Depending on where you live you can try a home exchange. It saves money and gives you a lot of conviences.

I don't see anything wrong with it if you aren't going into debt to do it and want to.

I think it's a little unrealistic for many people to think repeat and longterm visits are going to be like the glow of a first-time vacation in a spot, though. You are going to have to arrange health insurance, which will be another expense. Some of those travelers' policies may not cover that long a time, and I think they often have surcharges, if they do (the usual is around 30 days coverage, I think). You don't say what kind of insurance you have in the US--hopefully it will remain intact, because if you don't have any, or drop US coverage, that can affect your future rates and ability to get insurance in the US--at least without pre-existing conditions clauses. I believe there is a grace period of 63 days (under HIPAA law) for you to be without health insurance before a company can then consider your pre-existing conditions in coverage. Maybe you don't have any condition that you would worry about that, though.

It isn't that easy to get a "nanny" job in France--I know someone who tried and there is too much competition; some of the families want someone fluent in French, also (which my friend was, but still couldn't get a job). You know your current situation, but I wouldn't think your current employer would be supportive of you taking off 2 months because if they need a nanny, they can't usually be without one for several months, and it is hard to make casual shortterm arrangments for that kind of thing.

Alicia, we live in a tourist destination and it took me several years to get up the nerve to put an end to the tour guide business.

If it's not a really, really good friend, I say something like, "Oh that's great you're coming to town. If you don't already have a hotel reservation, let me suggest.....". Then I say "We've got something going on Friday night but let's meet for drinks or dinner on Saturday" or lunch Sunday or whatever. And "You really should take the walking tour, that number is>>..."

This sounds terrible but my own mother does not know we own a beach rental. We would never get her out of there. Very few of our friends know about it and still we get asked all the time if our condo is "free" such & such a weekend. I say I really don't know because we have a management company on site that takes care of all that but here's the number. Be sure and tell them you're a friend of ours.

It literally took years for me to be able to pull that off but we really had no choice. It was getting totally out of hand.

I considered a home exchange. Being the building manager though it may not work well. I might have to ask a friend to fill in for me while away.

Alicia- when is your trip? I haven't even started seriously investigating apts. And I'm being quiet about the idea since that's all it is for now.

I thought about the au pair gig but having had a bad situation here at home I'm more cautious about who I work for. I think pure holiday would be great!

As for health insurance I have individual coverage that is paid in full every year. I guess I would have to check with them about coverage in Paris. Is there supplemental travel health insurance that is nessasary? I've never taken out any and even have traveled when I had no "home" coverage.

Again thanks for all the support!
Keely

Re. health insurance: Just check w/ your plan - it's most likely you will not need to do anything additional.

As for the length of your trip: Paris is one of the few places (like NY, London or Rome) that will keep you enthralled for that length of time. Remember there are also other places easily reached by train from Paris as well.

Traveled with no "home" coverage keely?

Wow! That's stunning to me. I've never, ever been without health insurance. It's not optional. It's absolutely mandatory. You'll never know how much you need insurance in the US until you don't have it and have an "incident."

Please, please be careful. If you've gambled without insurance in the past, you need to realize how important it is. If my choice were a trip to Europe or health insurance, I'd choose health insurance every single time.

I think living in Paris and getting an apartment is the easiest part of this.

Trickier I believe is all the stuff on the home front. Either leave of absense or quitting your nanny job, having to give up your cheap apartment deal or finding someone to sublease plus cover what you do there for two months if this is even allowable with your apartment owner, saving up enough cash, etc.

Once you have the time off and have the money saved "renting an apartment in the Marais" will be a piece of cake.

Ya, I thought the preparations would be the tricky part. I think when it comes down to it I'll figure out how to make it work.

Indy: I understand your concerns w/insurance. I know how lucky I was nothing happened when I was uncovered and that luck runs out. I'm more careful now

Now to just pinch my pennies...

Hi Keely,

The apt rental term is Oct 9 - Dec 4. I started looking at rentals in February to get an idea of what I wanted and where. Through March and April I started contacting landlords on availability.

A few of my selections were already booked for random weeks duirng my stay and I thought I better get on this or I may have a hard time securing a place for 8 straight weeks.

Since I was doing this sight unseen it was suggested to stay at hotel in Paris than look around for an apt but people book they're rental time anywhere from 8-16 months in advance. Forget about peak season...

I still have most of the print outs, if you're interested I'd be happy to share them with you, I'm in Bellevue. [email protected]

Linda,
I laughed out loud about your beach rental arrangement. My husband and I have discussed purchasing one and how to avoid telling the family about it!