The Unglamorous Side of Bi-Continental Living -s3ep41
In today’s episode of The Life of a Bon Vivant Podcast, Beeta shares the real side of living a bicontinental life between France and the U.S. Inspired by a recent article she read about a traveling nurse, Beeta opens up about the emotional and logistical challenges that come with splitting time between two countries. Beeta offers an honest look at what it truly means to balance life across two continents beyond the Instagram highlights.
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Hello Beeta, You hit upon so many relevant points of a bi-coastal life. I did it for five years, actually purchased an apartment, and then decided it was too much.
Relationships: I was crazy and did 90 days in one location and 90 days back in Paris. I ended up not really feeling connected to either location…people begin to always think you are somewhere else and slowly disconnect….. plus, when you have close family, it’s really hard to miss all the day to day, seemingly irrelevant times together that glue a relationship.
Owning an apartment in Paris: It was overwhelming and I even had a fantastic guardian (concierge) in my building. Owning an apartment in Paris has a multitude of responsibilities you can’t imagine having if you own a similar apartment in the states as an example. Plus, the political/tax assessment situation towards non-resident home owners has changed significantly over the past 5 years, which no one really talks about. I finally sold my apartment because I felt so unprotected and costs just kept rising. I agree with you to rent, but even that is complicated as you beautifully point out.
Loved this podcast- and thank you for sharing your thoughts. It was comforting to hear that I’m not the only one who experiences stress by living a bi-coastal life. 💚
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Sharri! I can obviously relate to so much of what you said. What you mentioned about relationships and that feeling of being between two worlds resonates deeply. It’s exactly that sense of never being fully “there” that can make a bi-coastal life feel really tough at times.
And yes, owning in Paris sounds like quite the adventure! I’ve heard similar stories from others who found the realities of property ownership in France far more complex than expected, especially with how things have shifted for non-residents in recent years. It’s so validating to hear your perspective, and I completely understand why you chose to sell.
I’m truly glad the podcast resonated with you. There’s such comfort in realizing we’re not alone in navigating this lifestyle, especially because social media only tends to show the highlight reels! Thank you for adding your voice to the conversation. 💛