Retiring in France: My Story

Thirteen years ago, I packed a bag, some travel money, and a dream, and flew off on a solo trip to the South of France. Destination: Uzès. I wasn’t running away, and I certainly wasn’t planning on retiring in France. I was simply following a spark of curiosity that had been lit two years earlier when I visited Uzès for just one unforgettable market day.

The Barefoot Blogger began as a diary—a way to remember every discovery, flavor, and magical place I visited. My first post, So It Begins, was a simple outline of my six-week adventure—nothing fancy. I was just a solo woman with a suitcase, a lot of curiosity, and a sense that something special was waiting.

And it was.

Each post that followed told a little more of the story. The weekly visits to the Wednesday and Saturday markets. The sunlight on the old stone walls. The joy of not knowing what tomorrow might bring. By the nineteenth post—Going to Live in France—I’d made a decision. I wasn’t going home. Uzès was home.

Since then, the blog has grown with me. It has gone from diary to guidebook, from tourist to local, from wide-eyed wanderer to someone who now gets to say, “ Live your dream.”

I never set out to inspire anyone. But if you’re reading this and wondering, “Could I really move to France?”—let me be your answer. Yes. You can.

Thirteen years later, I’m still here. Still learning. Still falling in love with this place every single day. And still writing—to remember it all, and to share it with you.

Here’s to sketchy plans, bold decisions, and the beautiful unknown.

Now, please enjoy the video that inspired me to write this blog post. It popped up on Facebook Memories this week. I hope it gives you the courage to follow your dreams.

The feature drawing was created by an Australian friend and artist, Karen McAllister. Thanks, also, to Lisa Kaslyn, formerly of Boomer Patrol, for the interview and encouragement!