Thu 28 Dec 2006
If I had to choose between the two places we are lucky enough to live I don’t know if I could. It’s apples and oranges, as they say.
In Paris I get the stimulation and energy of a city along with architecture that always speaks to my soul.
I can hop a bus to the Eiffel Tower
Place Vendome is a short metro ride away
It’s hard to beat trips to the Louvre
I always have trouble leaving Paris, but then I arrive in Provence, France profound, to a totally different way of living and I am at peace.
From one of the many lovely fountains of Aix
To watching the life and activity at a vineyard
This is the view from our house.
I love it when we are in our home in Provence. I especially miss it when we are in our tiny apartment in Paris. I miss the space, the view, the peace.
Someday, I may have to choose as we get older. It will be a hard choice. Then, just to confuse things a little more, is the fact that I am trying to figure out a way to be in the States more. I need to win the lottery to do this, but I am mulling it over. I need a little place, an RV, a trailor, something, so I can see more of my family but not have to live with any of them while doing so. Until I figure that out, I will just have to settle for trips twice a year to the States.
December 29th, 2006 at 3:16 am
All that french architecture is beautiful…but the view from your home took my breath away. Nel
December 29th, 2006 at 7:30 am
You are quite blessed! Happy New Year!
December 29th, 2006 at 8:54 am
You can live with us! Might be tight since we’re in a one bedroom flat but I’d be happy to blow up a mattress for you and put it by my bird’s cage. LOL! Aren’t sisters nice to each other?
December 29th, 2006 at 9:20 am
Lucky, lucky, lucky you
Want to do a change of houses between Norway and Provence for a week or two
December 29th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Just getting the opportunity to catch up on your blog. The recent photos of Paris and Provence have been glorious!! Thanks so much for the gift of a glimpse of your life in both places.
Bonne Annee to you and Maurice and I’ll see you in May!
December 29th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
You are very lucky, indeed, but I still understand your need to be close to your family in the States. It is certainly doable - more and more cities have extended-stay hotel suites which offer fully furnished apartments for about $200 to $300 per week. Also a lot of apartment complexes have furnished units for about the same price per month, with short-term leases. Or you can find someone, willing to swap places. If you have any family in Florida or Michigan, let me know;-)))
Bottom line - if there’s a will, there’s a way.
December 29th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
That view was abolutely BREATHTAKING…that’s so amazing…bi-coastal living. Lucky!
December 29th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Funny how life pulls us, isn’t it? If we are here, there looks good. The “oughts” catch us and send aspin. New ideas bring new directions.
Sound like 2007 holds great things for you…this blog is certainly one of them.
Thanks.
December 30th, 2006 at 1:48 am
You really have the best of both worlds at the moment…make the most of it.
It will be a hard choice to make, if it comes to that, I would tear my hair out trying to decide. I suppose it depends on your personality and what you want from retirement.
December 30th, 2006 at 10:48 am
What a wonderful post! Happy holidays to you - and I am VERY jealous that you get to spend them in France. Your story of wanting to “escape” Christmas really resonated with me. I have tried (in vain) to do that myself over the years. Now I just go with it, and transform it into the holiday that I want it to be instead of falling in with all the expectations of others and of our “modern” society. This year I went to Palm Springs in Southern California, which was 74 degrees and sunny, and had a marvelous time in the desert.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:14 am
By far the best of two worlds: Paris and Provence!