I don't see it as "living the dream" really. I love France, our home, our garden, the countryside, my work as a member of the local council, our French friends and neighbours (I have a English friends, but on the whole don't see much of other ex-pats, mostly because the majority of them are not people with whom I have much in common). I miss a lot of things about the UK, shopping (including food shopping) going out for coffee, friends, ballet, concerts, theatre within easy reach and being in the same country as my daughter and her family. My son is in Spain, so that is a bit easier, but not much. I see and hear of quite a lot of ex-pat misery around, poverty, divorce, boredom, too much alcohol and people who haven't learnt the language who are unable to cope with separation, illness and bereavement.
It isn't a dream, just life really, good things and bad.
Well, well. Is it ‘global warming’ or ‘cloud seeding’?
Son’s girlfriend diagnosed with BPD