Cold feet ?
 

We've been planning to retire in France for many years and now are able to do so. Our Uk house in under offer, we 've both finished work and have picked the area we want to live it ( Aquitaine ) but .......suddenly we're both wondering if it's the right thing to do. We both have existing medical conditions but will be eligible for the Carte Vitale so that should not be too much of a problem. I speak and write fluent French as my Mum came from Provence but my hubby does'nt speak any French at all. We already have many French friends as we breed Bergere Belge dogs and show them all over Europe. Is it usual to have cold feet once the dream becomes a reality ?

Re: Cold feet ?
 

I would think it is very normal to have second thoughts before any major decision. But that's not to say you should ignore the feeling. Just take the time to run through the reasons you made the decision to ensure you haven't missed something, or that your priorities haven't changed or that an assumption you made is still valid.

Obviously best to do it together as sometimes things may change for one partner and then he/she is reluctant to be the spoilsport.

Otherwise - Bon Courage!

Re: Cold feet ?
 

Of course it is usual when you are thinking of a complete life change at any age, even if you have always wanted to do it.

What are you planning to do about housing and how well do you know the area you are thinking of moving to?

You are well on your way as you already speak and write French. It was the other way round with us. I was the one with failed O-level French, husband had alreadt studied and taught here. I picked up the understanding, reading and speaking with a bit of effort and now feel reasonably competent but I don't think I'll every write it adequately.

You have friends with a shared interest which is another big plus.

Go for it and good luck!

Re: Cold feet ?
 

+1
Apart from this feeling, you've got everything going for you, as you yourself speak/write French.
I would simply suggest that your OH should try to learn French in order to communicate, in case you're incapacitated in some way, and also settle somewhere not too far from a hospital/medical facilities, i.e. not in a village in the middle of nowhere!
All the best!:)

Re: Cold feet ?
 

Don't worry about getting cold feet, it can happen to most when an important change is about to take place.

http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/.a/6a...6532e6a970b-pi

Just ensure that you've done the all important, in depth planning. Double check, and check again, before making the plunge.
As already mentioned you must convince hubby to get stuck into the language, otherwise he will be only half-living the experience.
Good luck.

Re: Cold feet ?
 

The problem with retiring to a non-Anglophone country as a retired person is developing contacts with the locals.
My OH was fluent in French and me not so. I could manage enough to holiday in France but not enough to live there.
I took classes to improve my French and we both joined local clubs to meet and mix with French people.
Having dogs is always a good way to meet other people.
Do you intend to breed dogs in France?
If you do then it would be considered to be a business and you would need to consider adopting a business structure.
Good luck

Re: Cold feet ?
 

Thanks for the replies folks, as far as housing is concerned, we are planning to buy something in the Lot area and will be using the cash released from our UK house sale. No we are not planning to breed the dogs in France, this is our retirement move and the aim was to slow down and take things easier. We're teetering on the edge of just staying here but wonder if we'll regret not taking the plunge :(

Re: Cold feet ?
 

You have to ask yourself what will the 'Lot'/France offer you in retirement ? Outside of spring and summer not a lot I suspect. Even in the summer (look at this weeks weather) it is probably to hot to go out. Christmas in France generally is a non event.

Once the novelty of moving to France wears off a lot of expats in that part of the world it seems spend their days glued to sky TV and their highlight of the week seems to be when their weekly Tescos shopping arrives from the UK. A lot want to sell up and move back to the UK but can't because they can't sell their house.

In terms of things to do, the UK is a lot more attractive methinks for those not totally committed to living in France.

Re: Cold feet ?
 

It really isn't like that at all if you find a friendly place to live with a little bit of life. Sorry Touraine but I think your post is unduly negative.

I don't think the OP has that sort of attitude at all.

I actually rather like Christmas being a non-event, though it isn't really where we live.

Don't have cold feet. you seem to know what you are letting yourself in for. maybe don't completely bury yourselves but find somewhere where there is contact with other doggy people.

Your husband will learn French if . as you say have friends with similar interests and you make the effort to become friends with your neighbours. It will, I can assure him , come naturally when he just has to communicate.

Re: Cold feet ?
 

My intention was not to be negative but realistic. For a lot of expats what I describe seems to be their reality in France.

Like I said, the OP needs to ask themselves (given they have cold feet) what the Lot/France will offer them in retirement. I am 27 years short of retirement and will undoubtedly stay and retire in France. It is the question I would ask when choosing the right location live in France.

When places such as 'lot', Charante, Cruse, Dordogne, Brittany ect ect are mentioned in a thread about retirement I cringe. It is always the same places and for many it seems ends up in tears. If the OP had said Jura (for example) I would not not have said what I had said but told them to go for it. ;)

Re: Cold feet ?
 

As far as I can see the OP hasn't said why they want to move to France so I'm finding it a bit hard to have an opinion on this one!
Moving to France is obviously going to be more upheaval, physically and mentally and emotionally, than retiring somewhere else in the UK. There will be things about the UK that you miss. So the crux would seem to be, firstly are you being realistic about the things you think you will find in France that will enhance your life? and secondly, are those things going to more than make up, long term, for the things you'll leave behind and the hassle of figuring out a new country with different admin systems/customs/language etc?
Why not see if you can rent for a while and see how you feel after a year? That'll be an adventure in itself.

Re: Cold feet ?
 

We chose the Lot region as I have family in Cahors and we have had holidays there and so have gotten to know the area well. . Also the British expat community is well established there which would I think make the transition easier for my hubby. We would continue to show the dogs ( there are quite a few Championnat shows in the Perigord and Lot region ) and so hopefully get to know other 'dog folk' in the area. But you're right to ask what moving to France would give us that staying here would'nt - the weather perhaps and we'd get rid of the mortgage but otherwise ?????.
We did think of renting first but with seven fairly large hairy dogs I think it would be an impossibility .

I think we need to sleep on it !!!

Re: Cold feet ?
 

A shame you cannot rent, it would be much easier for you.

If you go to other régions where landlords struggle to find tenants you may be able to take your dogs with you.

Good luck!

Re: Cold feet ?
 

Hi, in another current thread, I found the following link
Importation en France d'animaux de compagnie
which indicates that there's a limit of five "specimens" at the Douanes. More than 5 involves a different procedure whereby the pets are examined by vets at the port of entry, who issue a special document which you then show to the Douanes.
Something else to sleep on! :)

Re: Cold feet ?
 

We have a good deal in common. My wife and I are both retired (well pedantically I retire next Tuesday), we bought a retirement-to-be property in Calvados several years ago. Like you we chose the region because my MIL was from there and we have an extended family in the region.

Like you two, one is fluent (I'm not that one) and the other (yes, that's me) is only functional. We're both UK/Canadian dual citizens

But, the big difference is that we are still in Canada (until next Friday) and have decided it to be prudent to re-establish EU residency (NHS access, UK State Pension and S1 or EHIC etc.) before we settle in France full time.

So, we're going back to the UK first. The other reason being that my widowed 88 year old FIL could use a bit of help. Happy to provide it.