living abroad

ok, one of my big fantasies for a long time has been to move to europe (preferably france, of course) and live and work there for several years. i could fully immerse myself in the culture plus have the rest of europe to explore much more conveniently. but, i always kind of dismissed it as a pipe dream because i just couldn't see how an opportunity like that could open up for me and i don't think i'm ambitious enough to just move over there and hope to find a job (plus, don't you have to have a work visa or something before you move there?). anyway, it all just seemed too complicated and too unrealistic to seriously consider...until now!

a dear friend of mine is in the process of applying for jobs with the department of defense in such places as germany and italy(!). she hit her breaking point at her current job and so she and her husband have made the decision to move out of the country with their 3 year old son. they have lived in germany in the past when her husband was in the military, so this isn't some spur of the moment crazy decision. plus, can you imagine the opportunity living abroad will have for their son? so, i've been listening to her as she goes through this process and have asked TONS of questions. seems like the possibilities are there as long as i'm willing to take a chance and think a bit outside the box. i'm pretty content where i'm at right now, but i'm seriously looking at the possibility of moving abroad while i'm in my 30s. can you imagine???