Single Woman Moving to France
 

Hello, and hope I’m in the right place!

Are there any single ladies that have made France their home?

I am a young lady of 60+, just retired and almost divorced, who intends to sample life in France next year. My husband and I had intended to move to the Limousin two years ago, but this was not to be. By next summer, our house will hopefully be sold and my youngest son finished university. It also gives me time to relearn all my French - good on grammar and reading, thanks to Open University courses, but not enough listening and speaking skills to survive in the real world.

Difficulties such as finding a long term rent, French legalities and driving a UK car will all fit into place..... eventually. However, no matter which region of France I choose, I suppose my main concern centres around integrating into a French community. Most postings about moving to and living in France seem to centre around a family with children or couples. Having become a single woman after a lengthy marriage, I am definitely used to stepping out of my comfort zone and adapting to new experiences. But how easy would it become a Francophile as a single woman? Definitely intend making the most of Life !!! Any words of wisdom and advice would be gratefully accepted, as I definitely need a starting point in my quest.

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Wherever you decide to settle, be it city, town or village, go straight to your Mairie (you'll have to go there anyway for the Administrative matters) and ask for a list of the Associations in the Commune. Start by joining one or two that do things which you're interested in (hiking, singing, arts and crafts, keep-fit, etc...) and you'll make French friends with the same interests, of all ages.
In my small village there are a lot of Associations, with many 60+ singles, widows, divorcees that I got to know better when I retired.
Hope this helps!:)

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

You live in Scotland - read Fidelma Cook's column in the Saturday magazine in the Herald.
She is a single woman living in France and writes about all aspects of life in France.
You may be able to e-mail her.
She went to intensive french classes in the UK before she made the move.
As suggested, join a club. I joined the local golf club and I have had a very warm welcome from the french members - there are only 3 brits in the club.
I have found the members very supportive while my french gets up to a better standard.

Good luck

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Welcome to the Forum;) I know of a fair few people that have come here single like. None of them are now. I think you have to put more effort in if you are single but it can work.

Finding the area that you wish to live in is the main thing, Ariege is green Hot wet cold but very rural. Bit backwards like but its a good thing:lol:


Any way once again Welcome.....

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Hiya, and sorry about your husband not making it to France with you. However, if you decide to "live the dream for him instead of with him" you most certainly can. Here in Brittany there is always lots going on - there is an organisation set up here (AIKB) which is brilliant and helps all ex pat Brits integrate and meet new people. They have bring and buys, fetes, vide greniers (like car boot sales), even a radio broadcast of their own. They do French lessons, babel groups, book sales, walks, and hold workshops about starting a business, filling in tax forms etc. But honestly, there are so many Brits around here (we live in La Feuillee, Finistere) that making friends, really good ones, has been a doddle and the fact you are single will matter not one jot. The mairie, like others have said on here, are extremely helpful and we have English people on the mairie here, who are experienced at helping with all sorts of stuff.

with regard to practicalities, one has to think about certain things if one is a single lady. If you choose a property with large land that needs managing you may need either equipment to do it yourself or someone local that has that equipment that can come and do it for you. You may however be able to "barter" which we do here a lot - you do something for them (ooo-er-missus!!) and they help you out in return. I do sewing for folk and a neighbour helps cut the field, another friend lends us a log splitter, I make some curtains etc etc -works a treat. With cars and stuff, breakdown cover is included in your insurance so you don't have to worry about being stuck somewhere, most of the doctors and dentists here in Brittany seem to speak English pretty well and although our French aint brill we get by very well indeed.

The winters here are quite long and can be wet, so having an indoor hobby makes them go a lot faster, but the main advantage of being here is the ability to hop back to the UK easily and quickly for supplies, visiting family etc.

I am one half of a unit, but even if I wasn't, I would still have come here without a doubt, as it is a better life than I had in England by a long chalk. Making friends and getting things sorted for a new life takes effort wherever one is, but here we found folk that had similar values, similar interests, and were not so "driven" and ambitious and socially upwardly mobile as in UK, which suits us far better - living a peaceful simple life here is easier and more acceptable if you get my drift!

Good luck whatever you decide to do, but in your shoes, I would not hesitate for one minute ...........

Andy

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

OOps, sorry, just re-read your post and realised he aint dead, just going to be an ex!!!!!!!!! Doesnt change what I said though, you go girl!!!!!!!!

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

You know I think there is a call for relationship counselling with a chainsaw;) Bring you own bin bags though.:lol:

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Hello again

Thank you everyone for your very helpful replies which have given me lots of thinking about. Having just adapted to single life after a very very long marriage, I can appreciate that being a single women in France may well offer similar challenges. Have ordered Fidelman Cook's book and have started reading her newspaper column, so I have heaps to learn!!

Although I love living in a semi-rural area, I seem to spend a lot of time driving to a nearby city to socialise. So living in or near a town is definitely in my agenda when I move.

So will keep posting, and develop my masterplan!!? Anymore thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

:rofl:
I have a suitable reply for that chainsaw gag but would be more suitable for the rendez vous methinks!:D

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Sorry about the post above, We are prone to deviating from time to time. Nothing is insurmountable and to be honest a change of scenery can be quite refreshing.;) Living in or at least near a town would be best from the single point of view even for couples the loneliness of the countryside can turn them stir crazy after a while.

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

All I can say is go for it!

If you make the effort to get out and talk to your new French neighbours when you move there will be plenty to do and get invited to.

If you want some Brits to talk to, there are plenty of areas that have large numbers of them with British clubs and associations.

Just find an area you like and go!

Bonne courage :thumbup:

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Andy, I wouldn't be at all surprised what you're into organising. If that be a group tour of Babel, I bet somewhere there's a visit to Sodom & Gomorra in the itinerary.........:;)

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Not me m8 - too lazy by half! A happy follower, that's me, and then if it all goes "tango uniform" so to speak, not my fault!:)

Ratty girl, have you considered buying or long-term leasing one of those motor home things? Think the French call them camping cars - it's a great way to just go off wherever you want, take maps, you can travel around and find places you like and have the flexibility to stay on there and investigate, you are mobile, complete freedom to go where you want when you want and no accommodation charges?

We have heard of a number of folk who have done this - indeed some people who settled hereabouts originally were passing through on their way across France - they eventually just came back here and thought "yep, this is it" and moved here.

Might work for you?

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Hi

Do you require a companion
My wife left me
and I cant wait to get back to France

Morris

Re: Single Woman Moving to France
 

Welcome to the Forum Morris, Where about's in France will you be?