PinnedJames KirstensenGetting overwhelmed while travelingI realized this morning that I’ve kind of shut down. All of my writing drafts have fallen into rambling stuff that I couldn’t quite make…May 13, 20227May 13, 20227
PinnedJames KirstensenWe won’t go back home to AmericaI really don’t know where in the world that I want to be, but I know that it’s not home.Mar 16, 202238Mar 16, 202238
PinnedJames KirstensenAmerica is a terrible place to grow oldMy wife and I recently sold our house, quit our jobs and left America. I don’t think America is a safe place for us to grow older. As I…Dec 20, 202151Dec 20, 202151
James Kirstensen“How Can You Afford to Travel?” — Lower Healthcare costsThere’s lower stress, not just lower costs, with French healthcareApr 11, 20231Apr 11, 20231
James KirstensenFinding an Apartment in France’s Smaller CitiesWhen my wife and I left the US, we sold everything, including our home and everything in it. We were of the mindset that we were leaving…Mar 29, 2023Mar 29, 2023
James KirstensenSettling in France, but Outside of Paris: Brocante Thrifts and FleasHow to find an apartment’s worth of stuff in France kinda quickly.Mar 24, 2023Mar 24, 2023
James KirstensenFrance is Not Paris & Moving Abroad is Not VacationI have been telling myself that I would get back to writing on Medium, but months have gone by, then a year. Oops. My original intentions…Mar 15, 20231Mar 15, 20231
James KirstensenThe French visa process: when to push and when to waitOur unsuccessful attempts at getting the Portugal D7 visa and our success with the French long stay visa.Sep 1, 20222Sep 1, 20222
James KirstensenAn American Tourist at HomeWe’re back at home in the US for a month while we pivot to our next move. It was easier to apply for our French visa in New York.Jul 2, 20222Jul 2, 20222
James KirstensenThe things you leave behindNo matter how much you separate yourself from things and places, there is always something that remains to be dealt with. Going home…Jun 24, 20222Jun 24, 20222