When folks take into consideration retiring in France, the photographs that come to thoughts are sometimes dreamy: lengthy lunches on sunny terraces, leisurely strolls by charming villages, and limitless glasses of wine or coffees at neighborhood cafés. It’ll be a everlasting trip! I utterly perceive the enchantment — France is gorgeous, wealthy in tradition, and presents a life-style many People admire.
However right here’s the reality: Whereas I’ve cherished dwelling in France after transferring right here in my 20s, I personally wouldn’t select to maneuver to France at retirement age.
That doesn’t imply France is a foul place to retire or that nobody ought to do it. It’s merely about understanding myself, my wants, and what life overseas appears to be like like past the rose-colored glasses. Everybody has their very own character and priorities, and for some folks, retiring in France will likely be a dream come true. For me, that’s not the trail I’d take. Let me clarify why.
I’ve by no means written something particularly about retirement in France on my weblog over time as a result of I’m not at that life stage and it’s not my lived expertise. I like to stay to what I do know round right here. 😉
Another excuse, an enormous one, is as a result of if I wasn’t already dwelling right here, I’d personally have zero curiosity in retiring in France if I have been at that life stage.
That may come as a shock as a result of I genuinely love dwelling in France. However the fact is that if I wasn’t married to a French man, I wouldn’t nonetheless be dwelling in France. I had that have for a 12 months again within the day once I got here to show English and that was sufficient for me. It wasn’t even on my radar but that transferring to France “for good” in my 20s can be in my future.
Then as soon as Tom and I obtained married and I moved again to France, staying right here wasn’t the unique plan however issues change (typically for the most effective, fortunately. Generally not).
All that apart, let me begin out by saying there are tons of individuals trying to retire in France and who will go on to take action efficiently. It may be an incredible alternative for some folks (even a few of you studying this). However that’s not what I wish to concentrate on on this publish.
Listed here are the reason why I wouldn’t select to maneuver overseas later in life and retire in France as an American. Let’s go!
Retiring overseas isn’t a fairytale
One of many greatest misconceptions I see is the concept transferring to France for retirement will clear up all of life’s issues. You title it, I’ve heard it.
That French persons are all so cultured and developed, that there aren’t any loopy politics right here, in all places is so charming like a postcard, that homelessness/crime/dangerous neighborhoods/scammers don’t exist, that life will at all times be higher in France in each method, and simply by being in France is a dream come true…. and many others. and many others. and many others.
The reality is, dwelling in France isn’t an limitless trip — no matter your life stage. It’s HARD.
If it’s been straightforward for you, you’re both mendacity to your self otherwise you haven’t been right here lengthy sufficient. How can I be so positive? As a result of LIFE wherever will be laborious. France isn’t immune.
On a regular basis life right here as a foreigner to start with comes with paperwork, paperwork, limitless translations, homesickness, self-doubt, cultural misunderstandings, language boundaries and challenges that don’t magically disappear since you’re older, wiser, richer, or since you’ve “earned” a soothing retirement.
Then add in all these annoying points of every day life you hate at dwelling that all of us face and throw them into the combination. Then throw some life issues into the fireplace… well being points, monetary or relationship points, grief, and many others… you get the image.
You’ve piled stress on prime of stress on prime of stress. It’s laborious sufficient to cope with all of that at dwelling however even worse when there’s the added stress that comes with the truth that we aren’t dwelling with the help and familiarity we all know and love.
If something, all of those transferring overseas challenges can really feel heavier with age. I’ve skilled the stress of tradition shock and navigating a overseas system in my 20s — once I had extra flexibility, resilience, and power to adapt. I can’t think about wanting to begin all of that over once more in my 50s, 60s, or past.
Language and integration matter
I can’t emphasize this sufficient and perhaps it’s a scorching take however…. studying the French language and integrating into the tradition is important to life right here.
And but, it’s not straightforward — even for youthful folks with extra time and psychological power to commit to it. It takes effort and time. Individuals is not going to cater to you.
We at all times hear about expat bubbles and individuals who by no means get previous an A1 degree of French. There are lots of legitimate causes why folks transfer to France and don’t be taught French.
In actual fact, loopy story tangent incoming… I met a 70-something American girl on the airport lately who was transferring to the Nantes space to be together with her daughter after shedding her husband. She flat out advised me French is simply too laborious to be taught at her age however she wished to get out of Florida as a result of there have been “too many Hispanics.” I cringed at how she mentioned the phrase “Hispanics” with seen disdain, prefer it was a unclean phrase.
My eyes opened large, pondering, “Did she actually simply say that out loud?” after which I advised her I used to be Hispanic and walked away (I’m not).
Anyway, would I personally wish to begin studying French at retirement age? No. I get the place the girl was coming from in that regard.
I do know what the journey has seemed like attending to the place I’m, so ranging from scratch at retirement age isn’t one thing I’d personally select to do. However IF I WERE DEAD SET ON MOVING TO FRANCE, I’D MAKE IT MY LIFE’S MISSION TO LEARN FRENCH!
As we grow old, selecting up a brand new language turns into tougher (however it’s removed from inconceivable). With out French, easy issues — going to the physician, coping with banks, making pals — can really feel daunting and downright isolating. Retiring overseas with out language expertise typically means relying closely on others, and that’s not how I’d wish to spend my later years.
Positive, you may get by in greater cities or sticking to an expat bubble, however are you transferring to France to only “get by?” I wouldn’t be.
Begin studying the language now!
Tom snapped this magnificence on a June night simply because the solar was setting. It’s certainly one of his finest, proper?
Consolation vs. Journey
In my 20s, transferring to France felt like an journey. I wished the problem of dwelling in one other tradition, of figuring issues out, of being pushed out of my consolation zone. That’s a part of the transferring overseas package deal and I used to be right here for it. I welcomed it and grabbed the bull by the horns at that age. The primary couple of years examined me in methods I by no means may have imagined and I’m grateful for it.
However then as you expertise extra life and get smacked by laborious realities, you’ve gotten much less zeal for all of these shenanigans. As a low-energy particular person basically, I look again and am impressed with all the things I’ve achieved since 2012. (hey 100k YT subs and almost 1,000 posts on this weblog.)
I do know myself effectively sufficient to say in my 50s, 60s+, I’ll need extra ease, not much less.
I’d need healthcare I absolutely perceive in my very own language, methods I understand how to navigate, and the consolation of being near household and neighborhood with out the added stress of tradition shock.
For me, it will be about MORE consolation and ease at that age. Not much less. And a transfer overseas is NOT snug or straightforward.
Retirement gained’t be about chasing loopy adventures that find yourself being the toughest issues I’ve ever carried out. Been there, carried out that. It’ll be about about having fun with life and once more, chasing ease.
Healthcare and help methods
Let me say extra on the healthcare factor. Sure, France has glorious healthcare (although it has its flaws after all and not each physician is nice).
However navigating any healthcare system in one other language, with unfamiliar paperwork and methods, isn’t stress-free particularly whenever you’re sick or in ache or somebody you’re keen on is.
I’ve been right here since 2012 and it’s nonetheless complicated for me at occasions. Between the mutuelle and the sécu reimbursements and the non-conventionnée this and that, my head generally spins.
Add in potential mobility points, the necessity for extra frequent care, psychological deficits, and even emergencies, and abruptly the dream of “retiring in France” can really feel extra sophisticated than comforting.
There’s additionally the query of help networks. As we age, household and shut pals turn out to be much more essential. Being throughout the ocean from family members may imply isolation on the very second in life when neighborhood issues most.
Picture credit score: Shutterstock.com / Phovoir
On a regular basis life isn’t wow-worthy
It’s straightforward to think about retirement in France as limitless strolls in lavender fields or sipping rosé in Provence. However every day life — wherever you reside — turns into on a regular basis life after some time. It includes errands, payments, medical appointments, and laundry. In France, these extraordinary duties typically contain additional layers of paperwork, paperwork, and persistence.
After I was youthful, these quirks felt like a part of the cultural journey. At retirement age, I do know experiencing all that for the primary time would probably really feel exhausting.
I’ve already had my France chapter
For me, the largest motive I wouldn’t retire in France is as a result of I’ve already had the present of dwelling right here in my youthful years. I’ve already carried out it. I’m nonetheless right here and haven’t any plans of leaving or beginning over elsewhere (and positively not at retirement age!).
Will I nonetheless be in France in my senior years? Possibly. In all probability? Who is aware of what life has in retailer.
However I do know this: I’ve traveled throughout France, realized French, realized the rhythms of French every day life, created Oui In France, and constructed reminiscences I’ll carry endlessly with my French husband Tom. I’ve no plans of leaving, however I wouldn’t be beginning that journey in my 60s or past.
At this level, I’ve carried out the laborious work already and put in my time, so to talk. I did that at a degree in my life once I felt energized, prepared, and able to succeeding.
Has it been straightforward? Undoubtedly not. I got here with two suitcases and lived in a literal shed. Nevertheless it’s been value it as a result of now I really feel settled and like France is dwelling. All of the hardships I really feel about transferring at retirement age have been conquered for essentially the most half at a time once I was prepared and prepared to sort out them.
Now you could be questioning, “However Diane, for those who hadn’t moved overseas to France in your 20s, would you take into account retiring to France?”
My reply to that’s no. It was by no means my dream to maneuver to France endlessly (I had that have for a 12 months educating English and that was wonderful!). The principle motive why my reply remains to be no is all the things I lined above. It’s simply not the life stage I’d wish to tackle such an infinite problem.
Backside line
I’d wish to reemphasize that I’m sharing my ideas right here to not discourage anybody from retiring in France, however to convey steadiness to the dialog and speak about why I personally wouldn’t transfer to France (or wherever!) at retirement age.
Let me say that once more… these are my ideas on why I personally wouldn’t retire in France.
My private decisions should have no impact on yours. Life is brief. Go after what you need! If you wish to retire in France, go for it!
I wish to absolutely acknowledge that retiring overseas will be unimaginable for the suitable particular person — particularly for those who communicate the language or will decide to studying it, deal with stress effectively, have sturdy causes for being right here, have boundless power, and thrive on cultural immersion.
You already know your self finest and what you want and need out of life. I do know many individuals who fortunately moved to France of their 60s+ and live their finest life. There are tons of you on the market! I’m not discounting that in any respect or saying YOU shouldn’t transfer overseas.
We have to do what’s finest for ourselves. And for me, ready to maneuver to France at retirement age isn’t what will likely be finest for me, so I’m glad I did it earlier.
For me, retirement will likely be about consolation, connection, and ease. France has given me unimaginable experiences beginning in my 20s and I wouldn’t commerce these for something.
However once I think about my retirement years, I don’t image beginning over in a overseas system. I think about constructing on the life, relationships, and sense of dwelling I’ve already created… and for me, that every one began in my 20s in France.
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