked it! This interview felt important for me, for obvious reasons, bit also because there were so many surprises in it for me as well.
Part 2 came out over the weekend and it's now linked at the bottom of the post, so you'll have to go to the stack for that. I keep forgetting to update people...
I have to agree that living in another country changes the way you think about both places. Or at least that's been true for me. I think that there does have to be a draw to a new place - that jadedness, as you put it, seems to just travel with you unless you deal with it somehow. I know that when we left the states, it took me a long time to kind of mellow out a bit, to get my head clear.
Well done you... not an easy transition. Have you learned French? If not, that is top priority if you want to be truly happy here. Being an ex-pat is no fun!
Agreed! We’re learning French as quickly as we can. Folks are patient but I am good on paper, but still a lot of work to do for casual conversations. I fully intend to get there.