Southern Fried French

The Vacation Lifestyle: Could You Do It Too?

Heather and Kent (of the blog Unexcused Absenses) were hardworking professionals living a perfectly normal, crazed, American life, with vacations that were WAY too short for their tastes.  But instead of just dreaming of leaping into a saner life, they sat down and made a plan.  Now, just short of middle age, they are living the life they love.  I asked them how they did it, and here is their answer. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who's ever dreamed of a different sort of life.  (Some of you may have read parts of this post over at The Daily Basics, but I'm running an expanded version here, to give their thoughtul plan a wider audience). Here is Heather and Kent's recipe for making dreams come true. 

 On Living Our Dream in The Low Rent District of the High Life

On the surface, we look like globe trotters with fat wallets stuffed with trust fund dollars. Each year we enjoy months of cruising the canals of France on our boat, Après Ski. During the winter, we live at one of the most expensive and exclusive ski resorts in the world, Beaver Creek, Colorado (the upscale, sister resort of Vail). It surprises folks when they learn we're not wealthy trust-funders, dot com millionaires or even spies. We're just two people, in our 40's, settled in what we refer to as the low-rent district of the high life.

The choices that enable us to live this 'vacation lifestyle' at a relatively young age flow from a few basic principles. We aggressively fund our savings, keep operating expenses small, make targeted capital expenditures, and eschew traditional careers. We focus on enjoying life now - while we can.

In the vacation lifestyle, we define our dreams in terms of how spend our time each day. One day last winter, I asked my husband, Kent, to describe his ideal winter day; catching first tracks on the slopes, he replied, and dinner later with friends. I pointed out that additional money wouldn't make it snow more, the lifts open earlier or the ski day longer. With more money we could step out of a slope-side mansion instead of packing a lunch and catching the bus. In the evening we could host friends a fancy restaurant in neighboring Vail rather than using our grill -- but our daily routine would be unchanged. If you compare our actual day to our ideal day, we have achieved our dream.

A Tale of Three Golfers

I often hear, "I want to golf every day when I retire," when folks share dreams of retirement. Here are three imaginary scenarios:

Golfer A purchases a lovely home on a golf course in Florida. This home includes mandatory fees at the country club, monthly dining minimums and high yearly association fees. Golfer A enjoys a great standard of living, with all the perks of living the country club life, and golfs every day outside his house. 

Golfer B retires in her existing home in South Carolina, taking a part-time job as a starter at a favorite local course. As an employee, the course waives her greens fees and offers her a good discount at the pro shop. She continues to live close to her life-long friends and golfs every day for free.

Golfer C answers an ad in the Maui News. A small, family-run condo complex offers free lodging in exchange for several hours of handyman work per day as well 24-hour availability for emergencies. As Maui County resident, Golfer C golfs every day for $10 per round at the ocean-front municipal course.

 All these golfers live their dream of daily golf, but Golfer C lives in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet and does it for far less money than the other two golfers. Thanks to lower costs, Golfer C starts playing daily golf years before Golfer A can save enough to fund his version of the same retirement dream or Golfer B can pay off her mortgage. Golfer C lives the vacation lifestyle.

The Vacation Lifestyle Guiding Principles

While this isn't the usual sort of recipe you'll see in the Southern Fried French blog, here are a few guidelines that help us shape our lives so that we can go now, go with less and live vacation lifestyle.

Rule 0 - Pay yourself first.

This is the baseline behavior from which all the benefits of the vacation lifestyle flow. No matter how large or small your income, always put aside part of your income into your savings while eschewing debt. It's unlikely you will be able to retire at a higher standard of living than when you work, so living on less and saving more accelerates you toward retirement. 

Rule 1 - You can't spend like you're on vacation when you live the vacation lifestyle. 

Over the years. we've learned that you will pay the same amount for housing in a resort town no matter how long you stay. Stay in a nice hotel for a week, rent short-term for a month, or lease for an entire season and you'll pay approximately the same price. Therefore, we stay in one place for big chunks of time in order to keep expenses down. We also limit our meals out to once per week, don't have smartphones or cable TV, and opt to see local bands in dive bars over bigger shows. 

Rule 2 - Act like a local - join the community.

A job? Absolutely a necessity! A vacation lifestyle job (which might be a volunteer position) is about much more than earning money, it is about joining the community. I find it necessary for a one's well-being not just to consume goods and services, but to offer something of value to those around you.

Acting like a local also means cooking like a local -- in your home. I'm sure the readers of this blog can attest to how much pleasure one takes from interacting with other cooks, vendors and fellow food-lovers. Entertain friends new and old at your home (or boat!) and rediscover the pleasures of the table. 

 Rule 3 - Invest in skills and that further your lifestyle.

Instructing others in your favorite sport or hobby or working in an industry which interests you offers good leverage for the vacation lifestyle. Insiders, no matter what industry, often receive hefty discounts or freebies. Generally, the more you dive into any hobby, the less likely it is you'll pay top dollar for training, supplies, or access to facilities. We work at Beaver Creek as part-time ski instructors and race coaches. This gives us our season ski passes, provides an awesome inside track for gear, makes us true seasonal locals, and covers the bulk of our lodging expense during the season.

Rule 4 - Own things that bring down your operating expenses.

Our 20-year-old, 29-foot canal boat, Après Ski, cost about the same as a mid-sized sedan. The cost of purchase and operation of our boat is significantly less than renting a similar vessel long-term. Assuming we get 60% of our capital back when we sell, we will have paid 20% to 30% of the going rental rate for our vacation once operating expenses are factored into the financials. 

Rule 5 - Find your kindred spirits and pool resources. 

By pooling resources with friends with different interests, we can each benefit from one another's vacation lifestyles. We always have room for friends on our couch during ski season, and likewise we can join them at their golf club during the spring. We find it great fun to share resources!

Define your Dream and GO

We once dreamed of owning a half million dollar sailboat with which to see the world. As it turns out, we actually wanted to travel and to live on a boat, not necessarily sail around the world. We've found a way to live our dream for a tiny fraction of what we once thought we needed! We ply the waters of France rather than crossing oceans, but we love every minute of our adventures.

Examine what it is you really want. Imagine your perfect day or week; what do you see yourself doing? Is there a way to structure your life so that it costs little or nothing to do this? Give up the expensive material trappings decorating your dream, the idea that all work stops when your dream starts, and embrace the vacation lifestyle. Be creative, look for the inside track, and don't be afraid to go for it. Once you leap, you'll be amazed the opportunities you can find!

Many people work longer than necessary, and wait too long to fulfill a dream only to see the realities of old age thwart it. Try going now, going with less, and living your dream sooner by adopting the vacation lifestyle. If you're willing to reside in the low-rent district, you too can live the high life!

Mille mercis, Heather and Kent!  You can find them on the ski slopes, aboard Après Ski, and on the internet at UnexcusedAbsences.com.

Now, loyal readers and dreamers, any tips for us from your experience, on attaining the Vacation Lifestyle?  Or--what  lifestyle have you been lusting after?

If you missed our June post about visiting Heather and Kent's boat for a trip down the canal, you can read it here.

 

The Best Provençal Town That Isn't in Provence

You could be forgiven for thinking the pretty, slightly faded town of Uzès was in Provence.  It has the wide square full of blowsy plane trees, the smokers with faces tanned to leather lanquishing at outdoor cafés, the gritty, sun-baked feel of a southern town. I’ve even seen guide books list it as  Provence.  But in fact it's a smidge over the border, in the Languedoc.  

After passing a stressful couple of weeks, to regroup we up and went to Uzès last week, for a little retreat.  It’s not the first time we’ve been there, and it won’t be the last.  If you’re visiting either Provence or the Languedoc, this may be be your perfect home base.

Uzès has an embarrassment of riches:  its lovely square is reminiscent of Italy, with deep loggias shading the buildings and the soothing sound of the fountain that sits at its center.  It has a number of fabulous restaurants.  It was a Gallo-Roman settlement and is chock full of history, with three feudal towers, a chapel and a cathedral. It’s just a skip and a jump from Avignon, Nimes, and Orange.  It’s a bit of an antique center, so there’s brocanting galore.  It also has the liveliest Saturday market in the area (photo, right).

To add to that, it has our new favorite inn, discovered by our good friends Gerad and Maria on their last visit.  It's a chambre d’hote really, with five rooms plus a two bedroom apartment.  You might pass by the Maison de la Bourgade, on a narrow rue, without a second thought.  But push open the double oak doors and you’re in a Provençal (well, a Languedoc-ian ) dreamworld.  There’s a welcoming foyer and a big living room strewn with books and sofas you could sink into deeply.  Go out through the portes-fênetres to a big walled garden and there is cool grass, a palm tree, and an arbor of vines.  In the shade of a giant mulberry tree, the delightful hostess Elisabeth might be serving guests an over-the-top breakfast.  When we were there the spread included pastries, numerous bakery breads, and cheeses.  Plus there was fresh peach salad with mint, and little individual strawberry-apple fruit smoothies.   And something special each day: Elisabeth served us homemade crêpes one day, and crème caramel (for breakfast!) the next. We spent our leisurely petits déjeuners chatting with an three different charming couples, who hailed from Australia,  California, and Atlanta. It was all quite divine; one day we barely left the garden (at left in photo, courtesy of Maison de la Bourgade).

When we did venture out, it was off to a nearby  Unesco site, the Pont du Gard.  An enormous Roman aqueduct built in first century, the site includes a truly fascinating museum that takes you through the process of building an aqueduct.  Next trip we want to rent kayaks and paddle down the Gardon river, to view the Pont from above. (photos below,  the Pont du Gard, and the river Gardon viewed from the acqueduct).

All relaxed now.  Does this have you dreaming of your next trip?  Hope so!

Speaking of trips, several loyal readers have visited the château this year!  It was great to meet Judy and her husband Fred from NC, and Jacki from Boise, and then our beloved Belinda and Mark from Pittsburgh came for a return visit.  

Favorite Reads:  Look for the stunning fall/winter issue of the Country French 'bookazine' if you love French decor.  I wrote two of the articles in this issue. One features the NC home of our great friends Rudy and Ellen, who have a house near us as well. The other is the New Orleans home of Alix and Paul (who've shared their Spanish omelette and gazpacho recipes with us), who also have a house in Provence.  You may not find Country French at the grocery store, since it's more book than magazine, but your local bookstore should have it.  Meanwhile one of our readers, Christine Webb-Curtis, has written a mystery I can't wait to check out, called The Diva's Demise -- A Cape Cod Crime Mystery.  Most intriguing!  

In the COMMENTS: Merci for the kind comments.  Hampton, yes I've been making white peach jam from the peaches that fall over from my neighbor's tree.  Linda, happy moving and keep speaking French, even if you are amusant! Sandy and Natalia and Mary James at Mary James en Provence are all thinking of the bedtime French program, and trying the nighttime osmosis plan for learning French, good luck with that.  I'll join you if it works.

The Small Pleasures of Village Life

Life in a French Village is quiet, but dull it is not.  Since we are on the main village road, there often seems to be a procession of some sort passing by:  an antique car rally appears out of nowhere, or there’s a wedding at the church and the guests sashay by, the ladies sporting their outrageous, colorful hats. On memorial holidays the pompiers (fire fighters) step out smartly in uniform, to honor the war dead.  I’ve walked out of the gate and nearly been run over by a cow, since the farmer often moves his herd to another field by way of our little road.  Photo, above:  A bride and groom depart in their camionette, thoughtfully decorated by their friends (Is that a coffin on top?).

Then there are the undercurrents of daily life that keep things interesting.  I won't repeat the current gossip, but one evening this week we were drinking wine with our favorite neighbors  Marion and Jean-Marie outside on our galerie, and we got to talking about past life in the village.  There is no commerce now in our village, but the farmer across the way once had a café in his barn, where the men would stop in on Sundays for un verre de vin while the women and children went on to church. Looks like the guys got their communion wine one way or another.  

Marion also told the story of the former owner of their house.  He was was having an affair with une femme just down the road (une femme tombé, a fallen woman, since she’d previously had an affair with and a child by one of her mother’s lovers).  Monsieur routinely rolled his mobilette down the hill to her house with the motor off so no one would hear, but of course nobody was fooled.  Finally one morning the villagers saw her shiny patent leather shoes placed boldly outside his door.  This was a sign to all:  the affair is official, so Get Over It.  

As we chatted, un carrosse, pulled by a large, beautiful horse, zipped by at a good clip.  Seeing me run into the road with my camera, the driver and his wife kindly turned around and came back for a photo op.  Turns out they were from a neighboring village, and were taking their prize work horse of 20 years out for une promenade.  While we were chatting Ron had to scoop up our fearless and lackadaisical cat, who strolled up and walked right under the giant beast.

Just another evening in Burgundy, and excitement enough for these former city dwellers.

 

In the COMMENTS:  Everyone seemed to like the cooker made from a bathtub.  Now you must read about Debbie's equally creative bar-g-que grill!

Favorite Reads:  The best speaker in our French conversation group is our friend Richard, and he really works at it.  Yesterday he brought his favorite grammer book to class, which he says is straightforward and clearly written: French Grammar and Usage. How's this for dedication:  he reads it straight through once a year!  Great idea, I'm going to put a copy by my bed and do a brief one-page lesson every night. A quick search reveals a practice workbook by the same authors: Practicing French Grammar. Merci Richard, and happy studying to all!  (and yes, my book on language learning is still in progress, delayed by way too much summer fun.)

Au Château: Nicole, Out of Control

Photo:  Balloons over Balleure at the fête, photo by Margaret Fleming

The last time Nicole, our beloved châtelaine, threw a party at Balleure, it was to celebrate her retirement, and she invited 200 of her closest friends.  The catering crew?  Yours truly, and the rest of our French class, with some help from friends in the village.  It was fun, but it was so much work  (400 homemade chocolate chip cookies take a while) that after that we all put Nicole on Party Probation.

But it didn’t take.  She had a birthday this year with a big zero in it.  Once more, she was out of control.

She invited a mere 150 folks this time, though, for a sit-down lunch.  C’était du boulot, as they say (it was quite a job), but you had to admire the organization.  Nicole hired a refrigerator truck, which was parked in the barn, and the village loaned some huge tents.  The day before the fête, each of our various nationalities made a couple of dessert and salad specialties together, in the summer kitchen.  For Ali, Belinda and me, that meant a few hundred brownies and we peeled 18 pounds of potatoes for our salad.  At the “American Bar”, Ron (in formal attire for the occasion) and Monty set up for the margaritas and ‘Sex on the Beach’ which would be the featured cocktails for apéros.   Photo: Our bartenders in their  tabliers, serving up some Sex on the Beach to our Dutch friends Frank and Marjo.

As for the meat course, Henri from Lyon presided over the méchoui, the roasting of two  sheep and a couple of enormous fresh hams.  The cooking apparatus showcased French ingenuity:  two cast iron bath tubs for the fire, a spit made from car parts, and a motor from a washing machine.  The cooking crew started at 5 am.

The party went off without a hitch. The  weather was fine, great food, happiness all around.  After lunch the revelers gathered on the hill behind the château for a little surprise:  small hot air balloons were floated into the skies, to fête the birthday girl.  Of course one landed just out of reach in a peach tree and nearly started a fire, but a little drama is always good.

French lunches are never short affairs, but this one set a record:  we started at noon and rolled home around 8 pm.  But it appears we left too early, as most of the crowd stayed until 9:30.  Joyeux Anniversaire to our dear Nicole!  Now can we talk about that Party Probation again?

 

RECIPES:  A few Party Food Ideas

If you're having a big fête, you might steal some ideas from our international salad buffet.  For our potato salad, we kept it simple with the classic Old Fashioned Potato Salad from Gourmet. Maria (from the Dutch contingen) served melon slices over a bed of arugula with procuitto, pine nuts, and slices of fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Mariella (Australian, with Italian roots), made a great seafood salad with shrimp and crunchy veggies, tossed with lettuce.

Photo: The Birthday Girl (right) shares a laugh with Pierre, Andrée, and Marie-Louise. She's getting ready to cut our local baker Adrian's fabulous cake, which had layers of fresh fruit inside.

 

In the COMMENTS:  Last week's post on Le Sandwich prompted some good recipe ideas, from Suzanne, Jan, and  Heather of the Lost in Arles blog. Natalia love Croque Monsieurs.  Libby, bon voyage!  And Frank is planning next year's trip to France over a bowl of gazpacho (with his own secret ingredient).  Veronique of French Girl in Seattle remembers her first encounter with an American sandwich!

Photo: "la, la, la-la-la", says the crowd. I love this French tradition of celebrating. They are doing "La Bourgogne", a regional drinking song that involves clapping in rhythm and hand movements.