Moving home from the U.K. to France.?

Question

Can anyone who has moved to France on a permanent basis give me the pro's and the con's. I have been to France many times and the idea is so tempting.
I have not just had holidays there, but have spent time in rural areas I.E.REAL FRANCE!. All the Brits i have met out there seem so happy with their choice and it makes good sense to join them.

Answer 1

If you are financially independent and able to move without burning bridges (so to speak) then you increase your chance at expat success.

Negatives - it is really tedious to get something done if you aren't fluent in the language. (For instance, I currently need to print two pieces of paper, fax one paper, and photocopy 3 papers. If I were at home, I'd go to Kinkos. Not only do I not know where to go, I don't even know who to ask, nor how to say fax or enlarge. I can't even look in the phone book because I have no idea what a place with these services would be called.) These things aren't insurmountable, but something that would take me 15 minutes at home will take me 3 days here. These issues fade with time, and chances are the expats you spoke to have been here long enough to have forgotten the birthing pains.

One of the biggest, worst negatives you run into anywhere is that there are some expats who moved without a viable or sustainable income. They are desperate and will stoop like vultures on you, the newbie expat who needs help and has no contacts.
These are often the people you meet first, and they are the most welcoming. My advice is to steer well clear of anyone who acts like they've just met their new best friend. There's a reason why they don't have any friends despite being in the area for years - they aren't nice people. You really need to be a bit insular to be happy as an expat from the start. You do eventually make friends, but it take a while. The same as it would if you moved to a new part of the UK.

Of all the expats I've known (and I've known a lot - here and in Greece) the happiest are the ones who could go back but choose not to - and the most discontented are the ones who would go back but they can't. Usually this is because they jumped in with both feet and can't afford to move or live in the UK anymore.

Lastly, there are lots of happy expats - that's true. But take what they tell you with a grain of salt. For instance, if they are involved in either the tourist or expat business, they almost have to say "it's great!." Nobody wants to buy from an unhappy seller.

Good luck with your decision.

Answer 2

You are obviously not after negative answers, and the people you have talked to have given you positive answers, so why not just go for it?
You know yourself what the 'pros' are.
Cons:- do you intend to work in France, (or commute to U.K.), if so is it economically viable? Do you speak the language? If there are quite a few Brits in the area, it may not seem important, but believe me it is. Have you adequate medical cover, (and not just the E111). Etc. Etc.

Answer 3

You incomers are all the same!