Retiring in France… What Everyday Life Really Looks Like 🇫🇷

Video Description

What is everyday life really like when you retire in France? In this episode we share a very honest, very unfiltered look at real life here in southwest France. No big plans, no property tours, no glossy edits. Just the reality of living in a French village, the people who make it special, and the small moments that quietly define life after the move. Last week we filmed an interview with Marie-Claude in Saint-Livrade, and the response was overwhelming. In this video we reflect on that experience, the importance of community, and why places like Saint-Livrade matter so much when you choose to live in France full time. We also share what the last few days have really been like for us. A sudden trip back to Jersey to visit a friend in hospital, unloading years of life from our boat, and returning straight into village life in France with rugby dinners, long tables, laughter and late nights. This is what living here really looks like. There has been a huge international conference in the area, bringing people from all over the world and filling every hotel, gîte and Airbnb. We talk about what that means locally, how small villages cope, and how communities quietly step up. Our house was full, breakfast became takeaway, and life simply adjusted. Food plays a big part in everyday French life and we show that too. From incredible value local pork, shared meals in village bars, wild boar cooked and handed out by the bar owner, and the way food is used here to look after people. Not restaurants chasing reviews, just people feeding people. We also visit nearby Villeneuve-sur-Lot to see the Christmas market, talk about traditions, festive chaos, Guinness in France, and why these small seasonal moments matter so much when you live here permanently. If you are researching retirement in France, thinking about moving, or simply curious about what life here actually feels like once the novelty wears off, this episode shows the truth. The warmth, the unpredictability, the friendships, and the quiet joy of belonging somewhere. No filters. No fantasy. Just real life in France. If you would like to experience this region for yourself, you are always welcome to stay with us at Villa La Rive, right on the River Lot, and explore village life, markets and community at your own pace. 🔗 https://villa-la-rive.com/