The south of France has always called to me, even before I met the Frenchman I married. Fifteen years ago, we spent part of our summer in Antibes, just west of Nice. I went to a French immersion program at the Centre International d’Antibes (highly recommend this place!). We fell in love with the old city, the beautiful and rugged Cap d’Antibes, the light, the weather, the food, the Marché Provencal. We made dear friends who we’ve stayed in touch with.

Last summer, we returned to Antibes for the first time. And I felt… at home. Like I was returning to a place that was an essential part of me that I had somehow, strangely, forgotten.

After a day spent at the beach, wandering through narrow streets, exploring the farmer’s market, enjoying an amazing meal at a tiny local restaurant, and then stumbling upon this festive plaza, I knew I had to come back, and keep coming back, to Antibes.This was the moment I turned to my husband and said, we could live here, you know. Part of the year, for now. I love this place.

When you marry someone from another place, there’s always the possibility that someday, you might relocate. It’s always been in the back of our minds: do we stay here? Where do we belong? Should we? Shouldn’t we? We’ve lived with the understood assumption that when we could, we would spend more time in France. Or maybe move there. Or maybe have a home there and here. We just hadn’t ever, said – let’s do it.

We spent much of our school holidays in France this year. The kids went to the same immersion school I went to. I joined them for a week. We explored Antibes and checked out apartments. The more time we spent there, the more sure we were that Antibes is perfect for us. All of us. I love it. Stéphane loves it. The kids, despite being pulled away from friends during the summer and one of them thinking any place that is hot and doesn’t have snow is basically hell, adore Antibes. The Med, the pizza, and the gelatto were all good selling points.

“Maybe someday….” is the phrase of dreams.

We decided that someday is today.

A few months ago, we found an apartment that’s perfect for us. It’s on the “debut du Cap” a short walk to the Med, a short walk to the heart of Antibes, close to bus routes, and – bonus – a short walk to where some friends live.

We love it. And in a few days, we will sign the final paperwork and it will be ours.

I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to do this. I can’t quite process that this is real.

For now, it will be a vacation place for us and we’ll rent it out the rest of the year. (After all, mortgage payments are the reality of dreams like this!) We have work, school, and ties to Colorado.

Still, maybe, someday….