Bevdeforges,

Wow, this is food for thought. I always assumed that we would be paying French taxes right from the beginning, we have no problem with that--and you're right, the cost of our healthcare here in the states is positively stupefying, especially because we're self-employed. This was one of the reasons we started looking into moving in the first place. Middle-class life in America for those who go out on their own is under serious attack.

My confusion is over how to convince the French authorities to allow us to take up residence if I'm not interested in taking a job in their country. I read elsewhere that they don't care about my previous tax returns, so I couldn't even prove to them that I have an income! My wife is convinced that there are Americans who "retire" to France legally, and that we would essentially be doing the same, even though we're only forty. But no amount of research has been able to verify this, and I know the French system is very specific on points such as this.

Anyway, thanks so much for the replies, this has been quite helpful.