WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE
When life goes off the rails and what was, is no longer, revaluation comes with a price tag. For me at my advanced age this meant essentially starting over. At first the idea of a new town, alien in every way was uncomfortable to say the least. The comfort zone that familiarity brings was completely shattered and only fragments of the life previously known existed. But when the reality landed me in Marseillan, I soon learned to embrace the opportunity and what was a scary proposition become a welcome respite. No longer was the goal only to exist but it became a chance to embrace a completely new life. And embrace it I have.
The Christmas market which runs from December first to the second of January was the first opportunity to take advantage of a convenient way to make friends and enjoy the outdoors in ways that I never would have in Michigan. A two dollar glass of wine and a crepe sucre for the same price each day was the perfect way to extend my range of friends and no longer did I feel like a visitor from planet Z. I now can claim that I have friends from a vast number of European countries. My market day wine group consists of Michel from Switzerland and his wife Neva from Slovenia, Nick and Jan, Brits who live on a 40 foot yacht, Giovanna from Sicily, Ives and Chantel who own a vineyard here, and Derek and Rita from Wales. Jons is German and his girl friend whose name I cannot spell is Algerian. Maguel is a local tree trimmer, Vincent was born in the Ivory Coast and believe it or not Julian O'brady is a local French bar owner. And on top of that I discovered that there are a significant number of attractive single women of nearly every age.
But there are drawbacks. In the summer the population of the town swells from 7000 to 60,000 and the invasion makes rentals prohibitively expensive and rare. In less that a year I am on my third apartment or house which at the end of May will no longer be available to me.
Of all the solutions that have passed through my mind one is taking shape. At the end of September I am flying to Lisbon, Portugal for a few days to check it out. It's highly recommended and the cost of living is significantly cheaper than France. My plan is to rent an apartment in July of 23 after my yearly visit to the US for the period until I can afford to return to Marseillan in October. It's exciting and not intimidating to think of traveling solo.
I plan to spend an evening in a fado bar-I had to look it up to learn that it's a musical style born in Lisbon. Lisbon's history as sea power leaves many cool historical venues to explore.
Yes life is different. And I am different. And my goals are different. And I can't wait to step off that plane and investigate another possible new adventure.