Episodes

After sailing around the world together for eight years, where should a couple retire? Those years would be a mix of living together in tight quarters of a boat and stopping in exotic places around the globe. What if your option was between a small town mountain cottage and a seaside condo? Julie and Glen Bradley chose both. Their springs, summers and falls are spent in the high country Arizona town of Pinetop and their winters are spent in the seaside town of San Carlos, Mexico. Listen to Julie...

Would you like to retire to a place with a great combination of food and history? How about Valencia, a comfortable city on Spain’s Mediterranean Coast? Valencia is, after all, the birthplace of paella. While it was politics, in part, which caused Janet Christian and Eric Marsh to leave the United States, it was food and opera which drew them to Valencia. Find out more about what led this Texas couple to Valencia, on Episode 56 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Janet Christian is a contributing w...

Savannah, Georgia is known as “The Forest City” for good reason. Arching live oaks, swathed with picturesquely gothic drapes of Spanish moss add charm to a city which is already beaming with historic architecture. Along with being a beautiful city, there is always something to do in Savannah. The city’s many annual events include the film festival, the music festival, the book festival, the house and garden tour, and the second largest St. Patrick’s day parade in the country. While there are no...

Imagine living in a truly cosmopolitan, top-tier city where having a full-time housekeeper/cook is affordable. Suzanne Nam, and her family, found all that and more in Bangkok, Thailand. She has lived in Bangkok for over 15 years and still enjoys the city’s popular attractions. But she is really keen on exploring the nooks and crannies that make Thailand’s capital city so alluring. Learn more about the exhilarating city of Bangkok on Episode 54 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Suzanne Nam’s book...

Have you ever dreamt about chucking everything and escaping to a far-away island? Cynthia and Winston Hovey made it happen! They left their ocean-view apartment and corporate lifestyle in San Diego to live in a grass hut and manage a pirate bar on a tiny island (population 5) in the British Virgin Islands. After hurricanes devastated the island, they captained and ran luxury sailing and motor yachts for 20 years. Find out what led this fearless couple to retire in Venice, Florida, on episode 53 ...

Have you considered retiring early? What is early though? Is it under 65, your early 50s, late 50s? Meet our youngest guests on the show to date! Traci Stinson-Smiley, 48, and Rolanda Stinson-Smiley, 38, a couple who went from living a hectic work-life in Seattle, Washington to retiring to an affordable, comfortable lifestyle in Manta, Ecuador! On Episode 52 of Retire There with Gil & Gene , hear what drew Traci and Rolanda to Manta at such young ages. The African Americans in Ecuador Facebook p...

Have you ever considered dropping and selling everything so you could travel the world without stopping? That is exactly what Debbie and Michael Campbell, The Senior Nomads , did in July 2013. Since then, the couple has roamed the world living almost exclusively in Airbnbs. Their goal is to live in other people’s homes around the world just as they would have stayed in their Seattle home. Episode 51 of Retire There with Gil & Gene consists of a conversation with the Campbells while they were sta...

Have you ruled out living in Europe due to its high price tag? You may want to check out Bulgaria. It has a low cost of living, welcoming locals, authentic culture, a low crime rate and provides a great launching point for hopping over to other European countries. Richard Barbree and Rumyana Marcheva moved to Pravets, Bulgaria and are loving it. The only thing they seem to be missing is Pop-Tarts!

South Carolina is known as the palmetto state but it offers much more. With stunning beaches, world-class golf, rich history, delicious cuisine, and no shortage of southern hospitality, coastal South Carolina provides an incredible backdrop to live a fulfilled and abundant retirement. On Episode 49 of Retire There with Gil & Gene , find out why the guy who literally wrote the book on retiring to South Carolina, financial advisor Adam Curran, believes Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are ...

You love Vietnam, but it’s a little too noisy for your taste, especially when you’re attempting to catch some zzzzzs? Move to Phuket! That’s what Richard Joynes did! When he is not volunteering, Richard enjoys a fun and adventurous life! He lives on the water in a hotel where his boat is docked and he eats out every night. Find out more about retiring to Phuket, Thailand, on episode 48 of Retire There with Gil & Gene .

Monte A. Melnick traveled all over the world for over 22 years as tour manager (and much more) to the legendary Ramones. Monte could live anywhere, but he stayed in the place where it all began for him and the Ramones, Queens, New York. He has encountered many cultures around the world, perhaps that is why he has remained in Queens--one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the United States. On Episode 47 of Retire There with Gil & Gene , learn about Monte’s ride from the borough to tourin...

Are you on the hunt for distinctive pottery? The city of Santa Ana in Costa Rica is the home of over 100 locally owned and operated pottery shops. If pottery is not your thing, Santa Ana is also the place for upscale grocery stores, gourmet restaurants, cozy coffee houses, beautifully groomed golf courses, and private schools. According to ex-pat Helen Dunn Frame, all that is great, but what makes Santa Ana a wonderful place to retire is its warm and sincere people. Find out more about Helen’s l...

Where can you find powdery white sand beaches in the central time zone? Panama City Beach, Florida. Yes, Florida! Much of Florida’s panhandle is, in fact, in the central time zone. Christine Bennett visited Panama City Beach many times, and when retirement arrived, she made the venue her home. Learn more about Christine’s relocation to her dream beach destination, on Episode 45 of Retire There with Gil & Gene .

Are you still thinking of Mexico? How about a city with beautiful historic buildings, weather that’s not too hot or too cold, and a low cost of living? Look no further than Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico. Bill and Jacqueline Dahl searched all over Mexico and discovered Santiago de Querétaro, listen to their story on Episode 44 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Find Bill Dahl’s website here . View some of Jaqueline Dahl’s paintings here . In his book, Lake Chapala: Beneath the Surface ...

If you desired to live in Ireland, but circumstances prevented you from doing so, what’s your Plan B? Jane Fadely found herself in that situation and she discovered Fletcher, North Carolina. Fletcher is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, centrally located 12 miles south of Asheville and 9 miles north of Hendersonville. Jane has led a fascinating life, including growing up as the daughter of a candy salesman (think of crates of m&ms in your garage … ) working as a laborer on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, ...

In preparation to retire in Sicily, Italy, Barbara Palermo and Ken Hill gained Italian citizenship, tracked down long-lost relatives, purchased and renovated an old farmhouse, opened a bed and breakfast, and moved during the COVID 19 pandemic. They did not, however, find “Sicilian” pizza in Sicily. In fact, “Sicilian” pizza does not exist in Sicily. Find out more about Ken and Barbara’s inspiring journey to retire in Sicily, on Episode 42 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . The couple’s B&B, locat...

Does your younger self wish you had joined the Peace Corps? Well, it’s not too late, David and Champa Jarmul did so for two years while in their 60s! For them, it was a “life changing experience.” David’s book on the couple’s service in the Peace Corps titled Not Exactly Retired: A Life-Changing Journey on the Road and in the Peace Corps is inspirational! Champa’s article about their service is here . They are back in the states, enjoying life, while continuing to give back in Durham, North Car...

If you moved to another country and endured fraud and illness, would you stay there? Diane Maxwell, a retired nurse, encountered such troubles in Panama, yet she fought through it, stayed, and loves her adopted country. Diane lives not far from the beach in an area in between Las Lajas and Coronado. Find out more, on Episode 40 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Diane tells her captivating adventure of relocating to Panama in her book, An Expat’s Struggle: Making a Home in Panama . Her story is ...

How about living within 3 hours of New York City, at affordable housing rates, low taxes, a variety of outdoor activities, and a relaxing lifestyle? Brian and KJune Harris were looking for all of that and they found Wilmington, Delaware. Brian still works in New York City, but he and KJune also have some side hustles. Aside from his day job, Brian, also known as DJ Rivs plays music of all genres. Their contact information is at follows: DJ Rivs for parties and other events, email unlimitedsounds...

Where may one retire on a budget if they love the beach, all the conveniences and easy access to the arts that come with living in a large city? The tricky part of that question is the low cost requirement. That was journalist Janet Blaser’s criteria and she landed in Mazatlan, Mexico. Janet lives a stone’s throw from the beach and her rent is a fraction of what one would pay in the States. Janet authored a book in which 27 women, including herself, tell their varied stories of how they came to ...

Many midwesterners, tired of brutal winters, dream of retiring to warmer weather. Wisconsin teachers Greg and Vikki Winkler had their eyes set on Florida. They ended up in Punta Gorda, but Punta Gorda actually picked them. The couple has since fallen in love with the city. In their amusing book Welcome to Florida (WTF) Our Journey to Paradise , Greg and Vikki tell their story of relocating to Florida.

If you traveled to 60 countries, do you think you would end up with a favorite place? Karen and Richard McCann did just that before deciding to retire in Seville, Spain. Sevillianos like to stay out late, perhaps that is why the siesta is still alive and well in Seville. Karen and Richard usually spend half of each year in Seville and the other half split between a home in northern California and traveling the world. Karen and Richard believe that you absolutely do not have to settle for boring ...

This is a special episode, as Retire There was invited to present at the first Asian Podcast Festival! The festival was organized by the Asian American Podcasters Association and broadcast live on May 30, 2021. We invited Hazel Sumile back - formerly retired in Las Vegas, Episode 7 - for her story of how she returned to and ultimately retired in Hawaii. Hazel talks about some of the usual topics - housing, cost of living and healthcare - but she also describes some Hawaiian delicacies such as Sp...

In 2011, Alison Armstrong and Don Read, of Vancouver, Canada, wanted to retire and travel the world. Finances were preventing them from living their dream. That May, Don had a premonition that selling the couple's condo would allow them to blow past their financial roadblock. A series of unplanned events allowed the couple to realize their wishes. By September, they had sold their condo and most of their possessions and began travelling. They had no plan of when, or if, they would finish trave...