Fair question.
I speak French (I'm currently learning it by doing about 7 hours of face to face contact per week - it's been a great way to kill time during COVID when I haven't always been able to to do my usual hobbies). France is lovely. It has many of the things you highlight are benefits of Australia -
social security, wildlife, outdoors. France has a pretty good health care system. The weather where I would go (probably Aix-en-Provence or Montpellier) is pretty nice (better than Canberra where I currently really enjoy living - I think Canberra is one of the best places in the world to live form my perspective - it's educated, affluent, has no traffic problems, and is close to Sydney - I could never live in a really large city).
My plan is to move to France for five years and get joint citizenship after that period. After that, I may choose to live 6 months per year in France and six months per year in Australia (spending 6 months in France to play in a local squash comp and then coming back to Canberra to play in the local squash comp). Perhaps after five years I will choose to return to Australia and buy a little place on the south coast of NSW??? The plan is basically to do something exciting and enjoyable for a while, and France seems like a good option. I would like to reward myself for making it this far by doing something enjoyable and relaxing for a bit.
I'm 38, and am never going to have kids, so the plan is to retire very early and do something fun and enjoyable. Where I will spend my older age, however, is a question hat I will have to consider closer to the date.
I don't' have half a million in NC6 (I did when it was 23 cents LOL). I've got 2 million oppies and 1.5 million shares, I will probably sell some on the way up to reach my retirement milestones.
It's fun to dream.
Aix-En-Provence...
