Why I moved to France is a question I hear often, especially from Americans over 55 who are considering making the move themselves. In this latest story from my friends and neighbors in France, my long-time friend Paula shares her journey. At 74, she packed six suitcases, her dog Toby, and a lifetime of memories to begin a new life in Uzès. Our paths to France have similarities, but hers took its own unique turns.
Why I Moved to France With Six Suitcases and a Dog
At 74, Paula arrived in France with six suitcases, a dog, and a friend who came along as a bag carrier and dog walker. She sold her house and most of her belongings but kept a storage locker—just in case the “France thing” didn’t work out. With only two years of high school French from the late 1950s, she still took the leap.
Her decision to move to France started years earlier. Back in 2001, she and I met in Beijing through mutual friends in the New York Chorale Society. Fast forward to 2014—Paula had just retired when she saw a post about my own move to France. She wrote, “You are my hero,” and I replied, “Come see me.” That visit planted the seed. Three years later, after selling her house and belongings, she boarded a plane with Toby and headed for Uzès.
Why I Moved to France Without Speaking Fluent French
Paula was no stranger to relocation. She had lived in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., and the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. She’d also traveled extensively for work. Still, why I moved to France without speaking the language came down to one thing: she wanted beauty, community, and a fresh start.
Initially, Uzès wasn’t her first choice. She preferred a town with a train station and more public transportation. But when I learned of friends offering an apartment for a year, I connected them with Paula. One FaceTime call later, she said yes.
Her first night in Uzès sealed the deal: an October evening with leaves turning, a full moon overhead, and a quiet walk with Toby. “Why would I ever live anywhere else?” she thought.
Making the Transition Easier
When people ask her why I moved to France and how she managed the logistics, Paula credits her friend Phillip. He joined her for the trip, helping manage the dog, luggage, and a few days of temporary stays before her apartment was ready. They explored Provins, a charming village in Burgundy, and Pöet-La Lavelle, before settling into Uzès. His help gave her comfort and confidence during the adjustment period.
From Temporary to Permanent
That storage locker she once kept “just in case” is now gone—contents sold. Paula hasn’t been back to the United States, has no plans to return, and feels completely at home in Uzès. She admits the only things she misses are Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx.
Why I Moved to France: Lessons for Other Americans
For Paula, why I moved to France comes down to more than a love of travel. It’s about embracing adventure, listening when life opens a door, and being comfortable with independence. She offers this advice for anyone considering the move:
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Have a sense of adventure.
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Listen when the Universe speaks—you might find the perfect place.
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Be comfortable being alone at first; friendships take time.
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Stay flexible—things work differently here.
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Accept that you’ll make mistakes, and laugh at them.
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Maintain independence but accept help when it’s offered.
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If you can, bring a dog—it’s the easiest way to meet people in your new town.
Final Thoughts on Why I Moved to France
For Paula, the answer to why I moved to France is simple: “It felt like home from the moment I arrived—and it still does.”
Thank you, Paula, for sharing your brave journey with the readers of French Footsteps. Your story is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase new adventures and embrace a dream, even if it leads to to life in a new country. I’m so grateful you took the time to inspire us!
26 Responses
Bonjour Deborah and Paula,
I’m making inroads into returning to France. I will start off in Paris (although winter might scare me to join those in the south). Every day I continue to be confused by the language lessons on Duo, but I keep practicing. Not too much longer till I can say Bon Voyage once again.
Give me regards to Paula.
Hi Sandra, I’m following your decisions and your move with great interest. We all have our own journey. If nothing else, we’ll have stories to share about it all for the rest of our lives. Best of luck, and keep me posted. I’ll pass this onto Paula. Bonne Chance!
Je mange une orange 😵💫me too Duo!
My aging brain finds it difficult, but I can translate your sentence! “I eat an orange” Let’s keep Duo in business! Good luck.
My dream come true! I’m facinated by Uzes and want to visit next year. I’ve loved France since I visited in 1968. Thank you for sharing your story!
Please let Paula and me know when you’re here. Yes, dreams can come true! Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Great info and interesting story of Paula! Keep sending us interesting stories Deb!
So happy you’re enjoying the stories. I’m loving these friends are here!
What a wonderful and inspiring story!
Paula’s story is truly an inspiration. She’s added so much to our community .
Thank you for your insight and inspiration Paula. Next month I will be embarking on a similar journey. I will be taking 2 dogs and 2 suitcases . So many things to think about . Excited but at the same time nervous and overwhelmed but super excited nonetheless. I will be going to Menton . Thank you Deborah and Paula for sharing.
Soraya S.
Love Menton! You have the beautiful Riviera to look forward to. Come up to visit us! Thanks for your note, and best wishes!
Following with great interest! All we gotta do is win the lottery and Aix-en-Provence here we come! Just learned there’s a direct flight to Nice from NYC. Next visit we will probably station in Nice and visit all the friends we made in Aix when we stayed there for 7 weeks last year.
I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the ride! Thanks for your comments … always.
Paula and Deborah,
I just discovered this blog as I am getting up the courage to move, and planning a visit next month. I could retire anytime but when I think about getting rid of everything and starting out in a new country with limited language skills and no friends, I get all shaky inside. Your stories make it all seem possible, even likely!
Thank you for sharing!
Gail
Gail, you sound like every one of us that has made the leap to expat. It’s scary at any age, but do-able. Keep reading and get all the information you need to feel more comfortable. It’s a challenge… but so rewarding. You can always go back! Keep me posted on your journey and let me know how I can help. There are lots of resources for you. Best of luck!
Gail, you sound like every one of us that has made the leap to expat. It’s scary at any age, but do-able. Keep reading and get all the information you need to feel more comfortable. It’s a challenge… but so rewarding. You can always go back! Keep me posted on your journey and let me know how I can help. There are lots of resources for you. Best of luck!
Lovely uplifting story. I lived in France. Got thrown out by now ex husband. Want to return but I feel a lack of bravery. I have the best dog ever too !
Oh dear. So glad this brought a smile to you. Hopefully you’ll find a way to return to France. Dogs are welcomed, too!
Great Story, Deborah!
We are also in our 70’s and are going to live in France starting in May. Right now it’s just part time, we have strong family ties in the US and not ready to see our children and just ONE grandchild only once or twice a year.
But we just got a place in Marseillan on L’Etang de Thau and are fanatically trying to furnish it before we arrive at the end of April.
We went to France this October with the expressed goal of finding a place between the Spanish border and Marseille. While many Americans look to live in Portugal, I always felt that it’s essential to speak the language (and Portuguese is impossible) and relate to the culture. Being Polish by birth, I grew up with the appreciation of French literature, French culture and spoke French as a child.
So, here we go on our big adventure!
We did like Banyuls-sur-Mer but, fortunately didn’t find an apartment that we could live in there.
Fortunately, because when we arrived to Marseillan we knew we finally discovered the right place.
We are in love with the old town, the port, Noilly Prat Ambre and the amazing seafood. And, so many interesting places to visit just a short drive away: Pezenas, Carcassonne, even Bezier which he knew from some previous visits.
But we’ll make sure to explore Uzes next time… so close to Avignon and Arles but we never got to visit.
In the meantime I’m working to regain my French and exploring all kinds of shellfish recipes (I love to cook and we are big into
seafood). Unfortunately, Scott my longterm fiancee/significant other has a lot of problems with French pronunciation, but we ae practicing every night! However, he did learn to shuck oysters without any major damage to his hands.
All in all, this is a dream come true and we can’t wait for this next stage of our lives.
Please let me know if you are ever near Marseillan. I shouldn’t boast, but my grilled oysters in Noilly Prat Ambre sauce with leeks and shallots and my seiche a la plancha (we don’t even have cuttlefish in America) are rather delicious.
Alors, mes amis…A bientôt en France.
J’espere de vous parle! Eva
Oh my goodness! You only have to invite me once! I’ll be there. Love Marseillan, too — and Noilly Prat. I love that you’re so close to Canal du Midi, too. Be sure to checkout the posts on Canal du Midi … and Marseillan. I’ve put together a small group for a French language retreat in the Pyranees in April. I might do it again. Let me know if you’re interested. Also… love IS Aix-en-Provence for immersion French. I really plan to work om my poor French this year. Hopefully it’s not another false boast. I’m in the US for the holidays and back in France early January. Let me kow when you’ll be in Marseillan and I’ll visit. For sure! Thanks for the note, and for followoing the blog.
Hello Deborah,
So great to get your reply! You already sound like a friend 🙂
We also are in the US now for Christmas with the family and then we go skiing in Sun Valley, which we do every winter.
We’ll be in Marseillan in late April for a month to furnish the place… maybe I’ll get to cook for you then! I hope you like oysters. And, we’ll definitely visit Uzes, I’m ashamed that we haven’t explored it before – such an amazing place.
We are not planning to spend the summer in France. Too hot, but we’ll be back again in the fall for a long stay. I already warned my family that next Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to in be in France. I was hoping to avoid turkey for Thanksgiving and serve turbot instead (just another “t” dish) but the family objected. Maybe I’ll do both 😉
And Scott, my wonderful partner, just signed up for a French language course. He knows the basics: how to always say “bonjour madam/monsieur” in a store or a cafe and knows how to respond to “Comment sa va” but that’s it for now until he amazes me with his progress after the course.
We consider ourselves so incredibly lucky to be able to have this adventure. It’s joyful day every day to be in France.
I really hope to meet you in April. This is my first – I’ve never thought to get involved in a blog but your story really spoke to me.
Hoping to meet you in person in the spring.
My very best wishes, Eva
Hello Deborah,
So great to get your reply! You already sound like a friend 🙂
We also are in the US now for Christmas with the family and then we go skiing in Sun Valley, which we do every winter.
We’ll be in Marseillan in late April for a month to furnish the place… maybe I’ll get to cook for you then! I hope you like oysters. And, we’ll definitely visit Uzes, I’m ashamed that we haven’t explored it before – such an amazing place.
We are not planning to spend the summer in France. Too hot, but we’ll be back again in the fall for a long stay. I already warned my family that next Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to in be in France. I was hoping to avoid turkey for Thanksgiving and serve turbot instead (just another “t” dish) but the family objected. Maybe I’ll do both 😉
And Scott, my wonderful partner, just signed up for a French language course. He knows the basics: how to always say “bonjour madam/monsieur” in a store or a cafe and knows how to respond to “Comment sa va” but that’s it for now until he amazes me with his progress after the course.
We consider ourselves so incredibly lucky to be able to have this adventure. It’s joyful day every day to be in France.
I really hope to meet you in April. This is my first – I’ve never thought to get involved in a blog but your story really spoke to me.
Hoping to meet you in person in the spring.
My very best wishes, Eva
Hello Deborah,
So great to get your reply! You already sound like a friend 🙂
We also are in the US now for Christmas with the family and then we go skiing in Sun Valley, which we do every winter.
We’ll be in Marseillan in late April for a month to furnish the place… maybe I’ll get to cook for you then! I hope you like oysters. And, we’ll definitely visit Uzes, I’m ashamed that we haven’t explored it before – such an amazing place.
We are not planning to spend the summer in France. Too hot, but we’ll be back again in the fall for a long stay. I already warned my family that next Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to in be in France. I was hoping to avoid turkey for Thanksgiving and serve turbot instead (just another “t” dish) but the family objected. Maybe I’ll do both 😉
And Scott, my wonderful partner, just signed up for a French language course. He knows the basics: how to always say “bonjour madam/monsieur” in a store or a cafe and knows how to respond to “Comment sa va” but that’s it for now until he amazes me with his progress after the course.
We consider ourselves so incredibly lucky to be able to have this adventure. It’s joyful day every day to be in France.
I really hope to meet you in April. This is my first – I’ve never thought to get involved in a blog but your story really spoke to me.
Hoping to meet you in person in the spring.
My very best wishes, Eva
Yes! Please let’s stay in touch. I’ll definitely be in France in April. I’m looking forward to our vist. Meanwhile, hope you’ll enjoy my ramblings about life in France. It’s my passion. (In case you didn’t notice!) Happy Holidays!
Hello Deborah,
So great to get your reply! You already sound like a friend 🙂
We also are in the US now for Christmas with the family and then we go skiing in Sun Valley, which we do every winter.
We’ll be in Marseillan in late April for a month to furnish the place… maybe I’ll get to cook for you then! I hope you like oysters. And, we’ll definitely visit Uzes, I’m ashamed that we haven’t explored it before – such an amazing place.
We are not planning to spend the summer in France. Too hot, but we’ll be back again in the fall for a long stay. I already warned my family that next Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to in be in France. I was hoping to avoid turkey for Thanksgiving and serve turbot instead (just another “t” dish) but the family objected. Maybe I’ll do both 😉
And Scott, my wonderful partner, just signed up for a French language course. He knows the basics: how to always say “bonjour madam/monsieur” in a store or a cafe and knows how to respond to “Comment sa va” but that’s it for now until he amazes me with his progress after the course.
We consider ourselves so incredibly lucky to be able to have this adventure. It’s joyful day every day to be in France.
I really hope to meet you in April. This is my first – I’ve never thought to get involved in a blog but your story really spoke to me.
Hoping to meet you in person in the spring.
My very best wishes, Eva