Hi mlp

I have sent you a PM.

Plumbers can always find work in France, as can electricians, and brickies.
There is a new self employed status in France called an "Auto entrepreneur" which allows you to creat your own company without a deposit, and without immediately paying taxes.
My daughter created her business (costumière) as an auto entrepreneur through internet, it took an hour! It might be an idea for you, but you'll have to get to grips with the french language. You don't even need a carte de sejour now in France I discovered last week when I went to the prefecture to renew mine!
Geoff

I think there's a distinction between being able to set up as an 'auto-entrepreneur', and being able to 'always find work in France'. The two are not the same at all, as the 12% unemployment rate will tell you.

I have just skipped through the thread, As far as the lad is concerned he should pull his finger out jump in and have a go. Before he knows it he will be as thick as thieves with new friends here in no time.

I dont know what kind of heart condition your OH has or if you want to talk about it, But France is a good place to have one if your going to have one. I had my heart attack at 33 and that was the beginning of quite a mind boggling adventure, But im glad it happened in France after you get your head around the lingo you get to see how a medical system should be. It has some short comings but not so many and I will take it over the NHS any day.

Thanks for the encouragement.

We were talking again today about 'France' and I think that we would have to do it in a gradual way. Someone else with a teenager but also approaching retirement said that was what they were attempting. Just have longer and longer holidays until eventually child is grown and we have become very familiar with France and will know better whether a total move is appropriate.

We have had some bad news regarding a parent so couldn't leave now. Life happens...

Kia Ora: sorry to hear you had a heart attack so young. Jim, my OH was 50, so it has been 10 years and he really is fine, once we got over the shock. I have no qualms with the French healthcare system and would not worry at all about us having to use it.