One Year In France

It has been some time since I wrote my last blog which hasn’t even been posted yet as I have been working with my team on building a new website to support the launch of a new business with me fully stepping into more unified offerings based on all of my skills but more to come on that in the coming weeks.

When I last wrote I had been prompted by a friend to utilize AI to help me narrow down my village options based on all of my criteria. Based on a deep dive down the AI rabbit hole back in June I changed my plans and decided to spend the month of August in a small village in Provence and use this time to scout out this area.

What I drove into on that Saturday was a lively village with the central square full of people. People out walking, shopping and visiting at the local cafes, it was busy and full of life. I set an intention that day that the village and its people reveal itself to me.

My Airbnb was on the edge of the village just outside of the old town on the backside of the hill with a Citadel on the top. I quickly fell in love with the fact that no matter which direction I walked from my Airbnb I could find myself looking out over stunning views of the valleys beyond.

During that first week, I found on the village Facebook group an announcement that an English speaking book club was just getting started so I reached out and joined in. Quickly that led me to meeting several of the ladies for coffee which then sprouted a second group that meets each Friday at one of the many village cafes for coffee. It was pure magic, I instantly had a sizable community and building friendships. These amazing ladies have been patient as I have asked for vet and pet grooming recommendations and the general “where do I find” questions that are inevitable as you get acquainted somewhere.

Within a week, I have to tell you that I just had this feeling of being at home. I reviewed my criteria, I am within an hour of large cities with all kinds of activities and travel links to reach all of Europe and flights to the US while at the same time this place had the bohemian, laid back vibe that I was looking for, a welcoming atmosphere with 80 different nationalities living in this area. I had truly found a unique gem, a place that I could call home.

One day while visiting with my Airbnb host in french I asked her if she knew of a long term rental property, she said that she would give it some thought. A week or so later I also posted that question in the village Facebook group. I knew that I wanted to settle here and take my time before buying something but I wanted a long term rental. There seemed to be lots of options for rentals over the winter months with most people wanting to Airbnb their rentals during the height of tourist season. A week or so later I received a message from my host that she had something that she wanted to show me.

As it turned out, her father in-law’s villa across the street from my current Airbnb was split into two homes. It was a beautiful property that Paolo and I walked by everyday, perched on the hillside it had incredible views over the valley.

I went to see it, three bedrooms with one set up as a bedroom shared with an office space. A beautiful terrace overlooking the valley, it was perfect. When I had come through the gate into the property, my host had told me that the entire garden had a barrier so I could let Paolo off his leash, as he explored the yard, I explored the house. When I walked back outside onto the terrace to take in the view, I realized that I had one very happy Italian greyhound running at top speed from one side of the yard to the other, I knew in that moment that this was a magical find.

With the help of an amazing friend who was visiting from the US for a couple of weeks at the beginning of September, I rented a moving truck and drove to the Lot-et-Garonne and emptied my storage unit. Paolo and I have been in our new house for a week now and while I am still very much surrounded by boxes, we are finally getting settled.

With french administration continuing to work at its pace, I had my visa renewal appointment at the end of August. An appointment that I had worried about for months and quadruple checked all the additional documents that they had requested to make sure that I hadn’t forgotten anything. It was a huge lesson as I walked out of that appointment at the prefecture in Agen after a total of 10 minutes, I vowed then and there to stop worrying about this administrative process as much as I had been because clearly I was the only one worried about it, the administration was not at all. 10 minutes to have my fingerprints taken, my passport validated, my documents thumbed through and to hear, everything looks good, now you wait and we will get back to you. At some point I will get a notice that I need to go to the prefecture and pick up my carte de sejour, in the meantime I have a temporary extension of my current visa that is good until February.

I did also hear from ANTS (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) regarding my driver’s license exchange, they requested two additional documents both of which I thankfully had so I uploaded those to their portal and am now back in waiting mode on that as well, at some point I expect to hear that I will need to send in my current license and they will send me my new French license.

It is strange how in some areas of my life I have sworn off waiting, wanting to make the absolute most of the life that I have and in other areas I am being forced to accept that with somethings it is okay to wait. I think the difference is where the power is held. If I own the power in the decision, then I don’t want to wait, I want to embrace the choice and live to the fullest. Where I simply don’t hold the power of the decision, then adapting a wait but don’t worry about it approach seems to be the healthiest and most energy efficient.

I find it deeply meaningful to question everything and ponder the questions of life. I find it helpful to use these questions to continue to grow and become a better human. The following are a few questions that you may want to ponder in your own journal, morning commute or mid-day walk.

• Where in your life and for what are you waiting?
• In the areas that you are waiting, are any of these within your power to decide?
• Are you clear about why you are waiting?
• Are you currently expending any energy worrying about something that you cannot control the outcome of? Be conscious of these and try to shift your energy to releasing the worry.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like it delivered to your inbox when it comes out, please subscribe. If you know someone who would enjoy my blog, I would appreciate it if you would share it.

With so many things happening throughout the month of August and early September I was forced to move out the launch of my YouTube Channel and the update of my website. As I complete this blog, my target is to begin to launch certain pieces throughout October so you will see more details as we work through the plan.

Take care of yourselves. I am including some images of the views that I get to enjoy each day, I hope you enjoy them too.

In love,

Renée