I got laid off from my tech job and retired in France at 69. Starting over is hard, but I love my life here.

Sandy Adam.

Sandy Adam/ Getty Images/ Elena Zolotova

• In 2025, Sandy Adam was laid off from her job and had to reckon with what she wanted from life.
• Adam decided to retire and move to France, where she believed her money would go much further.
• Living in France is still expensive, but she said she has a much better quality of life.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandy Adam, 69, who moved from Pittsburgh to Chatou, a suburb of Paris, in 2025.