Best advice ever given to me by a boss: Keep your hopes high and your expectations low.
My boss likes to quote Stalin:
"No man. No problem."
I hope that's the one you're leaving in Virginie! The one I was quoting is a woman. If you also are referring to a woman, 3,000 miles may not be enough.
Always call the place you live a house. When you're old, everyone else will call it a home.