A sharp turn to the left
Posted: January 17, 2013 Filed under: Brittany, family, friends, health, joel | Tags: brittany, health, moving 13 Comments »
For those of you just tuning in, about 18 months ago I became ill with what has come to be a chronic, mysterious, and disruptive illness. After eight months of tests, appointments, prescriptions, supplements and alternative therapies I was not seeing much improvement.
I had been doing my best to continue my real estate career during this time. The satisfaction I get from my job made it very difficult to give up. We realized though, during the Spring of 2012, that I was unable to work and that the stress of trying to continue was likely making my illness worse.
We couldn’t continue to live where we were without my income and I was concerned that it would be difficult to be in Durham without practicing real estate. We decided to spend a year away concentrating on health. Hours and hours of discussion and research led us to Paris where we have been for the past six months.
After battling my umpteenth sinus infection and virus this winter we began discussing if Paris with its pace, pollution, and noise may be causing my system additional stress. Joel and I are a peculiar mix of impulsive and type A and as such it took many evenings of research, lists, budgeting, and talking to decide that it would best to spend the last five months of our French Visa in the countryside.
On February 20th we will be moving to a TINY town in Brittany. Our landlord is a wonderful British woman who lives close near our cottage. I will be able to see an English-speaking doctor in town. We will move from a tiny studio to a three bedroom house with a fenced-in yard (for 1/3 the price!). Our house is near a lake, a zoo, soccer fields, and another picturesque small town.
We’ve never lived a rural lifestyle and have no idea how we will adjust. Will we be bored out of our minds? Maybe. Joel is very excited though and I am sure the dogs would be if they had that cognitive ability.
I am hoping and praying that the silence and peaceful environment helps. My schedule is packed with tests and doctor’s visits as we prepare for our move but I am also hoping that given five months of complete rest my body may mysteriously start healing like it mysteriously starting hurting.
We are going to make this most of Paris before we go and I’m open to any bucket list suggestions you have.
Thanks, as always, for reading and for your supportive comments and emails. It’s comforting knowing that when I take time to write each day that friends and family around the world are checking in and thinking of us.
Wow – so this is news. But the photos are so LOVELY, and can you imagine how beautiful it will all be this spring? (Yeah. I know you did. That’s probably why you rented it.) Anyway, glad that you all are making TWO adventures out of one and hope that the change of scene brings a change of health. Happy new year and belated birthdays!! -Alesha
Thank you! It will certainly be a change. Now that we’ll have 3 bedrooms we’d love for you all to come visit. It’s actually only 30 minutes from an airport!
I have a childhood friend whose family is from Bubry. If you’d like me to pick her brain for suggestions, let me know. Happy (belated) new year!
Hey Kristina! I would love that.
I’m the friend.
And I have four recommendations:
1) The chapel of St. Barbe near Le Faouët. Even if the chapel is closed, you can ring the bell yourself (and that’s more fun than you might imagine) and the scenery around there is beautiful, especially in the coming months. Photos: http://www.gwennseemel.com/index.php/blog/comments/another_kind_of_bell_ringing
2) The Crêperie de la Forge in Bubry (the closest big town is Pontivy). If you haven’t had crêpes in the Morbihan, you’ve never actually had crêpes, and Isabelle Le Strat’s crêperie is one of the reasons why. You can sit in her restaurant and enjoy the full experience or take some plain ones to-go and enjoy later with Nutella or jam or just plain (they are that good). You can also do both.
3) The end of the earth. I haven’t been there in forever, but the cliffs at the tippy tip of Brittany in the Finistère are fantastical.
4) The northern coast of Brittany around Saint-Brieuc is gorgeous. Pink granite and blue-green waters make for eyes full of wonder.
Bon courage in your journey of healing!
Gwenn
Gwenn,
Thank you!! These are fantastic suggestions. I really appreciate. Thanks for saying hi.
Jessica
If you’re wondering how we got these photos, Jude and I took a road trip to check out the property and town before we made a decision on it. I would never have found it if he wasn’t manning the map although with his frequent potty breaks he really puts the P in GPS.
Even though it’s not in Brittany, here is a gorgeous, food-filled blog featuring French country-living: http://mimithorisson.com/ It might provide some additional inspiration!
Oh wow! I love this blog and added it to Google Reader. Her photos are gorgeous. Thank you!
what is name of the “tiny” town?
Hello,
This looks great, I hope it helps, definately a BIG change
Bon courage
Thanks, Janet! Yes- we shall see! We are definitely going to miss Paris and this apartment. Thanks for all of your help.
Jessica, I still have a box for you
Would you email me your new address, please? Life with a baby is like trying to do things underwater (much slower and less efficient!!).