Trying to work out what we'll do...

Lockdown has given us lots of time to think about our move to France - but unfortunately it means we are currently unable to do much more than that. We have a long list of possible properties, with perhaps 5 favourites and 2 real contenders.

But, given we don't know what we are actually going to be able to do when we get out there to earn a living it is making narrowing down what we really want from a house - and where that house should be rather difficult. We love Aude and the Langeudoc - but we can get much more for our money in the Limousin, though we've never been there and have no idea whether or not we actually like it!

I will confess that trying to make a decision about which house to buy when I was unable to go on my planned viewing trip in March is driving me crazy. When I decide I am going to do something, I want to be able to make it happen straight away. That I can't because of a dodgy virus that seems to want to dispense with a large chunk of the human race is frustrating - especially as I am amongst those at higher risk of complications should I get it. I feel a bit petty being frustrated regarding a house purchase under the circumstances, but I can't help it, I am pissed that this happened when it did.

I hate that people are sick and dying. I have spent much of my life trying to help people get well or have supported them with disabilities and in old age, so I am not heartless and selfish. I have no intention of breaking out of my self-isolation bubble to put myself or others at risk until there is a vaccine available. I mourn every one of those anonymous numbers. Each and every one of them was somebody's sister, mother, brother, son, husband, father. As are those who are struck by this virus who survive. They and their families will never be the same again.

But the dreamer in me wants to get on the first available flight to France - because that is where I want to be. I have wanted to be there for years and just as that dream was coming close enough to sniff it, it has been moved back to an unknowable date. I know it will happen - but it is so frustrating that I have no timeframe and no way of creating one. I like to know when and how things will occur - this is driving my autistic/ADHD brain mad because there is so much uncertainty.

Part of me feels reckless and just wants to put in an offer on something, just so I feel I have done something - but I know that doing that would be crazy. If we already had the money for the 3 houses in Languedoc that we rather like, then I would probably have taken a risk and just gone for it. We know we love it there, we know the villages and the area each of the properties is in and I am sure we would be happy there. The other big bonus of buying here would be that all 3 properties are already on mains drainage, so no need to upgrade the fosse septique!

However, I need to earn a bit more money so we can afford these houses so don't dare make an offer until I know we have it and all bar one of these would need us to have a way to earn money outside of the house. The third option here would give us scope to develop a gite business, but that would take time (and more money) to get up and running as the property isn't quite set up for that yet.

The other properties that we like are in Creuse. One just a few minutes from the lake in the photograph. But, we haven't been to this area before so though we have the money in the savings account that would buy either of the properties here, we don't dare take the risk!

We have dithered over whether we want to aim for self-sufficiency, raising a few animals (preferably alpacas or sheep!) or if we want to set up a campsite or a B&B. But in truth, we are only really looking to keep Aidan busy, as I can do my writing work anywhere in the world (as long as my clients keep wanting me to do things.) It is easy to forget that we won't need as much money as we do here to live as we have been paying rent for so long that the idea of it not being required is a bit crazy and unbelievable.

Of course there will still be internet, utilities, taxes etc that need paying, but I think that our living costs will be at least £1000 cheaper in France than they are here, which means that though we will need an additional income to mine, it doesn't need to be as much as Aidan is currently earning - though we will still need money to do the places up on top of that!

All of this has had us going back and forth over whether to buy a holiday home to start with and then look for something with business potential later - or to go with something that could be both. I have elderly parents and this crisis has made me realise just how difficult I find it when I can't get to them. A move to France while they are still with us could make things very difficult should anything happen to them that needs me to get home quickly. We also have an aging cat (the delightfully furry Bob) whose needs rule the household.

I am not a particularly patient person, and all the going round in circles about what we might do when we get out there to make a living, which house will suit us best, which area is the right one is starting to drive me a bit bonkers. I keep coming back to the 2 houses in Creuse, partly because we have the money there to buy them outright, right now, but also because there is scope with both of them to create income without too much effort required - at least I hope there is!

With this in mind I have contacted the Mairie in both places to see if the plans we have in mind would be possible. To create a glamping site at either house would be relatively straightforward and we would be able to have it up and running within a year - if we are granted the permissions needed for a toilet and shower block, a permanent barbeque area and the camping pods we'd like to add to the site. We also need to know if we would be able to get the permissions required to turn the barns and outbuildings into living accomodation so that we can create gîtes or a B&B.

I am really hoping that travel will be permitted again soon so we can do a lightning quick trip to the Limousin to check out these properties soon. Then I can start doing a bit more than just ogling log cabins and bell tents online and actually start planning how to make it all happen. I am gearing up the spreadsheet ready to get started as keeping an eye on every penny is going to be essential!