Retire in France

"There are lots of cultural activities in our region as we are close to both Carcassonne and Narbonne, not too far from the coast with beautiful vineyards for miles around. Lots of easy walks and the Canal du Midi to walk along. Idylic on a fine spring or summer day, and not that bad in winter either if well wrapped up against the cold. It does get cold her in the South of France in the winter which many people do not count on. We did our research and knew we could have temperatures of -15C at times between November and March. However, it is usually a fairly dry if cold winter," remarked one retiree in Aude and Herault Departments.

"You will be alone as French do not accept foreigners. They make no time for them. The friends French make are made when they are in grade school. That's ok if you like quiet and time to think and read. There are also no medical generalist in Essonne Department to take on new patients. We rely on SOS Doctors. Govt is aware of the problem, but nothing is done about it," said a retiree who moved to France.

"Retirement in France and its surrounds offers retirees an array of cultural experiences, much to explore and vibrant cities and towns to call home. In France, expatriate retirees enjoy rural and traditional life, with many small towns and villages offering gorgeous vintage streets and iconic architecture. In the major cities, retirees can enjoy an active and often glamorous lifestyle with parks, museums, theatres and more. For those who choose a more rural life, there are plenty of activities such as fishing, farming, bike riding and hiking. No matter the location, retirees living in France will be able to find various social activities such as lectures and cooking classes. There are also plenty of festive nightlife options too, with musical performances, street festivals and other cultural events taking place frequently," said one retiree in France.

"We have a large expat, multi-national community since this is a popular retirement area," commented one retiree living in Pezenas, France.

"We have had to accept that despite wanting to assimilate into the French community, this is difficult because of our limited language skills. We go to lessons 2xpw. but it is taking a long time to improve. At 69 & 74 we are unable to learn as quickly or retain information as easily as people much younger. However, there is an expat community which we dip into now and again, and may have to dip into more if we wish to socialise more. Until our French language skills have increased greatly, we will be limited to fairly stilted conversations with our French neighbours and other villagers. But, we will persevere," said one retiree in Aude and Herault Departments.

"A resident 5-year resident, house owner, (live here 6 months in the year), dual passport holder, US and Canadian. I can say that the previous post represents a cynically worded and narrow view of Pézenas. It is a delightful village with a lovely, diverse, peaceful and respectful community which includes Americans, Canadians, Belgians, Dutch, German, British, and many others. It welcomes its diversity and its residents are friendly, generous and supportive," commented one retiree living in France.

"1. Navigating France’s complex retirement and pension system can be challenging. 2. Learning French if you are not already fluent can be a daunting obstacle. 3. Obtaining residency and becoming familiar with the tax laws and bureaucracy may seem overwhelming. 4. Cost of living in France can be expensive and many retirees may struggle to make ends meet with a limited pension income. 5. Accessing quality health care services after retirement can be an issue, due to the length of waiting times and its associated costs," explained a retiree in France.

"First, the language. Second,the paperwork and rules. Meeting my neighbors was the easiest. I now know more people here than I did in either of my US homes," explained one retiree living in Pezenas.

"The relaxed lifestyle, friendliness of the locals, having lots of places to visit in a beautiful and varied part of the country, with easy access back to the UK and to other EU countries if we wish. Although health has been an issue since we arrived, the medical treatment has been first class. We enjoy a quiet lifestyle, but there is plenty to do to tempt us out all year round," said a retiree who moved to Aude and Herault Departments, France.

"First, the people. Next, the cultural opportunities available (there are weekly free or inexpensive concerts). I live near Roman roads, Greek temples, beautiful churches and old wine villages," said one retiree in Pezenas.

"Our GP is absolutely wonderful. the best doctor we have ever had and we had some good ones back in the UK. The specialists we have had to see in the last 3 yrs have also all be excellent and the notion of a waiting list is virtually unheard of. If you need physiotherapy, then an appointment is usually avavailable within a couple of days, rather than weeks," explained a retiree in Aude and Herault Departments.

"I have been nicely surprised on how big the community of expats is in France. We are lucky to have: meetup.com/cities/fr/lyon/ - smaller groups of expats who organizes meetings close to their interests onlylyon.com - very useful for info and events happening in Lyon internations.org/start, which actively organizes events for expats," said a retiree who moved to Lyon, France.

"I am newly resident in Nice but have been coming and gong for years. I've met a few people by taking the initiative and striking up conversations with people I meet: shopkeepers, realtors, etc. (A great way to practice your language skills too!) While I've noticed that people here will almost never make the first move, they seem happy to chat once I've asked a question or made a comment, even if just about the weather. I like to return to the same places, especially if the person strikes me as someone I might like to know better, and once we've attained a level of familiarity I invite them for a coffee or aperitif, maybe in the context of being here alone and finding it hard to meet people. I've done this 4 times now and never been turned down. I've now got a regular Saturday lunch companion, occasional cups of tea or meals with 2 others, and one who didn't pan out. Next step is joining the hiking club and so on. Even the French who have come here from elsewhere have told me it took them 5 years to feel truly part of life here, so patience and persistence is definitely called for," said one retiree in France.

"There is a club for English speaking women which welcomes all nationalities of woman who speak English or want to improve their English. It's called the International Women's Club. They organize coffees, book reviews, activities for children and outings for the women members like visits to other cities," commented one retiree living in Orleans, France.

"Expats living in France often join clubs and activities that are specific to their interests. Depending on their location, expats can join French language groups, hiking groups, cultural immersion groups, book clubs, business groups, wine tasting groups, and more. Other ways that expats meet people when living in France include attending community events, finding volunteer opportunities, and connecting with local networks and expat communities," explained one retiree living in France.

"Since we are retired, our lives do not revolve around a job or company. We socialize with our neighbors and have developed some very close friends among them. Of course, it helps if you speak French. We socialize with families with children although we don't have children ourselves. There isn't any problem with that," said one retiree in living in Orleans, France.

"LUNCH! French take their time over lunch so if you go shopping between 12:00 & 2:30, expect the shop to be shut or under staffed," explained a retiree in Strasbourg.

"Well, firstly - great to hear that there is nothing to wait for. Just start learning some French...take few documents with yourself as France seems to like red tape very much and you need papers for everything! Take some birth certificates for sure. Don't worry about the accommodation because here in Lyon you will get many estate agencies to help you out and they speak English! And mostly...read some blogs, forums, expats websites which will provide you with the up to date info," commented one retiree living in Lyon, France.

"In France, residents enjoy a variety of recreational facilities, such as public parks, beaches, and outdoor sports facilities. There are also many cultural attractions, such as museums, galleries, and theatres. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as camping and fishing spots. For those who prefer indoor activities, there are bowling alleys, arcades, and indoor swimming pools. Additionally, France is home to a number of ski resorts, offering a variety of winter sports activities," said one retiree in living in France.

"There are several youth and culture centers (MJCs: Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture) that offer classes and social opportunities on topics like guitar, dance, English, pottery, martial arts, etc. There is also an Olympic pool, great hiking in nearby La Bresse, and several very nice parks within the city (the city rose garden, the park that houses the castle on top of the hill)," wrote one person in Epinal.

"In the downtown area there's a MonoPrix and a Intermarche, and a bit further but still within town is a large E. LeClerq with plenty of selection, There's also a covered marketplace open on Sundays in town, where all the locals prefer to buy fresh cheese, fish, meat, produce, etc. And of course there are plenty of boulangeries for fresh bread and pastries," remarked one retiree in Epinal.

"People living in France typically buy groceries from supermarkets, local markets, and specialty stores. Other shopping can be done at department stores, boutiques, and online retailers," explained one member in France.