Hello,
I'm looking some opinions from you lovely people.
I'll keep it as brief as i can.
I am From N.Ireland but hold an Irish passport. My wife is French. We are mid 30s.
We have often floated the idea of moving to France for many years now but 1 thing has happened that makes us look at it more seriously.. Brexit.
I know many people have many views regarding this which I/we respect, but for us, we would like to stay within the EU for a number of reasons.
Now,
This is where it gets a little complicated for me.
WORK: I work with my father in his business for the past 19 years. Just him and me.
He is approaching 73 years old this year and is slowing down a lot. I personally have lost the desire to continue the business. I just fell out of love of the work but i continue as it helps him pay the bills.
If i left for France, he would most certainly have to retire as it's a pretty physically demanding job. He hasn't got any savings so, by me leaving, he would get impacted financially too. This emotionally makes it difficult for me to actually leave.
WIFE: Last year 2018 was hell for us. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She has since received her last treatment and is now all clear and very healthy but, she came close...
This experience of course, changes you. How you think, what you prioritise, it focuses the mind.
Although she has been happy in N.Ireland, learnt English, (too fluently if you ask me hehe) made lots of Friends, Learnt to drive, moved up quite a lot in her career and of course beat cancer. I personally see her truely happy, in her element when we go to France to visit her family. (plus she can get super tan in like a day.. jealous!)
I have no doubt she could find work back in France.
FINANCES: Our critical illness insurance payed off most of our house. The house has also gone up in price by a decent amount too so we are sitting on healthy equity. Other than the remaining small mortgage, we have no major debt.
By selling our house, we could effectively by a property outright in France and have some decent cash left over. Which is very tempting.
ME: Well, in regards to my level of French, it's basic. Better than holiday French but not by much, tho i am grinding the language at the moment and learning a lot quite fast surprisingly.
Work would be an issue for me as my job with my father is very specialised and a technical level of French would be better. Tho, i don't really want to do that any more. After 19 years wrecking myself from 6am to 8pm, i'd happily stack shelves in Tescos for the rest of my days. (other retailers are available)
We don't see much of a future in N.Ireland anymore. The wife suggested moving South to the Republic.
A sensible suggestion.
But that doesn't appeal to me for a number of reasons.. Plus, considering we drive to France, i'm growing tired of the ferries. I like the idea of being on the Mainland EU and then being able to drive where i want without ferries, trains etc.
So, That's basically the situation i find myself in.
I'd like to move to France but leaving my father makes it difficult for me as i would be forcing him into retirement and he doesn't want to retire.
The wife is happy what ever we do as she says "..as long as you are with me, i don't care where we live"
What would you do people?
Stay or say to hell it with it, and move?
Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
I'm looking some opinions from you lovely people.
I'll keep it as brief as i can.
I am From N.Ireland but hold an Irish passport. My wife is French. We are mid 30s.
We have often floated the idea of moving to France for many years now but 1 thing has happened that makes us look at it more seriously.. Brexit.
I know many people have many views regarding this which I/we respect, but for us, we would like to stay within the EU for a number of reasons.
Now,
This is where it gets a little complicated for me.
WORK: I work with my father in his business for the past 19 years. Just him and me.
He is approaching 73 years old this year and is slowing down a lot. I personally have lost the desire to continue the business. I just fell out of love of the work but i continue as it helps him pay the bills.
If i left for France, he would most certainly have to retire as it's a pretty physically demanding job. He hasn't got any savings so, by me leaving, he would get impacted financially too. This emotionally makes it difficult for me to actually leave.
WIFE: Last year 2018 was hell for us. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She has since received her last treatment and is now all clear and very healthy but, she came close...
This experience of course, changes you. How you think, what you prioritise, it focuses the mind.
Although she has been happy in N.Ireland, learnt English, (too fluently if you ask me hehe) made lots of Friends, Learnt to drive, moved up quite a lot in her career and of course beat cancer. I personally see her truely happy, in her element when we go to France to visit her family. (plus she can get super tan in like a day.. jealous!)
I have no doubt she could find work back in France.
FINANCES: Our critical illness insurance payed off most of our house. The house has also gone up in price by a decent amount too so we are sitting on healthy equity. Other than the remaining small mortgage, we have no major debt.
By selling our house, we could effectively by a property outright in France and have some decent cash left over. Which is very tempting.
ME: Well, in regards to my level of French, it's basic. Better than holiday French but not by much, tho i am grinding the language at the moment and learning a lot quite fast surprisingly.
Work would be an issue for me as my job with my father is very specialised and a technical level of French would be better. Tho, i don't really want to do that any more. After 19 years wrecking myself from 6am to 8pm, i'd happily stack shelves in Tescos for the rest of my days. (other retailers are available)
We don't see much of a future in N.Ireland anymore. The wife suggested moving South to the Republic.
A sensible suggestion.
But that doesn't appeal to me for a number of reasons.. Plus, considering we drive to France, i'm growing tired of the ferries. I like the idea of being on the Mainland EU and then being able to drive where i want without ferries, trains etc.
So, That's basically the situation i find myself in.
I'd like to move to France but leaving my father makes it difficult for me as i would be forcing him into retirement and he doesn't want to retire.
The wife is happy what ever we do as she says "..as long as you are with me, i don't care where we live"
What would you do people?
Stay or say to hell it with it, and move?
Thank you for taking the time to read my post.