Hi,
Sorry this is long.
Have just read through this post I have always thought it wonderful when people want to do something different and experience new things in life, my family moved to France four years ago now I had the benefit of my husband is French and from the area we live in, life here is of a better quality you can relax and enjoy life more the weather is fantastic and it does save on shelving out for holidays overseas every year and it's fantastic learning a new language and seeing how others live, it's nice to know my children will speak two languages. You can go skiing in the morning and be back home in time to go to the beach in the afternoon, there is easy access to neighbouring countries which is great and all by car it's like driving from London to Manchester. You get to spend more time with your family and you can leave the rat race behind.
But.... there's always a but, with the sweet comes the bitter, France is a hard place to live especially if you don't speak the language although you say you have your parents living there which will make things a little easier for you, the French bureaucracy is the most frustrating part of living here and nothing to do with paper work can just be done simply and without stress, the tax you pay here will give you a heart attack and after you have a heart attack you will have to pay for the privilage of them saving your life at the hospital (no NHS system here, you can claim back a percentage here as long as you are CCSS registered, again with the paper work), You have to have insurance for everything and crime is on the up. Opening a business is near impossible because of all of the above and most fold within the first year. Unemployment is very high and wages are low, cost of living can be very high and don't expect to get home comforts from the supermarket that we brits like they will cost a fortune (example, a bar of Cadburys whole nut will cost you around 2.00€
. If you come from a big city and used to getting everyday things done quickly you wont, get used to everything being a slow service, companies, shops, everything. The housing is another issue you will have to get used to along with finding the right place to live get used to being shell shocked with the standard of houses here it is
not to Uk standards. Apart from eating all that lovely Med food don't expect to be able to get take away food Indian, fish and chips, anything easily especially if you don't live in one of the major cities this goes for general house hold stuff also. You have to drive or life is impossible here, Many people along with myself after the glee of living here has worn off find themselves very very home sick and depressed especially in winter. The French, and this is not to be rude to the French but my opinion and lots of expats living here, are very rude and think themselves above everyone else and you will have to prove yourself to them to be accepted. Life is not always greener.
I myself know that even though I love living here and I have a very good life financially and socially and enjoy so much of the French way and probably will for many years, this will never be my home and it is just a period of my life when I will say " I lived in France for many years". My son was born here my husband is French so I will always have a strong connection with the country but I am British at heart.
Of course these feelings do not go for everyone that live here some do intergrate very well and find there time here a great pleasure always and don't mind the bad points although you have to be a hard nut fot it to not get to you, but generally they are the ones who are not moving from their home country because they want to get away from "their lives" they are the ones who want to experience different cultures. The best advice I could give is if you want to live in France do not sell up in the UK but rent out your home and keep that as an income to rent a property in France and until you are sure you want to stay. Get all the paperwork sorted and research everything before you go don't leave any stone unturned, take a few trips during the year before you move in different seasons so you get a feel of the area and how it changes throughout the year. Try and learn a good level of conversation French before you go it will help you so much. Learn the local customs this is important the French take it so seariously. A good website to look at is AngloInfo.com it is the best forum for British expats living in France and is filled with info on everything you will need to know.
Good luck and if you need any info please PM me.
