Chelle Francis

This interview with Chelle Francis was conducted on the third day of Oral History Summer School, June 29th, 2019, in Hudson, NY.  Francis discusses being born in California and raised in various cities in the US abroad. Francis describes her homes in Manhattan and The Hamptons, which she shares with her life partner, Vivian, as well as a third home in the South of France shared with Vivian and two close friends. Francis discusses her relationship to place as an adolescent and adult, her work as an Intellectual Property Lawyer in corporate America, starting her own businesses, and shifts in her priorities and career over the years. She also discusses navigating life between various locations, her morning routine of meditation, dog-walking, and journaling, and recently spending 6 weeks visiting her ill father in California.

This interview will be of interest to those interested in gay and lesbian life partnership, neighborhoods, Manhattan, The Hamptons, The South of France, California, living abroad, real estate, friendship, family, dogs, moving cross-country, intellectual property law, lawyers, travel, entrepreneurship, career shifts, corporate America, working remotely, the beach, meditation, an ill parent, and morning routines.