This is actually a paste of an email exchange I recently had with David that I found very helpful and thought I'd paste here.

Greetings David,
> > I have been doing some research recently on living in Annecy and ran
> into a few of your posts. It seems you are pretty plugged into the topic
> and I had a few questions for you. (that I was of course hoping you'd have
> time to answer)
> > I am an American currently living in Belgium. I've spent the last few
> years as the managing director of an American firm's European Operations
> and am considering making a change in both my professional life and my
> location. I have visited the Annecy area several times as a tourist, and
> have absolutely no idea what life is like there as a resident.
> > I saw that you and your family have recently moved into the area and I
> was wondering what your impressions were. Were there any big obstacles?
> Is there a decent sized expat community? Do you find the people friendly
> to "outsiders"? Any insights you have would be welcomed.
> > Thanks
> > p.s. just some additional info on us: I am 33-American and speak
> English, French, and so so Dutch. My wife is 30-Belgian and speaks
> English, French, Dutch, and German.

AND HIS RESPONSE

> Hello Justin
>
> We have only been here 2 months so I guesss we are still in 'honemoon'
> stage haha.
>
> Generally i have found the anneciens et anneciennes to be very patient and
> helpful with our fench. I left Switzerland when I was 13 so my level is
> fluent enough but I have noticed that with my wife peoplem often
> complement her efforts!
>
> Since Annecy is mainly a tourist town people are more patient with
> foreigners if you speak french or some french and you show you are making
> an effort, people really appreciate it. I am noticing that french people
> have a real pride in their culture/language and that is one of the reasons
> we picked France.
>
> This part of France is quite priviledged as it has everything at it's
> doorstep: Lakes mountains, festivals. People are also very much into
> personal fitness and health which makes for a happier lifestyle I feel.
>
> We feel very welcome in this town, and it helps to say you are form
> Australia a real ice breaker to start conversations.
>
> Our main obstacle was proving my income as I am self employed and we were
> looking for a very small area of town so that Lily coudl go to our
> preferred school. In the end we simply paid 18months rent in advance as a
> bank guarantee, not a luxury everybody has, but we really wanted to be in
> the town centre 2minutes form schools, shops etc.. it makes life so much
> easier not having to rely on a car like we did in Australia.
>
> There is a big US/UK expat community here (not that we were looking for
> that type of support) but we have made some good aussie friends here as
> well as locals already.
>
> So to sum up how we all feel, I will quote something Lily(4) said soon
> after we arrived:
>
> "I can't stop loving it!"


If anyone else has any feedback we'd love to hear it.