My New Life in France

I retired in June of 2024 after working for over 45 years. I rented out my condo in Toronto, sold or gave away nearly all of my belongings and, one month later, moved to France.

For several reasons, I want to document my first year: I want to keep my friends and family informed, I want to look back on the year to remind myself of how far I’ve come and, just maybe, help someone else who has similar goals.

  • Une belle vie
    Hi there – I’m still here! I’ve been quiet online but my days have been anything but. After I published my last post, I realized it was time to stop looking at life through the lens of how to talk about it, and just start living it. Makes sense, right? It felt like the final decision I had to make to fully embrace my new life in France. Here are some highlights from the last few months.
  • One Year!
    It’s been a year, and what a year it’s been! Circling back to the theme of this site, I’m taking a thousand foot view of my story as it threaded across the loom in the last 12 months. The weaving is made of very bright colours. A few dark streaks represent struggles and challenges, there is green for growth, blues for the skies and sea, yellow, red and pink for everything that bloomed – flowers, friendship and adventure. And what a story the weaving tells!
  • Week 51
    This was simply an ordinary week. A good week. The weather was perfect, I went to the Monday night wine tasting, got in a few workouts at the gym, enjoyed a couple of morning group coffees and had an afternoon by the pool with a friend. Life has become routinely wonderful. In next week’s blog, I’ll recap this incredible year I’ve had. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from around Pézenas and a song that tells a beautiful story.
  • Week 50
    This week, I celebrate connection and a national holiday. It’s week 50!
  • Week 49
    Wine, weights, weather and a not-so-introverted introvert. This is week 49!
  • Week 48
    It’s becoming increasingly difficult to write something meaningful every week – I take it as a sign that I’m settling nicely into my new life. I made a commitment to myself that I would post once a week for my first year in France. With only a few weeks left, I’m giving some thought to what the blog might look like in its next iteration. For today’s post, I’ve got some comments on our heatwave and a French Canadian song about ‘les hirondelles’.
  • Week 47
    It was good to come home after nearly two weeks away. And it really does feel like home. In contrast to my longer posts of the last two weeks, I’m keeping this one brief. And I’ve got a great 80s video for this week’s song!
  • Louis Vuitton Foundation and David Hockney Exhibit
    I went to see the David Hockney exhibit in the Louis Vuitton Foundation’s Frank Gehry building in the Bois de Boulogne park. There’s a lot going on in that sentence – let me break it down. Bois de Boulogne Park This park covers 2088 acres and has a long and storied history. It was home … Continue reading Louis Vuitton Foundation and David Hockney Exhibit
  • Père Lachaise Cemetery
    I love cemeteries. I love the tranquillity and the history. I love the stories and the way generations of families are honoured in one place. And I love seeing them as a great equalizer. No matter how ornate the grave, or how obscure and unremarkable the life, all were simply human in the end. All … Continue reading Père Lachaise Cemetery
  • Week 46
    What a week! It’s been hot in Paris, but I’ve made the most of my time here. I’m actually publishing three posts today. I had two remarkable days that deserve their own posts – my visits to the Père Lachaise Cemetery and to the David Hockney exhibit in the Louis Vuitton building. Rather than send out three separate emails to subscribers, I’ve added intros and links close to the bottom of this post. I took a lot of photos this week and this seemed to be the best way to manage content. Thank you for your indulgence!
  • Week 45
    I’ve been in Paris since Tuesday. It’s been 14 years since my last, visit. That trip was my first time in Europe and my first solo trip. How things have changed! With a lot of solo travel now under my belt and over 10 months living in France, I’m having a much different experience. I find myself feeling halfway between tourist and resident. I don’t belong, but I don’t not. It’s a curious feeling. It was also my birthday this week – I can’t think of a better gift than to hang out in the City of Light! I have another week here but want to share what I’ve been up to in the past 4 days.
  • Week 44
    Well, the week has finally arrived where I have nothing to say. When I committed to blogging once a week for my first year, I wondered if I would make it. I love that I got all the way to week 44 before I really came up empty. So, this week I’m sharing a few words of gratitude for the nature around me, and I’ve got a few photos. Next week will be a different story!
  • Week 43
    I’ve been busy this week. Busy with fun! I watched a petanque tournament, went to a rugby match and spent an afternoon at the beach. It felt good to have no tasks or goals and to step out of my head for a change. The blog this week is mostly just photos – I have a feeling this will become the norm for the next few months. I hope so. Summer is upon us and it’s time for fun!
  • Week 42
    I’ve had another quiet week. I joined a gym, spent time on my balcony and started to discover more of the countryside around Pézenas. Life is good. I don’t have much to talk about in this post, but I have some beautiful photos to share as well as a song that goes way back to my high school years. It was one of my favourite songs – if only I’d known then that I would make it through many rainy days and would one day live in the south of France!
  • Week 41
    I’ve had a quiet week so the blog is brief. I enjoyed a few phone/video calls with friends in Canada and a bit of socializing here. I spent an afternoon in Montpellier so I’m sharing some photos. And the song of the week is a cover of a Prince song. It’s one of those instances where I like the cover better than the original, and this one involves a mandolin!
  • Week 40
    Forty weeks! Forty weeks of joy and excitement, of great effort, fatigue and growing pains. It’s as if I’m birthing my dreams. In this week’s blog, I provide an update on first year administrative tasks, reflect on a mental challenge I had with last Sunday’s big antique sale and post some photos of its eclectic treasures, and celebrate Mother’s Day.
  • Week 39
    It’s been a good week, with fun festivities and an educational outing. In this week’s blog, I share some sights and sounds from a record-breaking event and some photos of the oyster farming process.
  • Week 38
    Brace yourself – I’ve had an introspective week. In this week’s blog, I share what’s on my mind as I finally feel a shift into retirement. I’ve also posted photos from one of my walks and one of my favourite Bruce Cockburn songs.
  • Week 37
    In this week’s blog, I share an update on my driver’s license exchange, talk about some challenges to my organizational skills and celebrate Canadian connections. As always, I’ve included a song and some photos.
  • Week 36
    In this weeks blog, I talk about a setback with my driver’s licence exchange and have some fun with the French language. Also, the south of France is in bloom! Everything is so beautiful, it makes the last couple of month’s of severe allergies worth it!
  • Week 35
    I’ve had a contemplative week. I was a touch homesick and am processing some cultural challenges. I also voted in the Canadian Federal election and I have exciting musical plans for September!
  • Week 34
    I’ve had a good week. I hit another milestone, planted my balcony garden, hosted my first apéro, watched a beautiful yet confusing parade and more. And we had sun!
  • Week 33
    This week was more productive as I accomplished some of the tasks on my to-do list. And I went on an excursion with a group of seniors! Here is this week’s blog.
  • Week 32
    I’ve had a fairly quiet week. I enjoyed time with friends here and in Canada and I successfully avoided nearly all the tasks on my to do list. This week’s blog is light on text but I’ve included a song that soothes when I’m overwhelmed and pictures to show that spring is emerging in the south of France.
  • Week 31
    I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to settle in France. One friend recently commented that many people who make cross-cultural moves hit a wall at the 6-10 month mark. Other friends said that it can take a full 7 years to feel like you belong in a new country. In today’s blog, I look at the cross-cultural cycle of adjustment. I also share an empowering moment of clarity, list some of the things that brought me joy this week and celebrate International Women’s Day with a song.
  • Week 30
    I work on the blog through the week, do a final check on Saturday morning, then post it. Seeing the fear, anxiety and anger expressed by many of my friends on social media this morning gave me pause. I had a good week – an extravagent week – and I don’t want to appear tone deaf. But I also hear from many people that reading the blog is part of their Saturday morning routine and I think routines are important. So I’ve decided to post, in part because the purpose of the blog is to document my life in France, but also in the hope that the photos bring a moment of beauty into your life.
  • Week 29
    I found it very hard to write a post this week. I’m still in the process of moving (spreading it out over a month is not ideal!) so I’m tired and off-kilter. I’m also anxious, like so many others, because of the goings-on in the world. And I didn’t get out of town like I have many other weeks, nor did I take out my camera. I almost gave up on writing it – I figured it was okay to skip a week – but decided that, more than just having a desire to meet my commitment of a weekly blog, I simply needed to write. It’s not my best post – it’s a bit rambling and out of focus like the photo at the top – but I’m posting it as perfectly imperfect.
  • Week 28
    When I started to write the blog earlier this week, it was going to be meaningful and heartfelt. Then I spent the last few days trying to manage a sciatica flare-up and just couldn’t get to it. Instead, I’ll show you a few photos from my new home.
  • Week 27
    As I slowly move my belongings to my new apartment – I’m taking my time and easing into it – I find myself craving familiarity. I’m also a bit homesick so, in this week’s blog, I’m stepping away from France to share photos of and music from Canada.
  • Week 26
    I’m halfway through my first year here! My week was defined by administrative tasks and socializing. I also spent an afternoon in Narbonne taking photos, checking out the architecture and exploring the city’s Roman history.
  • Week 25
    I almost didn’t post a blog this week. I was distracted and didn’t take my weekly trip out of town, so I didn’t think I had any engaging photos. I also didn’t think I had anything to say. Then the week progressed with some exciting news!