Decision Day + 8

Decision Day + 8

It's been 8 days since we decided to move to France - 8 days and a lot of things done!

One sleepless night of research hinted at a plan, and days of follow-through refined it:

• go through the French consulate in San Francisco; check the long-term visa requirements, and get an appointment
• create a timeline (mid-November to end of January), with important tasks to complete
• list risks and mitigations: biggest risk is if my visa is delayed or denied
• start on the application; meet with our local honorary consulate for advice (whew! that helped a *lot!*) This significantly lowered the main risk, and led us to set our plan more concretely. 
• make a list of possible / probable additional documents
• discuss plans with family (yay! everyone is going to help!)
• settle on a "move" date; arrange a month in a vacation rental, and get the full address
• buy air tickets, arrange a rental car and first night hotel. Buying tickets early meant we got a good flight for less; if we are delayed, it will cost more - but the consulate visit made this a low risk (of course, it could still happen - fingers crossed not)
• get travel (health) insurance , including the first 3 months in France; note that it is extendable
• order marriage certificate
• test packed the car. We will drive with: 2 people (that would be us), 4 large suitcases (take to France), 2 footlockers (store in California), a cooler, and a few miscellaneous items (whatever else fits, hah!)

Whew! What could possibly be left?!? Well...

Early December:

• visa appointment in San Francisco; see what else they want. Perhaps a letter of good conduct from the police. I called them; they need an official request from the consulate to do this.
• get a better idea of whether my visa will go through or be delayed (more fingers crossed)
• start getting rid of things: sell, donate, toss

Late December:

• final medical appointments, get any prescriptions we need to last us till we find a doctor in France
• finalize packing
• drive to California

Early January:

• visit family
• wait for visa; supply any missing documents (low risk of delay)
• sell car

Late January:

• fly to Atlanta, drive to Florida; visit family
• fly to France:
• get rental car; make sure all 4 suitcases fit (low risk)
• stay first night in Toulouse
• drive to our apartment (near Montpellier, on the Mediterranean), check in!

February:

• start integrating :-)