Between here and Paris
Plus an essay about liminal space and a peek at the first Good Vintage salon
Bonjour mes amies!
I hope you’ll bear with me for the next few weeks as we count down to Paris. Right now it’s a frantic, emotionally charged sprint to the finish line, filled with boxes and packing tape, memories of our dearly departed fur-babies (what does one do with their ashes?), sleepless nights, long goodbyes, and the wild anticipation of an unknowable future.
So today, I’m sharing an older essay about liminal space—the in-between where we currently live, hovering between two places and two versions of ourselves. It seemed apropos of this moment, and I suspect something many of you can relate to.
You’ll also find a peek into last Sunday’s first Good Vintage Salon, which was filled with beautiful connections and laughter.
Regular programming will resume soon with dispatches from France, a video tour (!) of our rental apartment in the 16th, cultural hijinks, holiday sparkle, and much more.
A bientôt,
Sacha
P.S. Are you also living in the in-between, embarking on a midlife reinvention, or dreaming of France? Hit the reply button on this email and tell me all about it!
In between days
“Liminal spaces are the uncertain transitions between where you've been and where you're going physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.”
Snippets from the first Good Vintage Salon
One of my favorite parts of Substack is the community and the truly great people I’ve met here.
On Sunday, nine of us gathered to chat about finding identity in France, language barriers and cultural mishaps, reinvention and retiring, and the power of expat and French friendships. And of course, we also touched on politics, pastries, and the always true sentiment: no matter where you go, there you are.
We were all in various stages of our lives and our expat/immigrant journeys—some already living in France, some on the way soon, and a few still plotting and planning.
What we had in common was a shared desire for community, a love of France (well, mostly), and a brief moment of connection in a dark and unsettling time.
Care to join the next salon in January? Send me your name, email, and where you live to be added to the waiting list. Paid subscribers get first dibs. 😊
One foot in and one foot out just means you’re in motion… and honestly, that’s where all the magic starts. I’m so excited for you to get here, and I’m still glowing from the Good Vintage Salon the other night. I can’t wait for more of our mid-life stories, our adventures, and all the wonderfully unexpected moments we’ll get to share online and in person. 🇫🇷❤️🙏🏼
The Salon was vachement fantastique! Can't wait to hear the shenanigans from France. Bisous et bonne chance! xx