Embracing the Continent: Our Decision to Relocate to Europe (Farewell, America!)
The McAllister family, known for their extensive travel experiences, has recently moved to Annecy, a charming town nestled in the French Alps. The family, which includes the writer, Anna, and their children, has decided to share their journey of moving abroad and living as expats in France on their social media and email list.
A New Beginning in Annecy
Annecy, surrounded by lakes and mountains, offers a high quality of life. The family is drawn to France for safety, security, travel opportunities, and affordability. The town's walkable old town charm, great public transportation, and friendly vibe make it an ideal location for the McAllisters.
Sharing Experiences and Life as Expats
The focus of the family's content will be sharing their moving abroad experience and life as American expats in France. They plan to delve into the benefits and challenges they encounter, providing valuable insights for those considering a similar move.
Benefits of Living in Annecy
- High Quality of Life: France is renowned for its excellent healthcare system and overall lifestyle quality. Annecy, with its picturesque scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities, further enhances the quality of life.
- Healthcare: After three months of residence, expats can access France’s comprehensive public healthcare system, which is generally considered superior and more affordable than U.S. healthcare.
- Cost of Living: While Paris and other big cities can be expensive, smaller towns like Annecy often have a relatively lower cost of living compared to major U.S. cities or Paris itself.
- Cultural Richness: Living in France provides access to rich cultural experiences, cuisine, and a slower pace of life that many expats find rewarding.
Challenges of Living in Annecy
- Language Barrier: While many French people speak some English, smaller towns have fewer English speakers, making daily interactions, paperwork, and healthcare navigation more challenging for non-French speakers.
- Tax and Financial Complexity: Americans must continue to file U.S. taxes annually and also adhere to French tax laws, including potential wealth tax on global real estate assets over €1.3 million. Compliance requires careful management and sometimes hiring English-speaking accountants.
- Administrative Hurdles: Getting visas, residence permits, and setting up banking and utilities can be complicated, especially in less urbanized areas.
- Social Integration: Americans may find French social norms and timekeeping different, with cultural adaptation needed to blend into local communities.
Preparing for the Move
The McAllister family has been preparing for this move for the past six months. They have sold their house in North Carolina and their cars, downsizing their life to embrace a new chapter in Europe.
Embracing European Life
The family finds Europe bicycle and walking friendly, with great public transportation, spectacular nature, regular festivals, active public spaces, frequent holidays, and a relaxed vibe. They are excited to explore more of Europe, with the writer having been to 70 countries, Anna to 114, and their children to 40 different nations.
Documenting the Journey
Given the increasing number of Americans moving to Europe, the McAllisters have decided to document their move to Europe. The writer has started a new business filming VR180 3D travel & nature videos for VR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3, capturing the beauty and experiences of their new life in Europe.
Alternatives to Moving to Europe
For those who may not be ready to move to Europe, alternatives such as securing a digital nomad visa or finding a job overseas and getting sponsored for a European work visa are worth considering.
[1] Expatica, (2021). Living in Annecy, France. [Online] Available at: https://www.expatica.com/fr/moving/moving-guides/living-in-annecy-france-122345/
[2] French Tech News, (2021). Digital nomads: France's new golden visa. [Online] Available at: https://french-tech-news.com/2021/07/21/digital-nomads-frances-new-golden-visa/
[3] Angloinfo, (2021). Healthcare in France. [Online] Available at: https://www.angloinfo.com/france/guides/healthcare/
[4] The Local, (2021). Moving to France: A guide for Americans. [Online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.fr/20210326/moving-to-france-a-guide-for-americans
- The McAllister family finds the town of Annecy in France an ideal location for their new life, as it offers a high quality of life, a walkable old town charm, great public transportation, and a friendly vibe, making it perfect for traveling and experiencing a new lifestyle.
- As they embark on their journey as expats in France, the McAllisters plan to share their experiences, including the benefits and challenges they encounter, providing valuable insights for those considering a similar move or exploring Europe.
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