Bonjour. A couple of long term questions for you. As you are in your 70's, and by your own admissions sedentary, what could you change about your lifestyle IN the USA that would make life easier for yourselves in the comfort of the home and environment that you now obviously enjoy? Perhaps you could look at it with new eyes, rather than moving? Just a suggestion.
Speaking French on any level is essential IMO and life would be very challenging if you don't or are not prepared to learn it.
Just changing countries because the US is going down the toilet under this administration is no reason to upend your lives. It entirely depends on your attitude and the effort you are prepared to expend to get to know the language, culture, people and place and to engage in local activities (difficult when you don't speak French) and to integrate to the extend that ANY expat can do so. It is a hugely expensive exercise! You will want 25% more (at least) in the bank than you anticipate. France is not a 'cheap' option to live, anymore. Healthcare costs go up, and in the year post-covid, our food prices (country- wide average) rose 12%.
Renting housing is extremely problematic as previously documented here. Finding a plein pied rental...or flat foot rental (one level)...is almost non-existent in most places. New builds on the edge of towns (in a lotissement of same kind houses) are often one story, but they are rarely rented.
How do you plan to get around if your wife's knees are bad? Are you expecting to have surgery on those in France? It will cost you way less than in the US but outcomes require the same level of effort in order for them to be optimal.
Handicap access is not optimal in France, and cobble streets can make walking challenging for those with mobility issues (I know this first hand).
It is more than an adventure to move to a foreign country where they don't speak English and are highly protective of their mother tongue. Depending on where you want to live, many French have an attitude about foreigners taking over their country, buying up their houses at premium prices (and driving the prices up) which the young folks cant afford to buy, let alone to maintain or improve et al.
It is a real challenge to find excellent health carers who speak English, outside of the major cities.
Big Question: If one (or both) of you should require long term health care outside of your home, how would you communicate with staff? How would you finance that, coz it isn't free and you are expected to pay/contribute to the care.
It really is necessary to have some command of the language in order to do the most basic of things in France. People here like to telephone, not e-mail, so how are you going to communicate/make appointments et al?
Customer service is almost entirely absent here which is frustrating for most expats, esp. Americans who are used to a high level of service.
Rental and finding appropriate rentals in and around those cities is another HUGE challenge. If you have the finances to lead a decent lifestyle in NOLA then stay there because the cost of moving house, setting yourselves up with all the necessary bureaucratic things in France takes endless time and effort and unless you want to keep paying people to translate and do things for you IN FRENCH, you will find the effort required is a killer.
Just being highly REAL here. France is not a panacea, and Macron wont always be in power. Things change everywhere, all the time, and those of us who have been here a while watch the political goings on with interest and some trepidation (speaking for myself here). Laws regarding expats and the language requirements are in some flux, but increasingly challenging for many.
Taxes are high as are social charges. You will be a Tax resident in France, and will still be required to file taxes in the US as well. Again, tax filing is in French!
Life isnt all about sitting in cafés and drinking coffee or pastis! Its normal, everyday life as you would live in the US, but just in another country where you and they dont speak the same language. Heaps to consider. Bon Chance!
