Debra and Eric Stillwell, a couple at their 60, left California five years ago. Now they live in a relaxed life in the French valley of Dordogne.
Eric is a former Star Trek script and Disney employee. They believe that the cost of Los Angeles maintained retirement out of reach. But France gave them freedom to enjoy their lives before.
The couple, who first met at the Star Trek congress in 1995, has always dreamed of retiring in Europe. Debro’s mother inspired them with a premature retirement. She said it was the best decision of her life.
Their today their lives are far from in Los Angeles. The debts and the mortgage for them premature retirement made it impossible. Debra said she would work for a long time if they stayed in the US.
In France there are public services, food and travel much less. There are also plenty of cultural possibilities.
“The problem was that when we lived in Los Angeles, we could not afford to retire soon and still repay the mortgage and repay all the debts,” Eric said, 62 years.
Both are diabetic. So medical expenses were an important point to be considered.
“At that time … it would cost us more than $ 500 per month for health insurance. I think it’s more expensive now,” CNN quoted Debra.
“I found out. If we stayed where we were, I would probably have to work until I was 85,” said a 67 -year -old man.
Now they spend the afternoon walking streets, visiting the open air markets and discovering castles. Sometimes they travel to Bordeaux to see Debra’s favorite museum, Cité de la Vin.
Debra studied French in Montreal. Eric’s great -grandfather came from France. At first, however, they thought they would move to Italy. The 2013 cruise wine to Bordeaux helped them decide.
They stayed in Saint-Emilion overnight and fell in love with the Dordogne area. Around that time Debra left her work as a director of education in the medical center. Eric lost the role of Disney.
Moving to France
The couple sold their California home, cleaned all debts and moved debts. They bought a house in the style of Golf & Country Club Résidence Souillac in Dordogne for about 70,000 euros ( £72 Lakh).
Debra and Eric live in France on long -term visions that are renewed every year. Debra hoped to ask for citizenship, but new rules prevent pensioners with foreign income.
“Everyone thinks that Americans living in France are all rich, and that’s not true. Our house costs 70,000 euros. We are not rich,” Eric said.
(Tagstotranslate) Retirement planning
