questions for the 'frenchies'

[TonyF]

Some things in France are cheaper - diesel for one and in a rural area, that's important.
Taxes are also lower, both personal and council type taxes and house wise, it's a buyers market.

Spending 6 months here is not enough because you're not subjected to the full weight of French bureaucracy, nor now are you allowed to work here and you may find health care prohibitive.

For the younger, working people here life is still not good, unemployment is rising faster than it is in the UK in many areas and a lot of Brits are trying to sell up, even those with incomes from pensions (and not just state pensions, poeople with good private pensions) because they're so worried about the future here.

But, things here are not improving, especially for the young and if my kids (now in their late 30s and 40) told me they were thinking of coming here, I'd do everything I could to dissuade them.

[quark1]

I don't live in France - but like you have often thought about it.

I would think that one way you might be able to guage whether or not it if you you and your family would be to have a long stay over there - perhaps a year+. You could rent out your current home which would hopefully cover any financial commitments outstanding with even a little left over towards rental of a French property. You may even find in time that the property you rent may be offered for sale and you could dive in if it turns out to be right for you. This will give you long enough to experience at first hnd the French way of life throughout the seasons, the people and also job prospects and schooling etc.

On the other hand - if it should not live up to your expectations - and we all have different criteria - you would only have to wait until the contract expires on your UK rental to return to Blighty. Whatever you decide I hope it all goes well.

[janeyo]

Thanks quark, sensible words

[Nicos]

Just a thought...

..have you looked into the method of French teaching???

It seems to me ..as an academic outsider.... that French kids seem to learn verbatim and do loads and loads of role play...as opposed to a more 'free thought' approach in the UK.
Maybe you need to think about your children's education as well as location and way of life???...depends on how strong you feel about the approach to teaching!

I do a bit of teaching on a voluntary basis and find the kids well behaved- but not as 'open' as UK kids .