Eighteen years ago Walt and I became the owners of the house outside Saint-Aignan that we now live in. We had first seen it in December 2002, and I had come back in February 2003 to make some final arrangements for the closing (they called it les signatures). We were still living in Calfornia. Instead of flying back to France a third time in less than six months, we went to the French consulate in San Francisco and signed a power of attorney (une procuration) authorizing the French notary handling the transfer to sign for us.
This is our back yard and house in Saint-Aignan.
Here's a view of the house from out in the vineyard. It's the one on the left. Look how much taller the cedar tree on the left is compared to the fir tree on the right.
You can just barely see the roof of the house from this point in the vineyard out back.The signatures took place on April 24, 2003, while we were still in California. We had already sent the money to pay for the house, but we couldn't move to France until our long-stay visas came through. That happened in late May, and we immediately bought plane tickets for a June 1 departure date. That day was the 20th anniversary of our life together as a couple. As a same-sex couple, we weren't allowed to get married until 2012.
I've now lived in this house longer than any other place I've ever lived. I lived at my parents' house in North Carolina from 1951 until 1967. Then I lived in a lot of apartments in N.C., Illinois, France, and Calfiornia (1967 until 1995). In 1995, Walt and I bought a house in San Francisco and lived there for eight years until we sold it in 2003 in order to buy a house in France. (That little purple spot on the photo above is the little plum tree that I planted in 2010, near our garden shed.)
Here's the front of the house, with the red maples planted in front just now leafing out. We've made a lot of changes in 18 years, painting every room, having many new windows put in, and having the unfinished attic space converted into a big room we call the loft, nearly doubling our living space.
I know Walt posted a photo like this one yesterday, but I couldn't resist posting the one I took as well. 
Good views of your property. If I recall correctly, your cedar tree is the tallest tree in your hamlet and can be seen from the other side of the Cher River.
ReplyDeleteI love the new red umbrella. It makes a nice contrast with the greenery beyond.
DeleteI agree about the umbrella. And can you believe it's been 18 years?
DeleteCongratulations to you and Walt on the 18th Anniversay of owning your lovely house!
ReplyDeleteBe it ever so humble
DeleteOMG, 18 years...; time flies! Carpe Diem, guys, you're doing well!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how long you have been in Australia...
Delete9 years and 5 months now, Ken. It turned out to be the best decision we ever took...!
DeleteYes, Ken, time flies. And it was the year of the great canicule if I'm not mistaken,
ReplyDeleteThat's right. We didn't know if we were going to survive that first summer in Saint-Aignan after having spent so many years in damp, chilly San Francisco.
DeleteHappy Anniversary! You have lived what many only dream of.
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky but realistic. We both had spent a lot of time in France and we both understood and spoke the language well enough to do what we needed to do. It has worked out.
DeleteI love these views! Congrats on 20 years!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Judy. you'e two years in advance, it's only 18 years!
DeleteWe had been together for 20 years by June 1, 2003. Now it has been nearly 38 years.
DeleteSorry, i mised the 20 years together. Congrats on the 38!
DeleteRed maples are great trees. They make a nice contrast in the landscaping. A little variety. If you tried to buy a house today (at least in the US), you would have half a day to make a decision and 5 competing bids, lol.
ReplyDeleteOver here, we sent the "honest money" in December. I came back to Saint-Aignan in February, and I believe it was then that the notary asked me when I'd like to do the closing. I suggested April 1, and he said why not April 15? It ended up happening on April 24. There were no other bidders.
DeleteHappy Anniversary! And thank you for the "local" history photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chrissou.
DeleteThose 18 years have breezed by! It was serendipity that we met right before your new life in France began. Lewis and I have so many wonderful memories of our times with y'all.
ReplyDeleteSo do we, with you: Auvergne, le Perche, Saint-Aignan, Paris, Morehead, Anniston and Birmingham...
DeleteAnd the wonderful visit in Albany! I also remember brief stays in Atlanta and Burlington. All because of meeting in a travel forum.
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