Getting a French long-stay visa was challenging. We had to do a boatload of paperwork back in California, involving bank statements, health insurance, proof of income, taxes, passports, marriage certificates, birth certificates, tiny photos, airline tickets, and letters stating why we wanted to move to France and promising not to work there. It was grueling, but if you’re a grownup who can handle taxes and health insurance, you can do it. ​

I thought that by the time I turned fifty, I'd have a few things figured out. I was wrong. Here are a few of my misconceptions that were debunked once I started living in France.

Have you heard about French bureaucracy? It’s immense and far-reaching, penetrating the depths of your soul. But if you want to live in France, you’ll get used to it.

Here’s how to rent an apartment in Paris. ​