Debra and Eric Stillwell, a couple in their 60s, left California five years ago. They now live a relaxed life in France\u2019s Dordogne Valley.<\/p>\n
Eric is a former Star Trek script coordinator and Disney employee. He believes Los Angeles costs kept retirement out of reach. France, however, gave them the freedom to enjoy life sooner.<\/p>\n
The couple, who first met at a Star Trek convention in 1995, had always dreamed of retiring in Europe. Debra\u2019s mother inspired them by taking an early retirement<\/a>. She said it was the best decision of her life.<\/p>\n Their life today is far from what they once faced in Los Angeles. Debts and a mortgage made early retirement impossible for them. Debra said she would have worked for a long time had they stayed in the US.<\/p>\n In France, utilities, food and travel cost much less. Also, cultural options are plenty.<\/p>\n \u201cThe problem was, when we were living in Los Angeles, we couldn\u2019t afford to retire early and still pay off the mortgage and pay off all of the debts<\/a>,\u201d Eric, 62, said.<\/p>\n Both of them are diabetic. So, medical expense was a significant point to consider.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the time\u2026 it would have cost us more than $500 a month each for medical insurance. I think it\u2019s more expensive now,\u201d CNN quoted Debra as saying.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured it out. If we stayed where we were, I would probably have had to work until I was 85,\u201d the 67-year-old said.<\/p>\n Now, they spend afternoons walking cobblestone streets, visiting open-air markets and exploring castles. Sometimes, they travel to Bordeaux to see Debra\u2019s favourite museum, Cit\u00e9 de la Vin.<\/p>\n Debra studied French in Montreal. Eric\u2019s great-grandfather was from France. However, they first thought of moving to Italy. A 2013 wine cruise to Bordeaux helped them decide.<\/p>\n