Anniversaries

September geraniums gleam

September is a month of anniversaries for me.  I moved here two full years ago tomorrow.  That's anniversary number one.  This means that every September, I have to make an appointment and show up to the Prefecture to present my self and my justification for being

allowed to live here in France.  

It's not necessarily a complicated process, but you do have to have all your affairs in order.  I have to bring copies of my passport and my current carte de sejour, along with proof of sufficient resources to live her as well as proof that I DO actually live here.  And that proof consists of an electric bill in my own name.  There is the required handwritten statement, in French, swearing to forego all work--believe me, the French jobs are safe from me!  And of course, you must bring the tax stamps (now 269 Euros)--actual stamps, like those that you'd put on a letter;  I went to the Finance Office, paid my taxes and got my little stamps placed in an old fashioned envelope.  You'd think a receipt would do, but they] clerks at the Prefecture need the stamps to glue onto various documents that are then hand-stamped with great thunking gusto.

My interim "papers" until the laminated card arrives

I confess to some anxiety every year, starting when this anniversary appears on the horizon. But this year was relatively easy--I am not in the throes of moving as I was during this time last year, so the paperwork wis much less complicated this time. I had to furnish paperwork for only ONE address. I was in with my dossier and out with my provisional "papers" in less than half an hour; the people were pleasant, as usual and except for the dreaded fingerprint difficulties, all went without a hitch.  I had lunch out to celebrate having "that" behind me. 

It's now one full year that I have been in my "own" apartment.  I am now officially in year two of a three year lease.  I have cleaned the apartment, and furnished my nest with items that make me smile.  My plants love it here and I have derived great contentment from playing with the geraniums in the window boxes. 

Happy birthday apartment at #4

 The renewal date for my habitation and civil liability insurance is September 1, as is the renewal date for my health insurance mutuelle policy.  I have brought my carte vimtale (French health system I D card)  up to date, it too is set to turn a year old.  Because  I have not yet had to use it, I had to go to the health coverage office and let them know that I am still around.   

Fall has always been the start of the year for me; I know lots of people feel that way because September marks the start of the school year.  September does indeed mark a new year for me--that's the consequence of having an early September birthday.  But September truly does mark new beginnings, a new year for me and every year seems to get better.