I see we have one or two expats, like myself and I wonder what motivation they had for the move. For me, it was the lovely scenery, the historic towns and villages, the lower cost of property, the climate, and the opportunity to explore other European countries without having to rely on planes , ferries, or the tunnel. I have not been disappointed in France.
For my daughter and her family, it was the relaxed lifestyle and the employment opportunties of New Zealand that made them decide.
If any of you have been watching 'Little England', I must say that the happy ex-pats appearing (who offered themselves for the show) are probably not typical of the British in France. There is just as much crime, graffiti, drug use, unemployment and family break-up in France as there is in England, mainly in the big towns and their suburbs but the British tend to settle in the rural areas. There are very many posts on the ex-pat forums I use detailing why people are having to return to Britain as they failed to find work or could not cope with the horrific 'social charges' involved in running a business, or missed their families too much, etc. etc.
France is a great place for retired people, but I would not like to have to find work or start a business here.
