Episodes

Bridget and Davlyn Boyd, residents of Houston, Texas, were in their early 50s, held frenzied jobs, and dreamed of living on a Caribbean island. Their goal was to find an affordable island with a large population of people of color and a middle class - not a place with solely rich and poor inhabitants. After a thorough search, the Boyds discovered Punta Cana, Dominican Republic checked all the boxes. They sold their Houston home, retired earlier than expected and relocated to Punta Cana where the...

The thought of living in Japan is considered by many to be prohibitively expensive. That may be the case in Tokyo and other large cities, but not everywhere in the country. Check out “akiyas,” abandoned or vacant homes in rural areas available for very low cost. The type and condition of these houses vary drastically depending on each property, but there appear to be many hidden gems among them. Lawrence and Chiyoko Covian moved from North Carolina to Iwakuni, Yamaguchi where they purchased an a...

How long does one need to sense a true feel for Paris? For some, a week will suffice, for others perhaps a month, yet there are those who spend 3 months in the city of love and beauty and yearn for more! Mike Duffy was so drawn to Paris, he upped and sold (almost) everything and retired there! That move was over five years ago and Mike’s still finding new reasons to love the city. Also, Mike spends some of his time volunteering for the American Library in Paris. He writes “Library Culture Picks”...

Yes, we know Nantucket, the small island off the Massachusetts coast, is known as one of the most expensive real estate markets in America. But as reggae legend Jimmy Cliff says, “you can get it if you really want.” Greg Creedon and his partner Jamie Howarth purchased a home there and they are far from trust-fund babies. Whether you can afford the place or not, you will have a newfound appreciation of the naturally beautiful and historic island of Nantucket after tuning into Episode 150 of Retir...

When you think of Cancun, Mexico, the out-of-control Spring Break party scene and luxurious all-inclusive hotels may first come to mind. Truthfully, Cancun offers so much more. There are activities for nature lovers such as diving and horseback riding and historic cultural locations such as the Mayan Ruins in Chichen Itza and the Cancun Underwater Museum. Retirees have discovered that they can live comfortably in Cancun for a reasonable price. Nadia Norris moved to Cancun from Atlanta and is enj...

When people move from one place to another, oftentimes, they forego some benefits and gain others. When Scott and Shanda Fuller moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Gilbert, Arizona, they gave up unmatched weather and a stunning coastline for a much lower cost of living and far less traffic. Scott is now helping others leave California with his businesses LeavingTheBayArea.com and LeavingSoCal.com . For more about Gilbert, a charming town with big-city amenities, tune in to Episode 148 of Re...

Before Keith and Joe knew each other, they independently dreamed of moving to Costa Rica and opening a B&B! Sounds like the beginning of a rom-com but it’s a true story. They met, fell in love and discovered each other's obsession with the central American country. The only question remaining was whether they would live on the beach or in the jungle. The couple found the best of both worlds. Their home and B&B, Nature’s Edge Boutique Hotel , are located up a mountain, just a short drive to the c...

When Stacey and Rebecca Woelfel’s children moved to Los Angeles for their careers, the couple wanted to be near them so they decided to leave their college town of Columbia, Missouri and headed west. The astronomical cost of LA housing deterred them so they checked out all nine cities of the Coachella Valley. They found some areas to be too touristy, while others lacked a charming downtown but La Quinta seemed just right. Learn more about the Woelfel's California dream on Episode 146 of Retire T...

You pursue your dream of retiring on a boat, but there are a myriad of more decisions to make. What type of boat would be best for you? All of the most obvious choices have flaws. Sailboats are difficult to operate, trawlers are not the most stylish sea vessels and houseboats can’t go anywhere. And where in the world would your land base be? Tim Bull and Karina Rook chose to split their time between a trawler and a home in Athens, Greece and they seem incredibly happy. Find out more about their...

Are you a beach bum? Move to Sitges, Spain, a coastal town with 17 beautiful beaches. It’s also famous worldwide for its film festival, carnival, LGBT culture and seafront promenade lined with grand mansions. Northern Californians Leo Boni and his husband moved there and are loving it. Tune in to hear Leo’s enthusiasm about their journey on Episode 144 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Canadian Karen Espig wanted to retire early so she could spend more time pursuing her passion: painting. Her dream was to live in Europe and be on or near water, with a very limited budget. It appears she accomplished all of her goals by retiring at the age of 52 and moving to Pogradec, Albania, a small city which sits on a large lake. Karen now has time to focus on her art in her impressive apartment in Pogradec, for which she pays under $400 per month including utilities. For more about Karen...

If you think downsizing and decluttering is daunting and depressing, you have never done it with Matt Paxton. Matt is the host of the Emmy-nominated PBS series Legacy List with Matt Paxton , author of the best-selling book Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff and was a featured cleaner on the hit television show Hoarders for 15 seasons. He uses stories and humor to ease the usually intimidating task of downsizing. Listen to Matt make us laugh our way through this unnerving topic, on Episode 142 of ...

Its proximity to great bird-watching is what first led Gayle and Ralph Padgett to move to Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France, but the couple soon fell in love with many other aspects of the quaint French town. Whether you're an ornithophile or not, the quintessential European town may be the place that seduces you to move to France. Find out more about everyday life in Saint-Remy, on Episode 141 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Gayle Smith Padgett’s two books about living in France: (1) Passion for...

When thinking of cultural European cities, Paris and Florence may come to mind. However, many would not have imagined Plovdiv, Bulgara, but those in the know would. In fact, Plovdiv was recently named the best cultural destination in Europe by EuropeanBestDestinations.com. This came as no surprise to our guest Cathy who developed a passion for Bulgarian music and dance while growing up in Chicago. When deciding where to live during retirement, Cathy knew she wanted to be in Bulgaria and in a cit...

Daniel and Timm McBride searched for a place that offered both sophistication and culture, yet spared them from the chaos and commotion of a bustling metropolis. Upon discovering Portugal, they realized it was the perfect place for them. After spending a few months in Lisbon, the vibrant capital, the couple found themselves drawn to Almada, a quaint city nestled on the opposite side of the river. Compared to Lisbon, Almada offered tranquility and a lesser degree of congestion. Additionally, the ...

Have you dreamt about residing in a picturesque small town nestled amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains? Embarking on such a remarkable journey, however, entails embracing the challenges of harsh winters, encounters with untamed elk, and the absence of certain modern conveniences. Nonetheless, Martin and Judy Smith traded their bustling life in Southern California for the serene ambiance of Granby, Colorado, seeking solace in a more tranquil and unhurried existence. Tune in to hear about the Smit...

Join us for an exciting adventure as Retire There ventures into uncharted territory! We had the pleasure of hosting Mary Oluonye, a remarkable dual-citizen of the United States and Nigeria. Mary's decision to retire early and pursue a life she had always envisioned has led her to combine her love for business with her research and writing talents, both in the US and Africa. Mary's true passion lies in listening to individuals share their aspirations, providing them with valuable insights to help...

Peter Walsh is a professional organizer, television personality and New York Times best-selling author who has made a career of helping people organize, declutter and downsize. In fact, Gil was a fan of his television show, “Clean Sweep.” We invited Peter to the podcast, as we believe the mere thought of decluttering is overwhelmingly stressful for many retirees. Listen to Peter Walsh try to tackle Gil and Gene’s chaotic struggle to get rid of their stuff on Episode 136 of Retire There . Check ...

Nashville residents Zeneba (Zen) Bowers and Matt Walker, symphony musicians, quit their jobs, sold their home, unloaded their possessions, and moved to Italy. All in 6 weeks. Whew! One would expect sophisticated urbanites, who needed to keep working, would relocate to a cosmopolitan city like Florence or Milan. THAT is not at all what happened. Zen and Matt fell in love with, and moved to, Soriano nel Cimino, a small picturesque and out-of-the-way village 57 miles north of Rome. Join the couple’...

When Jen and Dave Hardy, residents of the Nashville area, encountered health issues and decided to retire early, they embarked on a thorough search for their ideal place to spend the rest of their lives. After exploring various options, they found Indialantic, a charming small town situated on a barrier island along Florida's Space Coast. They knew their search had come to an end. Join us on Episode 134 to hear about Jen and Dave's blissful life in their own island paradise. Jen Hardy’s podcasts...

You wish to live in Portugal, but not in a big city or a small country town. And you’d love to be near the coast though any beach area is going to be dramatically costlier. Have you heard of Caldas da Rainha? A small historic city in Portugal’s Silver Coast region with a 20 minute drive to the water. Diane Jacobsen moved there from Seattle, Washington. Caldas da Rainha is no longer a secret, as many Americans now call it home. Learn more about this lovely city on Episode 133 of Retire There with...

Did you know Cape Coral, Florida has more canals than any other city in the world? Even more than Venice? Native Chicagoans Candy and Will retired on one of the 400+ canal miles! With ample opportunity for recreational water activities and nature, the couple absolutely love their new home - while soaking up the warm weather and enjoying the tranquility of living on water. Join us on Episode 132 to hear Candy and Will share their exuberant story.

Have you ever dreamed of residing within the walls of a walled city? If so, Lucca, Italy, might be the perfect destination for you. With its lively cafes and medieval architecture, living within the historic wall seems glorious. Ilene and Gary Modica moved from Arizona to Lucca and consider this Tuscan city their true home. To learn more about the alluring “cafe culture” of this amazing city, tune in to Episode 131 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Check out Ilene and Gary’s award winning blog, ...

Retire There begins a series of special topics, where we step back and explore subjects that impact retirement. In Episode 130, we invite Law Professor Lawrence Frolik to address aging in place versus moving during retirement and elder law. Lawrence A. Frolik is Professor Emeritus of Law and Distinguished Faculty Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. His specialty is Elder Law about which he wrote or co-authored 15 books. His two latest are “ Wise Moves: Checklist for Where to L...