"My connection to Europe developed over a lifetime. Like many Americans, it began by studying French in high school. I had pen pals in both France and England, and later, when my children were young, we hosted a French student in our home for six weeks. Europe always felt familiar and aspirational. Professionally, I spent most of my career working for global companies. But in 2013, I took my first personal trip to Paris and fell completely in love with its architecture and art."
"But it's hard to get a job in the US when you're over 50 - much less at my age - so I decided to retire. Around that time, moving to Europe started to feel more practical. I was living just outside Pittsburgh in a wealthy tax district, and my property taxes kept rising. I owned a 1,700-square-foot, three-bedroom colonial on about a quarter-acre lot that I bought for about $224,500 in 2017."
"I asked myself: If I tried to live off Social Security, could I afford to stay in that house? I probably could, but it would be really tight. Long-term, though, the financial predictability felt increasingly uncertain - my everyday living expenses, like groceries, were going up too. I wanted to simplify my life, with fewer fixed costs and fewer surprises. I also wanted a more purposeful life."
A lifelong interest in Europe began with studying French, pen pals, and hosting a French student. A 2013 trip to Paris sparked a deep love of architecture, art, and French culture, including visits to Giverny and Versailles and a macaron cooking class. A 2025 layoff led to retirement and financial reassessment. Rising property taxes and concerns about living on Social Security made staying in a 1,700-square-foot colonial purchased in 2017 financially tight. Moving to France promised fewer fixed costs, greater financial predictability, and opportunities to learn about history, architecture, and everyday European life.
Read at Business Insider
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