Episodes

Dave Hughes and Jeff McKeehan had independently moved to Arizona to escape freezing winters. Jeff contends that “snow is for snow globes.” When they got together, they searched for a place that would support their love of playing music and gardening. They chose Chandler, Arizona for its proximity to Phoenix enabling them to enjoy all of its culture but far enough to avail themselves of less pricey real estate. Find out more on Episode 106 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Read Dave’s book on The ...

Dream of living somewhere surrounded by beautiful scenery with temps that are never too high or too low? If so, seek out that perfect elevation in the stunning mountain town of Boquete, Panama where neither air conditioning nor heat is required. Correct, you can have a comfortable year-round climate and it’s AFFORDABLE! It is no wonder the place is full of expats. Hear what brought Jackie Lange to Boquete and what kept her there, on Episode 105 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Jackie Lange’s com...

You unquestionably love the music, food and spirit of New Orleans, but prefer a rural area … oh, what to do? Musician Ben Redwine and his artist wife, Leslie Redwine, believe they found the perfect compromise. The couple moved to Covington, Louisiana in Tammany Parish - which offers a quaint country location and is only 40 miles from downtown New Orleans! Find out more about the laidback lifestyle of Louisiana in St. Tammany Parish on Episode 104 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. For Ben Redwine’...

As a child growing up in Canada, Perley-Ann Friedman dreamed about living on a tropical island. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively around the world, but on her first trip to the southern Thailand island of Koh Lanta, she knew she had found her magical island. Listen to how Perley-Ann transformed from tourist to local expat on Episode 103 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Perley-Ann Freidman’s book on retiring to Koh Lanta is Retired Way Out There: My Evolving Life in Koh Lanta, Thai...

When does “forever” last only a few years? When your “forever home” in your dream destination, among the red rocks in the Arizona sun, turns out to be a nightmare. After long careers on the East coast, Bob and Irene Peake retired to the picturesque town of Sedona, Arizona. The couple loved it there, but a change in the real estate laws and Bob’s new fascination with horseback riding (he learned how to ride at age 71) had them looking for a home with more land. After 5 years in Sedona, they sough...

Hugh Donagher and Brian Rountree were living in San Antonio, Texas and wanted to settle down in Spain but not quite ready for retirement. Brian had little trouble securing a tech job in Barcelona. Obtaining a work visa is another story. They discovered that since Hugh achieved Irish citizenship through descent, the married couple could live and work anywhere in the EU without difficulty. The couple have fallen in love with Barcelona and could see themselves retiring there. Find out more on Episo...

Where should you retire if you wish for a place with water warm enough to enable you to swim in the ocean year round? Oh, and you don’t want to leave the United States. Don and Linda Hurzeler discovered their ocean paradise in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Too expensive, you say? Don scoffs at that notion, maintaining that living in Hawaii is doable if you are flexible with some of your must-haves. Learn more about living in Kailua-Kona on The Big Island, on Episode 100 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. ...

Dreamt of living on a little Caribbean island? Has the fear of being distant from city conveniences prevented you from realizing your fantasy? Isla Mujeres in Mexico may be the answer. The island is a short commute from the stores, restaurants and services of Cancun. Dawn Fleming and Tom Clifford moved to Isla Mujeres and claim it’s an 18 minute ferry ride and a world away from Cancun. While around 25,000 tourists set foot on the island each day, solitude is found. Learn more about Isla Mujeres ...

Do you really know The Villages, the world’s largest retirement community in central Florida? There have been numerous depictions of The Villages by those who don’t live there. Jack and Pam O’Brien moved from Pittsburgh and say The Villages is the perfect place for them to work on their writing, volunteer, enjoy fun ways to exercise, and spend time with their new friends. Hear our guests share what it’s actually like to be residents in The Villages, on Episode 98 of Retire There with Gil & Gene....

Retire early and dedicate more time to your passion? Is the fear of not having enough retirement savings holding you back? That was the case for Alyson and Dave Sheldrake of Devon, England. The couple crunched the numbers and determined doing it in England would be difficult, but they pulled it off in the Algarve region of Portugal, a place they loved. They retired and moved to the Algarve in 2011. Alyson is flourishing as a painter and writer and Dave is a prosperous photographer. Find out how ...

What would it take for you to retire in a small rural town? How about free land? Lincoln, Kansas is giving away free build-ready plots of land in an effort to get people there. Bradley Roberts relocated to Lincoln from - WAIT FOR IT - San Francisco! While Roberts didn’t take advantage of the deal, he purchased a converted barn home for $22,000!! What else drew Bradley to Lincoln, Kansas? Listen to Episode 96 of Retire There with Gil & Gene to find out! See what Bradley’s up to on instagram: http...

Do you dream of living like the Jeffersons, ‘in a deluxe apartment in the sky?’ Most of us would be unable to afford such a place in New York, London or Singapore. For city loving retirees who desire residing in a large and luxurious apartment, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia may be the answer. Former Pittsburgh residents Jessica Coup and Scott Bergstein now call home a magnificent four bedroom, 5 bath apartment with maid’s quarters, in Kuala Lumpur - all for under $1,200/month. Listen to their adventure...

Jim and Rita Santos retired to Ecuador and loved it but missed their 9 grandchildren back in the U.S. When searching for a home in the States, they wanted a mild winter climate, great healthcare, a good airport and scenic hiking trails. Knoxville, Tennessee checked all the boxes. Learn more about Knoxville, The Marble City, on Episode 94 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. For Jim’s life as an author, traveler and voice over artist, visit his website. Jim Santos’ books include: Living Abroad: Chall...

Linda Correll had traveled around the world, but when it came to selecting a place to retire she narrowed it down to two countries: Spain and Portugal. Its more liberal visa and resident requirements gave Portugal the edge. Of the many wonderful cities available, Linda chose Porto for its cool weather and myriad of activities. Check out the more-popular-than-ever city of Porto, Portugal on Episode 93 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. For more of Linda’s story, read She Left The Country She Knew a...

Mel and Patricia Schlesinger love Mexico but they wanted an inexpensive home in the States to come back to annually, so as to not lose their Medicare benefits. They ended up purchasing a casita in one of the many 55 plus communities in Green Valley, Arizona, 30 miles south of Tucson and 60 miles north of the Mexican border. Residents of the city love Green Valley Recreation, an entity which consists of 13 busy hubs, seven golf courses and miles of hiking and biking trails. Mel Schlesinger’s webs...

What would you do if your other half dreams of living in Europe but the thought hadn’t even occurred to you? This happened to Nancy Hampton! Instead of dismissing the idea, she broadened her mind and ended up loving life in Europe. First in Germany, where her husband Luther found a job, and thereafter in Italy where the couple retired. They stumbled upon the 16,000 resident city of Umbertide in Umbria. Umbria was chosen for its beauty, reasonable cost of living and great location close to transp...

Some retirees long for the luxurious amenities and numerous clubs of a 55+ active adult community, but also want both the culture of cities and the natural beauty of rural areas. Marsha and James Cuddington seem to have found it all at On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida. Marsha especially loves its fully-equipped wood shop. Outside the community are great parks, hiking/biking trails and hundreds of thoroughbred horse farms. Ocala is also home to a museum of art, a theater, a ballet company an...

Ever fantasize about living on an Island in the middle of an ocean? At some point you probably talked yourself out of it, believing that it would be too isolated, too expensive and too hot. According to Bill Strickland and Sam Palmer, the Portuguese island of Madeira, off the African coast, is none of those. Bill and Sam retired to the city of Funchal on Madeira in 2021 without ever having stepped foot on the island. The couple described Funchal as having the feel of an old European city, even t...

Bob Wheeler and Kurt Kleespies lived and worked in San Francisco for years. When they retired, they desired a warmer climate and great outdoor activities without compromising excellent medical care and longtime social connections. Naturally, they were drawn to the quintessential Southern California city of Santa Barbara. They purchased a home and are loving everything about their new city. Find out more about living in Santa Barbara, California, on Episode 88 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

When Mark L. Hinshaw and Savina "Sunny" Bertollini were seeking a vacation in Italy, they desired the beauty of Tuscany but without all the tourists and high costs. They stumbled upon the small ancient hilltown of Santa Vittoria in Matenano in the le Marche region and purchased a beautiful home with stunning views at a very, very affordable price tag. In the few years they have lived there, the couple has fallen in love with Santa Vittoria and the town has equally embraced them. Learn more about...

Peppy Castro, one of the founding members of the legendary rock band Blues Magoos and a lifelong New Yorker, dreamed of living on the water but he couldn’t afford most waterfront price tags. A few years ago he happened upon a one-bedroom waterfront condo in Lake Worth Beach, Florida and his life changed immeasurably. The beach calms the musician and there he met his partner, Jeanne McNaney. Peppy is now selling his one-bedroom condo, as he purchased a larger unit in the same building. On Episode...

Have you always assumed Hong Kong would be prohibitively expensive to live in? When Brits Ben Zabulis and Hilary Garland spent nine hectic years living and working in Hong Kong, they didn’t consider retiring there. The worklife in the city grew tiresome and the couple returned to England. Unbeknownst to them, that move would mark the beginning of their retirement while still in their 40s. Eventually, they returned to Hong Kong and found ways to make living there pleasantly affordable. Find out m...

Have you ever seriously considered getting rid of almost all of your stuff and moving to a tiny home. Brandy Beverly had been intrigued with tiny homes for over 30 years, ever since she met a client who made flat-packed living quarters for oil field ‘man camps.’ When Beverly unexpectedly retired in 2020, she sold her 1,700 square foot home in Houston, the land of McMansions, and purchased a home in the Village Farm Tiny Home Community in Austin, Texas. Learn more about Beverly’s route to a minim...

Bill Mauro and Marcus Laurence retired early while living in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. They soon realized that the high cost of health insurance would make it difficult to maintain their lifestyle in America. A vacation to Spain convinced them that retiring there was the answer! However, due to Spain’s residency rules they surprisingly learned that health insurance would be costly there as well. They researched and found they could move to Portugal and immediately use that country’s ...