Friday, November 16, 2012

5 Reasons Why It's Not Crazy To Buy A Second Home In Another Country

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I turned onto rue de la Liberté late one night and was stopped
by the installation and testing of the Christmas lights
that will illuminate this city during the holiday season

Now that my short-lived span of buyer’s remorse is over, instead of thinking of all the reasons why my husband and I shouldn’t have purchased this apartment in France, I’ve started to count the reasons why this is not such a crazy idea.  What do you think?

5. You can dip your toe in the world of those who’ve made the decision to go all in and move their life to foreign soil, like those who’ve fueled my France love -- Kristen Espinasse at French Word A Day or Lynn McBride at Southern Fried French.  It gives you an opportunity to see if the big leap is for you before you pull up roots and wave good-bye to your hometown in the rear-view mirror.

4. You get this strangely satisfying feeling when you realize you’ve earned the right to complain about changes in the bus routes right along with the locals because you pay taxes, too.

3. Yes, you could keep renting.  I’ve met people who return to the same part of France every year and always rent like we have.  But my husband and I really want to know we’ll have a comfortable bed, a kitchen with everything we need to cook the fabulous foods in the market, and (most importantly) a place to put all the things I want to buy at the monthly brocantes without having to ship them home.  This place has come to feel like home, so we’re just closing the circle.

2. After years of putting your head down and working hard to fulfill all adult/parent responsibilities, it’s OK to do something that seems a bit crazy but doesn’t put your physical or financial health at risk.  Maybe sooner rather than later we’ll realize that this has been “the best bad idea we’ve had” (any Argo fans out there?), but it’s not as permanent as misspelled matching tattoos in a prominent place on our anatomy.

1. You are a permanent part of this

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this
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and this (anybody for a little "Hotel California on a Saturday morning?)



Sometimes that's reason enough.

Do any of you own a second home or dream of owning a second home someplace outside of your own state or region?  What draws you to it?  Share your second home thoughts in the comments box.

10 comments:

Nadine Feldman said...

I just love those "best bad ideas." (and Argo, for that matter) It's wonderful that you have made this happen when you're still young enough to enjoy it for a good, long time.

Before we moved, we considered the idea of having a second home and splitting our time. In our case, we had few ties left in Houston, so we were okay with packing up and leaving for good. It's been a crazy but wonderful adventure.

Julie Farrar said...

It's the ties that keep us wondering if we'll move when my husband retires. I remember what it was like when young missing all those years of family stuff while at undergrad and grad school. I kind of like that daily "stuff" of extended family life.

Anonymous said...

Julie - It's very tempting...
My hold up is that I love living in the same city as my two sons. I love my writing groups here. and I really DO like where I am now.
But there's always this "what if"...

Julie Hedlund said...

I love all of these reasons. I hope to do the same one day, only I'll be in Italy.

Muriel said...

And, last but not least, if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad!

Ellen Gregory said...

The closest thing I can relate to is my parents' holiday house at Phillip Island, which is about a two hour drive from home. It's close enough to go for the weekend, and I simply love to get away and appreciate the change in pace. There's the beach to walk along and it's just good ot get out of the city. Good for a writing retreat too.

Julie Farrar said...

This could be great for a writing retreat if I find the right chair. None in the apartment at the moment really work for extended time at the computer.

Patricia said...

To buy or rent is the conundrum! Good for you for taking the step. We continue to rent in France even though our last stint was for 5 months. We have also had some fab home exchanges there. Our 2nd home is in FL and my husband will never give that up. One year at a time ...
In the meantime it is great fun following your adventure!

Patricia said...

To buy or rent is the conundrum! Good for you for taking the step. We continue to rent in France even though our last stint was for 5 months. We have also had some fab home exchanges there. Our 2nd home is in FL and my husband will never give that up. One year at a time ...
In the meantime it is great fun following your adventure!

Julie Farrar said...

We've rented for so many years and got tired of not having it exactly right. They were all good apartments, but there was always something that didn't work for us, didn't meet the needs of two people who aren't just passing through on vacation but living there like regular people who want to have friends to dinner or the perfect chair to sit in and read on a Sunday afternoon when everything is closed.

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