Planning to move to Paris within a year honest local/expat perspectives welcome

Hi! I'm an American with UK citizenship planning to move to Paris within the next year and would love honest insight from expats who have actually made the move.

A bit about my situation: I'm 31, currently based in Chicago, and work in clinical research/health informatics. My plan is to work remotely/hybrid for a US-based company while living in Paris. I'm drawn to the work-to-live culture, the food, the aesthetic, and the pace of life. It just feels more aligned with how I actually want to live.

I've visited Paris and absolutely loved it, but I know visiting and actually living somewhere are two completely different things, which is exactly why I'm asking.

For context, I spent several years living in the Caribbean (Anguilla) where life is slow, bureaucracy is unhurried, and everything runs on island time. So I'm not coming in with unrealistic expectations about pace, but I do want to know what the day-to-day reality actually looks like beyond the romance of it.

Personality-wise I'm somewhere in the middle. I recharge at home and value my own space, but I also genuinely love exploring, connecting with people, and soaking up a city. I want a neighborhood that gives me both: a calm home base but with life, culture, and good food nearby.

Language-wise, my French is conversational at best but I'm currently taking classes and committed to improving before I make the move.

A few things I'd genuinely love local/expat perspective on:

What's the realistic visa path for a US/UK citizen working remotely for a US company?

What neighborhoods would suit someone who wants quiet at home but loves being out and exploring?

What was the biggest adjustment that caught you off guard?

Is French bureaucracy as painful as people say, especially coming from somewhere where slow processes are just a way of life?

What do you wish you knew before moving there?

Not looking to be talked out of it. Just want honest, grounded perspectives from people living it. Thanks in advance.