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In 2001 as a Brit and therefore a EU citizen, I purchased a house in France, jumped in my car, with my furniture following, and that was it. And I've been here ever since. If I did it now, thanks to that act of national self harm known as Brexit, I would have to jump through just as many hoops as Americans or citizens of any other country outside the EU. Brexit is an utter disaster: economically, socially and culturally.

My husband and I are in our early 70s and want to move to France. Would Carolyn be open to email questions?

Well you present examples of retired people living in the most beautiful parts of France, mostly in small cities It’s certainly a good choice for this kind of people but it would be interesting to show people who start a new job in France uzes or La Creuse are definitely great places for people searching for a quiet life but they are also very quiet in terms of jobs and economic activities 😅

I've been living in France 15 years and I've still to come across the so called "bureaucracy" issues. There are systems in place as in many countries and obviously different. People would rather blame the "bureaucracy" than their lack of language which in 99% of cases is the real issue. I've lived and worked in three countries, England, Canada and France with the latter being by far the easiest to navigate. From access to visas, healthcare and even planning permissions for housing - so much easier.

guys comes to France without mastering the language, awfulll invaders!

I enjoy watching English programmes to keep up with my English , and not very long ago I saw television documentary about English immigrants who said that they had come to Dordogne to live the French way of life , and also that they didn’t need to learn French as they nearly always shopped online or bought from English owned shops and there was actually a couple who said that they called the Dordogne , Little England , so much for wanting to experience our French way of life .

Welcome in France, in Dordogne. I’m French, I live in Normandy in Rouen and I’m also about to start to looking for a property in the exact same area of Sarlat from next September. I hope you will enjoy you French life and I wish you the best. La Bienvenue à vous.

Have you learn and try pétanque ??😅😅

Wow ! I'm french and love such great humility and mindset !

A very inspiring interview - thank you Carolyn!

This information is so very helpful! Thank you 😀. It’s very nice to see a fellow American who cares about French etiquette, and makes it a goal to fit in. Best of luck to you going forward.

I hear so many mention the political scene in the US as a catalyst for moving to France, which surprises me b/c the political climate isn't that different in France. And it's getting worse. I lived in France most of my 20s, and always planned to go back permanently, regardless of politics or anything else, when my kids left home. For me it's the public transportation, the TGV (I can be in Barcelona in 50 minutes for 30 Euros), the low housing costs, the fact that it goes without saying that you're going to take a big fat weeks-long vacation every summer & you're employer isn't going to hold a grudge about it, no grief re: medical care & insurance... the lifestyle, in other words. But the politics definitely are not a plus.

Thank you for the book recommendation! Just bought it on Amazon 😊

I am also planning to move to a small village in Southwestern France next year. This brings a comfort to knowing so many are doing the same. Listening to their experiences is an education and a joy❣️ Today is Bastille Day and I wish I was there now 🇫🇷 Bonne Fete Nationale 🎆 0:11

What services does the French Connection HCB offer? Do they help with finding housing?

Ah c'est très joli la Creuse, très calme, mais y a rien du tout.

Creuse is effectivly a good place to live if you are looking for a peaceful life... France itself is a beautiful country but we have a disastrous political class...🙁

You know we Frenchies loathe arse-lickers. Besides ask yourself why so many French young people emigrate to America. The career opportunities for the young people are dismal here like in all of South Europe. No the grass is definitely not greener here for most people.

I've got all this in the US, as well as air conditioning.

Bonjour, la creuse est le département le moins peuplé de france...mais assez joli

Welcome..

I don't quite understand why it was difficult to get an internet connection or electricity supply. We had no problem at all in that regard. On arrival in France, we purchased SIM cards from Orange and then a full internet subscription once we had found a house, purchased it and moved in. The electricity via EDF was not a problem.

I live just 90km away from this lady. One of the criteria which determined our move, apart from house prices, was population density and crime stastics. So I can understand why Carolyn is enjoying Clugnat. She also has reasonable access to Montluçon, Chateauroux and Limoges. Carolyn also mentions that her small commune of 600 people has a library - this is common in France and was also one of our important criteria. I wish Carolyn a long and happy life in Clugnat.

I am loving these videos. Perhaps an idea for a future one is how someone actually ships their belongings to France. This kind gentleman state he moved "two pallets" of belongings to France. Boxes stacked on top of each other and shrunk wrap? Shipped how and by whom? I think most people would opt for a pod, a metal container with double doors on one end where furniture, boxes and etc. are placed and shipped by some vessel. Any companies that did well for someone? There is also the shipping box by box, again, how was this done, who did they use?

What a lovely lady Carolyn is. So real and unaffected. A kind heart always shines brightly.

I would love to move here🤗

Why should you be angry because you can’t eat early in a French restaurant? It’s a cultural aspect of the country. French people are Latin and as such we dine much later (but much earlier than Spanish) than in the US or Great Britain. I lived 10 years in the US and was chocked that restaurants close so early at 9 pm. But you know what, the US is not going to change their culture because in my native country it is different. When you decide to move in a foreign country you need to adapt to the new culture and not expect that this country is going to change its culture for you. If not why should you even bother traveling if you want that France is like in Great Britain? I’m confused here.

Did you obtain a French driver's license? If so, was it difficult?

Oh! To be 75 again!

Will somebody pronounce "CREUSE" properly ! It rhymes with "hers" in English !

Welcome to you in our beautiful country. I wish you a happy life here

When you pass your young days buiding your familly while your siblings & friends trips & move to foreign lands, you early feel rooted. Those days pass & all along somewhere in your mind you kept this idea to challange & adapt yourself to a new life. A french citizen may leave france to embrace your nation lifestyle aswell.

Welcome to France Carolyn !

J'ai 77 ans et j'aime le courage et la détermination de cette dame. Je vis loin en France dommage, il doit être plaisant de faire sa connaissance. En cas d'intérêt de sa part...

Excellent interview et bonne chance à tous ceux qui viennent vivres en France pour une nouvelle vie

Another excellent posting. I assure you that the days of welcoming the new neighbors with a homemade cake or offer of friendship are long gone in the US. I moved from Annapolis Maryland to Cape May six years ago and i had to knock on neighbors’ doors and introduce myself. Bizarre isn’t it? He’s so correct about restaurant reviews, Especially those done by RUclipsrs. My best experiences have been the cafés and bistros i simply walked into especially for cafe in the morning. Stand at the counter, say bonjour Madame Or Monsieur, ask for “une café sil vous plais” with a cognac. Go several mornings and you’ll soon be a regular. Your cafe and cognac will appear in minutes. I do that every morning at the local café no matter what the town ..A great way to fit in. Joe and Frenchie Gigi retired in Cape May.

But how do you get round the visa restrictions regarding staying in France as you can only stay for 90 days in every 180. I left France (aged 67) for this reason, when brexit took place, as I would need an additional home elsewhere (eg UK) to spend the 90 days outside France. USA like UK is a third country and this restriction applies throughout the EU

Bravo à vous madame , vous êtes très courageuse , gentille et humble , les Français sont très heureux de recevoir des gens bien comme vous , bon courage à vous !

❤😎👍👋

I’m loving this interview.I’m 71 and ready to make the move to France! What she has done is exactly the life I want.

I am only worried they won’t give me a long term visa since I am over 80, though healthy. Do you know of anyone who moved to France in their 80s? Not likely, I guess

Congrats to Carolyn on doing this on her own. I love her humble attitude to embracing a simpler life. Well done!

Nice story, I’m trying to talk my parents into doing something like this! Inspirational

The so-called '' American Dream '' is to GET OUT OF THE US to LIVE in Europe !!

Love to watch you,and if I move I will contact you

So why is she not video tapped in her own house?

Looking 5 years now. So much deception in real estate marking. So much divsions of properties. Changing of price to buy the complete villa that was created to sustain the expenses of the villa. Is so sad to see the huge neglect of rual farms and ruins everywhere in France. Its is a survival skill to be there still looking for something that has been maintained without cheap ikea fitted kitchens and expensive marble bath rooms, while letting the exterior plaster walls are soaking and turning moldy and falling off the same house that they've installed a $5,000 marble bathroom in. There are greedy people in France that are not doing smart things with otherwise viable property. You got parked disappoints me I feel the immobilers are ruining everything.

This woman is excellent and so brave! I wish I could visit her or be her pen pal as we transition to France.

Nice, keep the good work !

These videos are so helpful. Thanks to all who participate and prepare them.