My summer, living now in France has started: Tour de France! And my muse? Paul Seixas of 🇫🇷. Fellow close friends/US citizens also now residents of France as I am celebrated our natal country's history today, but not its current state. Désolée mes amis. But: "THAT DAY" will be here one day sooner...

We two 🇺🇸 emigrants in Albi 🇫🇷 in front of a strikingly mirror-image "reflecting pond" to that in DC. Glad to be here, not there. Wishing good USA peeps strength, resilience, & hope as we enter year 251. And Vv happy in the knowledge we're all one day closer to the REAL celebration we're waiting for.

Timeline cleanser for US citizens: a casual shot of fontaine Griffoul ca. 1250-1270, centre-ville Lisle-sur-Tarn, Tarn, Occitanie, FR. The relief work celebrates angels on dolphins, the Fleur de lis of France, and the Croix Occitanie of Raymond of Toulouse, bishops, & important officials. Fuck DJT.

Just a calm, relatively stressless day living an affordable life in SW France.

This month's 2€ RT train escape from Albi: Toulouse and the Japanese Gardens with a dear friend. Followed by the incredibly delicious Galleta Della Compagnie pasta at La Compagnie Française? Could not have planned a better day. Yeah, it's naptime...

To be generous, maybe they meant 2052...

Choose 20 paintings that have stayed with you or influenced you - one painting a day (or thereabouts) for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews , just paintings. Sierra Nevada, Albert Bierstadt

Starting off 2026 as a resident 7 mos now) of France? Awesome. Chilling with these two in our cozy, quiet home on a -4⁰C frosty night in a small UNESCO heritage city that Forbes listed as a "go to" this year? Priceless. The only thing to make this new life better will go when THE obit drops.

Happy Boxing Day from Albi, FR, at the northern edge of the Lauragais. Also the title of my new read. Life outside the US hellscape? Yes, thank you for making this happen, 2024 me.

Happy Halloween from Albi, FR. Surprise, there are trick-or-treaters at my building's exterior door. No, I didn't buy candy. No, it never occurred to me it'd be a thing here. Yes, my dogs are going bonkers. And now the neighbor's dogs are going nuts. What's the Halloween equivalent of "bah, humbug"?

An octobre sunset break in the rain clouds. Albi, FR

There were five official #nokings events in France today, and at least one non-official (looking at you with a smile, Montpellier!). Here in Albi, the episcopal cuty, a UNESCO world heritage site, a lovely autumn day from thex12th century Verbie Palace grounds looking toward Ste. Cécile Cathédrale

Went to see the new Leo DiCaprio/Benecio del Toro film today here, VOST format with French subtitles. Disturbing in a very good but sadly realistic way. Then a golden hour 14 minute stroll back to my flat here in safe, sane, Albi, France.

First try here in France for making my lifelong chili recipe. Aced it. My tummy is so happy. Found everything I needed. And, I enjoyed my chili watching the Democrats Abroad webinar with Beto O'Rourke. All of this, good for the soul.

Y'all in the US are up in arms about #crackerbarrel and their logo fiasco, huh? Here's a pic of my dinner today here in France: a three-cheese crêpe (roquefort, râpé, chèvre), crowned with toasted walnuts and a drizzle of honey. Yeah...

Timeline cleanser: pics from Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Monday 18 aôut. #texpat #Americanexpat #americaninfrance #retiredtofrance #frenchimmigrant #budgetretirement #SWFrance #Albi

Samesy, my town now... #Albi

When you found the right place to live...

From my bedroom window, early Monday morning, Albi FR. A bit of peace to start out the week.

The heatwave (canicule) in Europe is brutal. Last night, my moved-here-forever initial lodging/Airbnb never got below 87⁰. So I moved to my new long-term flat w/AC a day early. In any case, living in SW France is a dream come true. Here's my little garden. The dogs are ecstatic. Bonsoir! #TexPat

Looking south in the French Pyrénées from the Montségur Cathar stronghold ruins #blueskyartshow #getoutside

Lease: Done deal!

Hiked the steep trail to the Montségur ruins today, site of the Cathar mass burning at the stake in 1243. War. A rich man's game. Pretty timely today.

Thanks, Traitor TACO and company. From the US State Dept STEP notification system:

Just a calm view from my summer stone town house in a small town in department 11, the Aude, in Southwest France Cathar country, on the eve of the Solstice at the golden hour earlier tonight. Enjoy et bon soiree!

Drove to Albi 🇫🇷 today & it'll prolly be my new 🏠. Heading up again tomorrow to meet some USA emigrants who landed 4 wks before me. Here's the centré ville rue I walked to a quiet resto for an amazing déjeuner of fish, pasta, fresh veggies, salad, cherry clafoutis, and coffee all for 24 €.

Just a gorgeous sunny warm sunny day in Place Carnot in the bastide of Carcassonne, FR, on my way to meet other TexPats for a relaxing lunch in a country still being civil... #Immigrant

Who did this? I love it.

A view from my walk to my local market today to get some groceries, in Castelnaudary, FR. #AmericanExpat