This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Natalie Lynch, 56, who relocated from San Francisco to Europe in 2024 and now resides in Audenge, France. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The pandemic, with its loss of freedom, loss of connectivity, and the very clear message that life can be short, was a real wake-up call for me. I decided I needed to make some big changes, even if I didn’t have a clear idea of what the endgame would look like.
I started working when I was 15, and I wanted to get off the hamster wheel. So, in 2021, I sold my house in Oakland, and a few years later, in 2024, I sold my home-staging business, which I had owned for 24 years.
After that, I wasn’t saving much money or making any headway in San Francisco, so I decided to cash in my chips and move to Europe with my little dog, Enzo.
It was a huge leap to push myself out of my comfort zone. I had owned my home for 17 years and was surrounded by a great support system of friends and neighbors, but I was in search of a new life.
At first, we traveled along the Italian coast. I spent a couple of months in Florence and a few weeks in Rome. I loved both cities, but I found that Italy wasn’t a great fit for a single woman with a small dog. After some time in Spain, I’m now in France, on the coast of Arcachon Bay near Bordeaux.
It’s been interesting navigating new towns, shops, languages, and people. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart. But I had immigrant parents from France and grandparents from Russia, so the feeling of not quite fitting in is not new to me. Maybe that will make this experience feel a little easier.
I loved Florence, but I couldn’t afford to stay there
When we moved to Italy, Enzo and I traveled most of the coast, trying to find that unicorn place, but it never happened. While it was a great adventure, the only places where I felt truly happy were Rome and Florence.
Florence has a great mix of people; it’s a really friendly and vibrant place. While there, I made a friend on Facebook who had an apartment on the opposite side of the Arno River, away from the touristy areas, and she let me rent it from her for $2,400 a month.
Enzo and I walked around every day, at any time of night in Florence, it was such a safe place. My favorite part of living there was becoming a regular at local businesses. It got to the point where people would call out, “Ciao, Enzo,” when we walked in the door.
I knew it would be too expensive to live in Florence in the long term. I’m not working and am living on my savings, so even living there on a budget would be difficult.
I really wanted to be by the sea, and I didn’t picture growing old in Florence or Rome, so I packed up and headed to France. However, I was still sad to leave.
I’m building a life in France
As for becoming French — or riding a bicycle with a baguette in the basket — that’s not my dream. My dream is to meet kind people, live along a palm-lined promenade, ride with Enzo in the bike basket, and breathe in the sea air.
I’ve had a rental car the whole time in France, which has allowed me to have several bases and explore a lot of the surrounding towns.
When Enzo got sick in September, I decided to rent a place in a small, mostly French town on the Arcachon Bay. It feels good to settle down — we’ve stayed in more than 30 places over the past year, pushing both my poor little dog and me out of our comfort zones.
I’m renting a fully furnished duplex in Audenge. I’m paying €1,200, which is about $1,400, and that includes utilities. The duplex is very quiet, has a yard, and I share it with a friendly French couple.
We’ll have to move out in July for the summer season, when rentals tend to skyrocket. I’m not sure where we will go next, but I know it will be a home base where I can finally have the remainder of my belongings from California delivered, and we can establish a sense of stability.
I also finally bought a car last week for €18,600 ($21,802.83). It’s a relief because I’ve spent so much money on rental cars the whole time I’ve been in France.
I’m also studying for my French driver’s license — the test will be in French, a language I only speak at a very basic level. That said, I know I can do it because I’ve already managed to accomplish so many other things.
I don’t plan on returning to the US
During my travels in Europe, I’ve seen many beautiful places and met wonderful, kind, funny people. Having Enzo with me has facilitated most of this — he’s been the best travel partner I’ve ever had.
I’ve also learned a lot about myself throughout this journey, like how to adapt and figure things out. I’m not afraid to stay in new places, eat alone, visit government offices, make appointments in another language, or ask strangers for help. I’ll drive in a new country, take the train, make eye contact, and strike up conversations.
I’ve not once been so frustrated that I’ve given up. Each day, I remind myself how lucky I am not to be working, so I have the time to accomplish whatever I’m trying to do.
I’m still adjusting to being far from home and being away from my friends. I never had any delusions of becoming the best friend of an Italian or French person or being invited to Sunday dinner. You can’t move to another country and expect to be fully absorbed into that culture.
Still, I plan to stick it out in Europe. Returning to the United States would mean starting from scratch and rebuilding from the ground up. I can’t live off my savings there, but in Europe, I can survive on a budget of around $3,000 a month.
While I don’t think I’m living my best life here, it’s a better life than I had in California, so I’m headed in the right direction. I haven’t figured it all out yet, but the slower pace of life, not having to grind every day running a business, and being out of the rat race has been a huge gift.
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