Episodes

Sarah Wortman has always loved to travel and long dreamed of buying a home and retiring in Italy. When she and her husband, Lahab, began searching for a property in Tuscany, they repeatedly came up empty-handed. After one particularly disappointing attempt, Lahab reminded Sarah that he actually preferred Spain—a country she had never visited. To help her explore the idea, Lahab arranged for Sarah to travel to Spain with her best friend, with an agreement: if she liked it, they would shift their ...

Retire in Santa Luzia, Portugal From an early age, Barbara Grassey imagined a life for herself in Europe. During the COVID pandemic, she found herself reflecting on that long-held dream—and realizing she had yet to make it a reality. Rather than wait any longer, she made a bold decision. She let go of most of her possessions and boarded a plane to a country she had never visited, where she knew no one and didn’t speak the language. This wasn’t a vacation. Barbara was leaving Florida behind and s...

Jules and Effin Older were enjoying retirement in a beautiful rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco until COVID hit and the appeal of big-city life faded. Having lived in New Zealand before, they saw it was handling the pandemic better than most places. Soon they left their apartment, shed most of their belongings, and boarded a mostly empty airliner for New Zealand. Now in their 80s, they’re loving life on an island south of the equator. Hear more about the Olders’ adventures in Auckland, ...

Special Episode - George Siegal, Buying and Building in the Era of Climate Change - EP 222 After years in the television industry — including a long run as a weatherman — George Siegal relocated from San Antonio, Texas to Tampa, Florida, only to find himself facing the very extreme weather conditions he once reported on. That experience inspired him to examine how climate change and rising sea levels are reshaping the way we buy and build homes. The result: two award-winning documentaries from M...

Special Episode - Federica Grazi, Founder, Mitos Relocation Solutions - EP 221 Dream of retiring to Europe but have no idea where - or how - to begin? Federica Grazi can help. Through her consulting firm, Mitos Relocation Solutions, Federica specializes in guiding retirees through every step of moving abroad. From deciding whether relocation is right for you, to choosing the best destination and settling in with confidence, Mitos Relocation provides expert support from start to finish. Hear Fede...

New Yorker Jill Chalsty tried retiring in both South Carolina and Florida—without success. By the end of 2024, she was still recovering from a battle with cancer and grieving the loss of her husband. Looking for a fresh start, Jill decided to explore potential retirement destinations by embarking on an around-the-world cruise aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne. The ship departed from Brooklyn in January 2025, visiting 26 ports across six continents over four months. After a long but rewarding journey, J...

Celebrate the New Year with Gil & Gene! Tune in as we reflect on the remarkable growth and transformation of the Retire There Podcast throughout 2025. We share what kept us busy this year, revisit highlights, and offer a sneak peek into the exciting plans for 2026. Episode 219 - Link in bio. If you value the Retire There show, consider supporting us by making a donation at buymeacoffee.com/retiretherepod. Each contribution goes towards production expenses. Retire There was featured in the Novemb...

What would you do if you had to walk away from the thriving Bed & Breakfast you’d run on Mexico’s Pacific Coast for more than 20 years—because of medical issues? That was the challenge facing Canadians Brooke and Rick Gazer. Their solution: relocate to Mérida, the cosmopolitan capital of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Frequently ranked among the safest cities in North America, Mérida offered them a fresh start and a high quality of life. Discover what it’s like to live there on Episode 218 of Retir...

Are you considering moving to Europe for retirement but unsure where to start? Andrew Motiwalla’s company, The Good Life Abroad, offers exclusive month-long programs in some of Europe’s most captivating cities for adults 55+. These programs fill the gap between guided tours and independent travel, providing retirees the perfect balance of community and independence. Designed for those eager to live like locals, guests settle into private apartments, enjoy curated activities, and have ample free ...

Janice Deerwester, a retired teacher and widow, was working at Cracker Barrel when a song stopped her in her tracks—Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” It struck a chord, sparking a deep realization: there had to be more to life. Determined to make a change, Janice set out to transform her reality. After being captivated by the stunning Chateau de Fontainebleau in a movie, she knew she had found her new home — Fontainebleau, France. At 70, Janice sold most of her belongings, gave away what she c...

Ashley and Jason Barton had established careers in the restaurant and hospitality industries in New York City when they realized there was something missing in their lives. With great ambition, but not a lot of money, they decided to start a cooking school/inn/farm in Italy. The adventurous couple relocated (from Bay Ridge Brooklyn!!) to an agricultural section of Le Marche, outside the small town of Piobbico, a place known worldwide for its annual Festival of the Ugly. The farm, inn and cooking...

Where can a writer, editor, illustrator, and avid mountain-sports enthusiast find solace and inspiration in semi-retirement? For Peter Moore, the answer was clear: Fort Collins, Colorado. This vibrant college town is celebrated for its thriving arts scene, live music, theater, craft breweries, and easy access to both ski resorts and Rocky Mountain National Park. After being laid off from a high-level position at a national magazine, Peter and his wife Claire decided to turn the page and start a ...

Growing up in the gritty industrial town of Middlesbrough, England, Gerald “Ged” Hogg was told he wouldn’t amount to much. Determined to prove otherwise, he left town at the first opportunity, embarking on a global journey as a chef aboard cruise ships and top-tier hotels and restaurants. Ged eventually settled in Australia, where he spent most of his adult life with his wife. After more than 40 years of marriage, the couple divorced, prompting Ged to rethink his future. Faced with Australia’s h...

When Scott Dukette left his hometown of Plattsburgh, New York, to attend college, he never imagined he’d return for more than the occasional family visit. But as retirement approached, Scott and his wife, Barbara, couldn’t pass up the chance to buy a home directly on Lake Champlain—for just $210,000. Now, they spend their summers soaking up life on what’s known as “the Adirondack Coast” or “the poor man’s Vermont.” Although Plattsburgh may seem secluded, there is plenty to do including lounging ...

When we—Gil & Gene—are curious about where people are choosing to retire, we often turn to the “Where To Retire” Facebook Group for inspiration. That’s where we became intrigued by Marilyn Kaslofski, the group’s Administrator, who chose Racine, Wisconsin as her retirement destination. We were eager to find out why, so we invited her to share her story on our show! Marilyn’s husband had always dreamed of living by the water, and at first, Florida seemed like a natural choice—until Marilyn, who st...

Retire in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal! EP 210 Bill and Jola Mansfield lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for over 30 years before deciding to move to Europe to be closer to their son in Helsinki, Finland and Jola’s mother in Poland. While many places across Europe captured their interest, it was Portugal’s island of Madeira — with its lush mountains, vibrant flowers, and scenic hiking trails — that truly stole their hearts. It’s no wonder Madeira is often called the “Hawaii of Europe.” The couple eventu...

After spending most of their lives in Northern California, Matt and Dawn had planned to wait a few more years before retiring to Europe. But everything changed when they decided to move to Nazare, Portugal, on the Silver Coast, while still working. They say the Silver Coast offers many of the best aspects of Northern California—without the downsides. As The Unretirees, they launched A Guide to Unretirement Abroad to help others make the leap to living overseas while still earning an income. Thei...

Eileen Vorbach Collins and her husband Hugh had retired to Florida, but after growing weary of repeatedly fleeing hurricanes, they decided it was time for a change. Wanting a place that wasn’t too cold, they settled in a 55+ community in Garner, North Carolina, just outside Raleigh—making them “halfback retirees,” a term which refers to retirees who move from the Northeast to Florida, only to relocate halfway back to states like the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, or Georgia. Although Eileen on...

Patty Blue Hayes was living in San Luis Obispo, California, recovering from a “near-death” divorce. Seeking a fresh start, she bought an RV and embarked on a cross-country journey across the United States. During one of her late-night real estate scrolling sessions, she came across a listing for a home in Panama that caught her eye. Intrigued, Patty parked her RV at the airport, booked a flight, and flew to Panama with the determination to see the house in person. However, Patty never did visit ...

Diane made a life-changing decision—she was done with suburban living and yearned to return to the energy of the city. She initially considered condos and co-ops in New York City, where her three adult children lived, but quickly realized the Big Apple was out of her financial reach. Declaring that she had “broken up with New York City,” Diane expanded her search to cities within a two-hour train ride of New York. Her journey led her to Philadelphia, where she found herself drawn to the charm of...

Karen Espig took early retirement from her government job in Ottawa, Canada, to dedicate more time to her passion for art. Concerned that her pension wouldn’t provide a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, she explored more affordable options in Europe. She initially settled in the small town of Pogradec, Albania, which met her financial criteria but ultimately felt isolating and unfulfilling. After two years, Karen discovered a far better fit in Arles, a charming town in the south of France renowne...

Greg Kitzmiller and his wife, Jen, dreamed of retiring early after years of hard work and enduring chilly Michigan winters. However, since they were still in their 50s, they faced the challenge of securing affordable health insurance, as their jobs would no longer cover it once they retired. In their search for a warm, budget-friendly destination with excellent healthcare, they found Coronado, Panama. This charming beach town offered stunning condos, a relaxing atmosphere, and a lower cost of li...

Carol Fahy had always dreamed of living in the tropics, and after talking to expats, she decided to stay in the U.S. She and her husband, Gene, moved to Oahu, Hawaii, but Gene, a car enthusiast, missed long drives. To satisfy this, they bought a second home in Prescott, Arizona, which is a unique rammed earth home. You can learn more about their experience of splitting time between Hawaii and Arizona in Episode 203 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. For more about rammed earth homes, check out the...

A murder in Philadelphia set Theresa Conroy on an unexpected path to discovering her love for France. But the story behind this revelation is likely not what you think. Over the years, she returned to the country multiple times with her husband, and it wasn’t long before the idea of living there took root. During a trip to Rennes, France, the couple instantly felt it was the place they were meant to be. To learn more about their journey and what drew them to France, tune in to Episode 202 of Ret...