By 1997, Rosanne and John Knorr had had enough. After demanding careers in advertising, the couple had amassed the trappings of success—a four-bedroom home near Atlanta, closets full of tailored clothes and two cars. But with their kids (from previous marriages) grown, the Knorrs were bored. "We were sleepwalking through life," says Rosanne, 53. "We needed something to jump-start us."

So she and John, now 64, decided to leap. Long infatuated with France, the couple sold offloads of stuff and moved to Montrichard, a town in France's scenic Loire Valley. Now they feel reincarnated. "Only it's better," Rosanne says, "because you don't have to die first."

Eager to share the secrets of their rebirth, Rosanne has written The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away from Home (Ten Speed Press), a practical manual on the how-tos of trading old, established roots for new horizons—from arranging finances to staying in touch with their family and friends. "A lot of people are retiring early and looking for challenges," she says. "But it's complicated for an adult with a house and belongings to even think about taking off." Knorr recently spoke with PEOPLE correspondent Cathy Nolan.

Why would a middle-aged couple want to drop out of life?

Well, it's not dropping out as much as it is wanting more out of it. When you're older, the years seem to pass in a blur. I think that's because life becomes a known quantity—the same errands, the same stores, the same people. Having a mid-life adventure is rejuvenating because you're seeing a new culture as a child does, with fresh eyes.

This is especially true for baby boomers, who have always wanted more. Because we're generally healthier than our parents, we're probably going to live longer. Assuming you retire at 55 or 60 and you're going to be healthy for another 20 years, what are you going to do with the time?

Isn't this a luxury just for the wealthy?

No. We had to wait until John could get his Social Security, and I do freelance writing to supplement our income. It's more a question of choosing what's important and spending your money on that. Back home we were working just to support the idea of the American dream—a bigger house, more cars and so on—but our bills were ridiculous and that wasn't what we really wanted. Now we spend less and have more fun.

Disentangling must have been very difficult.

As a matter of fact, we were shocked at how easy it was. It took a lot of work, but it all went so smoothly! We rented out our house and had garage sales to get rid of what we didn't need. Then we shipped our furniture [to France], and all we had to buy here were new appliances.

Who makes a good runaway?

Someone who is open-minded, willing to consider new situations and flexible enough to adapt to them. It's preferable to be in good health, which makes it easier to handle the changes and stress of travel.

What should people consider before taking off?

First, the responsibilities you have that may limit your mobility—be it your family or your finances. You do have to work out how you're going to pay for your getaway. You have to work out a budget and cut costs. You should also consider the cultural challenges waiting at your destination, starting with language. Also, consider your family, particularly whether your spouse shares your interest in adventure.

What should you do once you get to where you're going?

Be active—sign up for a class, discover your new town's history. You need to keep busy.

How did moving to France change your lives?

We simplified and downsized but also enriched our lives. We have time to ride bicycles along the river; we walk to restaurants and shops. John plays boules and paints in the town square. We're learning to speak French and meeting people from all over the world.

What do you miss?

I can't go to the bookstore at 10 p.m. for cappuccino and a good mystery, and the shopping center closes early. But we do have e-mail and CNN.

Any plans to return?

Eventually. But we can't go back to the same life of cocktail parties where all you talk about is what you shot in the last 18 holes on the golf course.

Any final words of advice for prospective runaways?

Do it! You can always go home.