Why We Left California (And Found Something Better in France)

A journey from LA’s burnout culture to a slower, more intentional family life in France.

They say you can’t leave California, but we did, and here’s why.

People often ask us, sometimes with wide eyes and a hint of disbelief, why we left the land of palm trees, $9 lattes, and year-round sun. Why trade in our slice of California paradise for a life halfway across the world?

Here’s the truth: it wasn’t the beach we wanted to escape. It was the life we were leading.

The Apartment That Broke Us

We lived in a 500-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles. One bedroom. Four people. No balcony. No yard. A kitchen so tiny, you couldn’t open the silverware drawer and the oven at the same time. It was like living in a game of spatial Tetris.

We were close to family, which was lovely. But the hustle culture? The glorification of burnout? The “if you’re not running on fumes, are you even trying?” mentality? That was not what we wanted for ourselves, or for our kids.

Every conversation seemed to orbit around being busy. Hustling. Juggling multiple jobs and side gigs just to make ends meet. The culture almost prided itself on exhaustion. And honestly? We were tired of being tired.

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A Leap of Faith

We considered buying a house in Los Angeles. But every option felt light years from the life we dreamed of, unless, of course, we wanted to fork over a small (or not so small) fortune for the privilege. The housing prices were astronomical. Our neighborhood, while vibrant, had its challenges - noisy neighbors, safety concerns, and no real sense of tranquility.

We longed for space. For a slower pace. For the kind of life where our children could roam, explore, and just be kids without the constant hum of stress in the background.

So, we leapt.

A Unique Peace in Europe

We crossed the ocean and landed in a small village in France. Here, our kids have space to run barefoot, gardens to dig in, and animals to chase. We no longer pay half our income to daycare. (though European taxes are no joke lol.)

There’s no pressure here to “be somebody.” In Los Angeles, if you weren’t famous, it sometimes felt like you weren’t successful. But here? People barely talk about work at all. It’s not the cornerstone of your identity. They talk about vacations, hobbies, meals shared with loved ones, time spent with family.

Moving here gave us the space to slow down and ask ourselves: What do we really want? Why are we chasing so hard? Who are we doing it for?

A Life That Fits

We’ve curated a life that fits us. That aligns with our dreams, not just the default setting.

And though it’s taken me time to get used to it, I’ve come to love it here. My baseline stress level is lower. My worries are fewer. I feel more present, more grounded.

And the best part? This life didn’t require us to sacrifice ambition or creativity. It simply allowed us to pursue those things with more clarity, more intention.

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À bientôt,
Kamille

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