We moved to Texas from Europe. We're paying much more for our house, but the neighbors are friendly and the weather is great.

Sun, 11/05/2023 - 05:47

John Brunner and his wife Manon at the Texas capital. — John Brunner and his wife Manon moved from France to Texas, about an hour south of Austin (whose Texas State Capitol building is pictured here).
Courtesy of John Brunner.

John Brunner and his wife, Manon, moved from Avignon, France, to Kyle, Texas, in 2022.
The couple chose the area in part because California and Austin, Texas, were too expensive.
They miss France's small businesses and said chain stores can make Kyle feel "like a truck stop."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Brunner, 39, about picking a place to move to in the United States after living in France for many years. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.