This couple says retiring in France instead of California changed everything: “I would probably have had to work until I was 85”

On paper, Debra and Eric Stillwell looked like the kind of couple who would retire in California. They had decades in Los Angeles behind them, good careers, and a home in hand. But the math never worked. “If we stayed where we were, I would probably have had to work until I was 85,” Debra, now 67, told CNN Travel.

So, what did the pair who met at a Star Trek convention in 1995 do? They packed up their lives, sold their house, and bought a chalet-style property in the Dordogne Valley for about $81,000.

Why France over California?

The decision, they say, was partly financial, partly health-driven. In LA, their mortgage and debts kept piling up. On top of that, health insurance premiums would have run them more than $500 each per month. In France, they gained access to the country’s healthcare system within three months of arriving, and today, they pay no premiums and minimal charges, like much of Europe.

Groceries, utilities, and travel are also cheaper, Eric, 62, explained. That has freed them to spend retirement exploring. In just the past year, they’ve visited 20 countries, gone on three cruises, and even attended a nephew’s wedding in South Korea.

What challenges did they face moving abroad?

Life in France hasn’t been seamless. Eric had to spend six months studying for the French driving test after his U.S. license expired. Debra refuses to drive at all, citing the “too narrow” roads. And language remains a hurdle. Debra gets by with mixed-up French, while Eric admits the accent still throws him. Restaurant culture took adjusting too, miss lunch service after 1:45 p.m. and you might be out of luck.

But the couple say the trade-offs have been worth it. Their new home sits in a leisure community with a golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pools. Their neighbors – a mix of French, British, Dutch, and Irish residents – have made it easy to build friendships.

Are retirees really better off in France?

The Stillwells insist they are not wealthy, despite what some assume about Americans abroad. “Our house cost 70,000 euros… We aren’t rich,” Eric said. Most of their income comes from Social Security, yet in France it stretches far beyond what they could have expected in Los Angeles.

Had they stayed in the U.S., Debra is blunt: “Absolutely broke.” Instead, their retirement now includes annual trips to Paris, visits to Bordeaux’s wine museums, and Star Trek conventions across Europe.

Eric sums it up simply: “We love France. Under the current climate, I would not go back.” And as you can see in the videos above, they’re not alone in this view.

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