I may have mentioned once or twice (or many more times to those of you 'lucky' enough to listen to me in person!) that I would like to be elsewhere. Somewhere other than here, small town Saskatchewan, that is not exactly central or close to any major centres with shopping, arts & culture, universities, etc.
It is not that I don't like where I am, because it's exactly right for us now, but later, I want to be elsewhere, somewhere bigger, with more educational opportunities for the children and me, and with those other amenities that city dwellers take for granted so often.
But, I have to remember to quit whining about being here, because here is enabling us to plan the experience of a lifetime. (Or hopefully, with luck and hard work, the first of a few experiences of a lifetime!) I am a bit of a Francophile, and luckily enough for me, so is my husband! We spent our honeymoon in France, once upon a time, and before that I was there on a school trip in grade 11, and way before that L spent a year at university in the south of France. We both enjoy France, the idea of France, and have always wanted to spend more time there. So, we have been working hard and saving for the last 4 1/2 years, and starting in September 2009, WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVING IN FRANCE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS!
It has been an exciting process so far. First, we starting hacking off large chunks of income from L's cheque over 4 1/2 years ago, and putting it into a tax sheltered account (thanks to L's employer, that is). L will be taking a year of leave from his job, and we always assumed that we'd take the entire year abroad! Then, the reality of an expanding family, and children in school, and finishing upgrades on our yard and completing the basement set in, and we decided we would be very happy (and so would Mr. Budget) with six months away. We started browsing rentals for the summer season, as that is when L's leave starts. Mr. Budget raised his hand again, and pointed out that summer in France is HIGH SEASON. And, summer in Saskatchewan is very hot, beautiful, and fleeting, thus not to be squandered. So, we'd go at the end of summer, in time for the children to start school in France, and come home six months later, at the end of February.
Then in January of 2008, we started the "Hunt for the Perfect House in just the Right Location in France". We endlessly debated the various locations. Do we live in the north, or the south. On the Atlantic coast, or in the mountains? Coming from Saskatchewan, we decided that we did not want to experience snow in our time away from home. But, L read somewhere that we are Northerners, and as such, we are people who need the changing seasons. Sounds reasonable enough, so we want to be somewhere without snow, but where we will still experience summer turn to fall, to what passes for winter when there is no snow to be found! Then, there is the rural-urban divide to address. Do we live in the city, or the sticks? In an apartment, or a house. On a farm, or in a village, or town? Do we impose a minimum and/or a maximum population threshold in our search?
After much silly debate, we decided we didn't want to live in a big city with the apartment and all those restrictions, and we didn't want to be so rural that we had no neighbours, and were stuck driving three or four communities over to get groceries. So, around 5,000 people seemed to have a variety of options for services...
Now, to find an actual house, somewhere that fits these ideals, where we (and Mr. Budget) can be happy...
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