Thanks, luvyrself. We plan to. I hope to visit the areas of interest at least four times before deciding yes. Even my pdoc, today, suggested that we stay in any chosen area for several weeks before making any commitment.

I'm not sure why he's so hard on France. I can't take his statements as total fact without seeing for myself. I have heard plenty of positive things about living in regions of France from French citizens, themselves. I think his statement about the lower quality of psychiatrists in France may be unfounded. Heck, he once belittled one of my psychologists (without knowing her) by saying that he "never heard anything about her university's PhD program in psychology". She attended one of the most prestigious universities in the US. I told him that it can't be that bad!

I have been to various parts of France about five times. [# ?] My husband many more times.

My pdoc said he and his wife are traveling to Europe in late February through March. He implied that he's going to be in or near France. Maybe he'll come back with a modified viewpoint. I know that his wife is not French. She's originally from a German-speaking country. Not sure which.