Dear Carolyn. Dear Roberto. I’ve been an eager reader for a few of your posts after discovering you through a friend. Thank you so much for your sharing. It’s super interesting for me, an American, living in Bruxelles, with my French husband, whose brother decided to buy an apartment in Montpellier last year, after living in the UK for nearly 45 years... A mouthful! My husband and I are going to Montpellier this September for the weekend - without our dog, btw 🐶. She’ll stay with a friend. I was hoping to invite both or one of you for cafe ou te but see you’ll arrive in October. Despite the French connection we don’t know where to find our hearts’ contentement - location- and I have been so intrigued by your process and insights. I’m especially curious about the move from 3 to 5 mos timing.
So, I’ll keep reading and I wish you best of coincidences as you prepare for October. Thank you again. Jeneva 😊
The back and forth can be really tough! We've been doing 2-month trips but we don't yet have a permanent place in France, which is what we're trying to figure out. Your list was helpful and relatable (especially re: hair color).
Great column! You're really enmeshed some four dimensional chess. Raised my blood pressure thinking about my eventual plans for a longer stay. Bonne chance!
Thinking ahead to our eventual move to France, I’m putting together that you can spend 180 days (5-6 months) in France and then the remaining part of the year outside of the Schengen region, correct? So you go back to the states?
Without a visa you can only spend three months there at a time and then must spend three months outside the Schengen area. You can spend 6 months total but not in a row. We have year long residency visas.
Hi Carolyn - thank you for your post. I’m concerned about the inability to ship medications to France without a possible fee. Is there a specific site where I might get more information on this? I’m must not be looking in the correct area or googling correctly.
I can only tell you what I know from experience. My mom picked up some migraine meds for me in Austin and I believe the pharmacist gave her some special paperwork for shipping meds internationally? She mailed them at a reasonable cost but then the VAT was more than the medication. I paid it because it was worth it to me. There might absolutely be a smarter way to do this!
Hello! I'm a self-employed Austin inhabitant investigating residency in France and Portugal (primarily). Someone in a Marseille expats FB group shared your French politics post, and I've been non-stop reading from the start of your red-tape rollercoaster. I much appreciate your wit, candor, all the gory details of traveling with dogs (I have three cats, god help me), and, not least, the bilingual cussing. Bravo! The Marina Abramovic photo illustration is hysterical. Thank you both!
Thank you! Thank you! It is such fun to
follow along! You are smart to start early on your longer stay.
Dear Carolyn. Dear Roberto. I’ve been an eager reader for a few of your posts after discovering you through a friend. Thank you so much for your sharing. It’s super interesting for me, an American, living in Bruxelles, with my French husband, whose brother decided to buy an apartment in Montpellier last year, after living in the UK for nearly 45 years... A mouthful! My husband and I are going to Montpellier this September for the weekend - without our dog, btw 🐶. She’ll stay with a friend. I was hoping to invite both or one of you for cafe ou te but see you’ll arrive in October. Despite the French connection we don’t know where to find our hearts’ contentement - location- and I have been so intrigued by your process and insights. I’m especially curious about the move from 3 to 5 mos timing.
So, I’ll keep reading and I wish you best of coincidences as you prepare for October. Thank you again. Jeneva 😊
Sorry we will miss you. But I bet you will love it and come back!
Wows!!
You two are such grownups! Love reading about your adventures ❤️
Another good and most thoughtful post for those of us in France!
The back and forth can be really tough! We've been doing 2-month trips but we don't yet have a permanent place in France, which is what we're trying to figure out. Your list was helpful and relatable (especially re: hair color).
Great column! You're really enmeshed some four dimensional chess. Raised my blood pressure thinking about my eventual plans for a longer stay. Bonne chance!
Thinking ahead to our eventual move to France, I’m putting together that you can spend 180 days (5-6 months) in France and then the remaining part of the year outside of the Schengen region, correct? So you go back to the states?
Without a visa you can only spend three months there at a time and then must spend three months outside the Schengen area. You can spend 6 months total but not in a row. We have year long residency visas.
Hi Carolyn - thank you for your post. I’m concerned about the inability to ship medications to France without a possible fee. Is there a specific site where I might get more information on this? I’m must not be looking in the correct area or googling correctly.
Merci beaucoup!
I can only tell you what I know from experience. My mom picked up some migraine meds for me in Austin and I believe the pharmacist gave her some special paperwork for shipping meds internationally? She mailed them at a reasonable cost but then the VAT was more than the medication. I paid it because it was worth it to me. There might absolutely be a smarter way to do this!
I'm pleased that the coming elections may mean that we don't all have to move to another country!
Fingers crossed!!!
Hello! I'm a self-employed Austin inhabitant investigating residency in France and Portugal (primarily). Someone in a Marseille expats FB group shared your French politics post, and I've been non-stop reading from the start of your red-tape rollercoaster. I much appreciate your wit, candor, all the gory details of traveling with dogs (I have three cats, god help me), and, not least, the bilingual cussing. Bravo! The Marina Abramovic photo illustration is hysterical. Thank you both!