March 16, 2010

We're living in Paris!

Photo
 

This is what I’ve been sitting on for weeks now.  A total leap of faith. A dream we are no longer content to wait on anymore. We decided now is the time.

We’re living in Paris for a month.

I’ve been sitting on this, because it still doesn’t quite seem real, and so many things have had to come together for this to become real, things that are still coming together quite honestly ~ but I knew when I blogged about it I would be committing to the reality of this dream even more.

So here goes. Years in the making, another dream about to happen.

Sean and I have had a dream of living part-time in Europe pretty much since we met. It’s a dream we shared that bonded us right away. 

The dream began for me as a little girl. My mom is from Germany and our family is there. Fortunate to visit it every year as a child, the time never felt like enough. Europe has felt like a second home to me and I’ve always imagined going for a longer time, maybe even living there part time. 

Somewhere in my ultimate dream and plan for my life I envisioned the freedom to travel the world, to live in new places, to explore any time I want to. This little business of mine I’ve been building has had that intent in mind. Another reason it has all worked out perfectly, I can now work anywhere in the world with an internet connection. 

I am FREE.

I emphasize living and not vacationing for this trip, as we will be experiencing this city as a resident.  This will be a working trip for Sean and I as we are also launching a new e-course this Thursday, inspired by this adventure, that we will teach from Paris! Come with us!!!

Comments (50)

Dearest Marisa, this is such an exciting news! I am really looking forward to your new adventures in Paris! Everything in Europe is just so beautiful. I hope to move and settle down in Germany with Kim (my fiancé) in the coming year{s}. Oh and before i forgot HAPPY Anniversary to you and lovely sean! You guys are such a lovely inspiring couple. :) Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Wow, you guys are total rock stars! I'm so excited to hear this news and to follow the adventure. Please do share as much as you can and want to. We will all be along for the ride.
Congratulations! You did it! So excited for you guys and can't wait to travel vicariously through you. Yum, French food. Cheese. Wine! OLD buildings and slowing down. Wow, it is going to be so inspiring for you. Congrats!
WOW, WOW and more WOW!!!! That is so friggin' awesome! I would not expect anything less from you but living the life you envision. I am genuinely so happy for you and Sean! :-D
OMG, that's fantastic! I hope this turns in to even more opportunities for you. PS Loved the surf photo the the other day.
That is great news! I was fortunate enough to live in Paris and there are those amazing moments when you are walking home with your groceries like any normal person and it just hits you, I am LIVING in PARIS, not visiting, living. It is an amazing feeling. I had it once as I was walking home and could see the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower as I walked up the street and it was snowing. It was an absolutely wonderful feeling and I hope you get to experience it. You will have a blast!
Congratulations Marisa and Sean! You will have the time of your lives! How inspiring! Yay for dreams come true!
This is wonderful exciting news - I am very happy for both you and Sean. It will be a great experience and so much fun. Plus all that inspiration. Hugs to you both
bonjour!

yippee! yippee! yippee! i am so excited for you both.

it is really overwhelming when everything comes together. so glad that it did for you. it's so wonderful to live your dreams.

i am sure that you are going to have a wonderful experience in your "new home". can't wait to read about your adventures and see all the beautiful photos.
This just took my breath away! You are so amazing and your wings just keep taking you higher and higher...
Wow! That is fantastic - congrats and realizing a dream and can't wait to see and read about your adventures! :)
I am in my third month of living in Amsterdam (I moved here from Montreal). Being an expat is exciting and interesting, and if you need to do the paperwork to stay for longer than a tourist is allowed, a lot of work at first. It's probably a lot simpler if you're just there for a month and will free you up to spend more time just enjoying your new home. It's definitely a different experience to live in Europe than just to visit. A month would be tons of time on holiday, but it flies by when you're just getting on with life. But every now and then I get this giddy excited feeling of "Oh my goodness! I'm living in Europe! I can hardly believe it". My sweetie is taking me to Paris for the weekend for my birthday and I keep saying to myself "We can go to Paris ... for the WEEKEND!! squeee!" Sometimes it just doesn't sound possible that this is MY life. So I hope you have a fabulous time with many such giddy-happy moments!
wow! what exciting news. good for you marisa! I look forward to seeing the art Paris inspires in you.

btw, my partner loved the Love book i got her for her birthday.
A huge HORRAY for you and Sean!!! This is so exciting! I sort of assumed that this was coming, from hints that you've dropped. Wow, I can't wait to follow along and live vicariously through you for now. Frank and I have always had a similar dream. I lived abroad as a child and just have always had this insatiable wander lust. I can't wait to hear where this takes you!
xoFaith
What a dream :) So glad you are making it real! Can't wait to hear more about the e-course!!!
Bonjour cher ami! It's just incredible! Paris- is my old dream too! Very awesome that you live there now! Good luck, look don't get lost there! hihi...=)
congratulations on making your dream a reality!
This is amazing news! So happy for you and Sean! You're an awesome role model as you make your dreams become reality!
I knew you'd make it happen. So excited for you.
Marisa --
I am so incredibly happy for you! You are living, breathing, and being the dream.
I, too, love Europe. EN-JOY!!
P.S. Will we get to see Olive or one of the gang in a painting wearing a beret? ;)
how EXCITING. i am so happy for you both.
thanks everyone!!!! your excitement is making me even MORE excited and I love hearing from those of you are/have been expats ~ so cool!
mais oui!! Olive might need to wear something French!
Stop dreaming and just do it! And you are! That is fantastic, what an amazing experience you are going to have. Bon voyage!
Im so happy for you Marisa, I was a first fishbowl student of yours. Will your course be a repeat, or something new? Congrats on accomplishing a big goal of yours.
something new!! a brand new e-course!!!
congratulations on your adventure!
Yippee!
Have a fantastic time living your dream....
Bon Voyage!
I am soo happy for both of you! Marisa, you are such an inspiration :) you walk the walk and talk the talk.
I know that there are infinite possiblities and wonderful opportunities for both you.
Have lots of fun! Your student from the fishbowl :)
Sarah
Oh my! This is amazing--as I'm sure everyone else has said here! Congratulations on making this a reality! I have a similar dream in mind---I was fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time in Italy growing up, and I hope to make a similar reality in the future! I can't wait to read your blog posts from Paris!
CONGRATS!!! love it! I always dream with living in Europe part of the year... I guess I should check my plans with my husband ;)
Enjoy it!!
Congratulations Marisa! You guys are such an inspiration! When I was in college I got lucky enough to have a summer internship in Germany and the next summer in Sweden. That's when I became a HUGE fan of LIVING in other countries as opposed to visiting or vacationing. It is just such a different experience. I am really hoping I get to do it again someday, so thanks for pioneering this new lifestyle :)

PS Do you speak German? I took a year of it in college after my internship and ended up really liking the language. It was one of the few that made sense to me. (except for der, die, das! Ugh!)
I crossed the Atlantic but the other way. From Paris to New Jersey. Oh I miss Paris!! Have fun
cool Marisa! Which district are you staying in?

I will be in Paris next week while Cathy goes to Florida, may be we can have a drink?
Hehe - I knew it! There were too many clues - especially after your post looking to sublet your lovely LA abode ; ) So super excited for the both of you!!
Ah - April in Paris - does it get much sweeter than that?
Fishie here...This has been a dream of mine too. I love that you are DOING IT, first for YOU and second because it inspires ME to GO FOR IT!!! Yes, this whole Etsy thing has been all about wanting mobility for me TOO! I have family in Italy and Costa Rica and am a gypsy at heart. Can't wait to hear more from you on Thursday!!
I can't wait to read as you go along on this adventure. How exciting! Yay for making a dream come true!
Thanks Noelle ~ you know were going to be enjoying some good wine too ;)
I do! speak German! however dont test me on my knowledge of der, die, das....
we wont be there until April. Will you still be there?
oh...No I will be back, I got confused with the "we are living in Paris", I thought you were there already! ;)
Congrats! I have a list of cities I'd like to live in for a period of time. Thanks for showing us how it's done!
how exciting and fun!! congratulations! Cant wait to see pictures and the artwork that comes of this!
How cool! Don't worry, I won't be giving any kinds of German quizes. Mein Deutsch ist so schlecht jezt. Ich spreche Deutsch fast nie. Na ja! Alles gut :) So no worries, it is just fun to know you speak it.
Tschuess!
-Kristen
Those baubles look awfully familiar.

And, oh yeah. DUDE. You're going to Paris! So thrilled for you. We have to celebrate (after Easter) with cupcakes. Or french macarons.
thought you might recognize those baubles! :) turns out that was an exceptionally inspiring day. Yes, a celebration with macaroons sounds good!!
Awesome! I have been lucky enough to go to Paris four times, the last being in May. We rented an apartment for a week and lived like Parisians. Good for you. I'll be tuning in to see what you and Sean are up to. Safe travels.
so jealous.
I've been slow in reading up the blogs I follow and just now realized what you are doing. Congrats on making your dream come true, you are a great inspiration for me. It's so hard to make these things happen (from my point of view), thanks for sharing soooo much!!
PS: I just read thru your newer posts too, the jealousy post AWESOM!, makes me more AWARE of recognizing what I want. Thanks AGAIN Marisa!!