At 56, I bought a chateau in France. I never imagined I'd spend my midlife creating my dream home and business.
A 56-year-old woman shares her journey of moving to France to renovate a chateau and establish a creative retreat business. After years of personal loss and raising children, she sought a new chapter that combined her passion for art with a desire for community.
Why it matters
This story highlights the growing trend of midlife reinvention and the pursuit of lifestyle-based entrepreneurship among older demographics.
Buying a property in France while in my 50s helped me find renovation and community in new ways. Courtesy of Abigail Carter In my 50s, I left the US to buy a property in France, renovate it, and create a new business. After years of hard work, I've turned an old estate into a haven for creative retreats. This journey has been challenging and surprising, but I'm grateful for the midlife reinvention . In May 2022, I found myself longing for a new life. I had spent the last 20 years rebuilding my life after my husband's death in the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks — raising a 2-year-old and 6-year-old alone, moving across the country to Seattle, writing books about grief, and rediscovering painting.
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