Episodes

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 ou...

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, O...

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 Li...

Ted and Kathy Bergman, comedy writers in their 70s, felt they were being forced out of Northern California by the ever growing high cost of living. They researched beautiful, yet inexpensive, places to live and decided on Roatan, an island in Honduras 40 miles off the mainland. So enamored by the Island, the couple moved there without ever visiting it. They love it so much they have remained for five years. Fondness for the locals and expats on the island supersedes their disdain for the bugs an...

Jean Roberts yearned for a home in Spain, but her husband, Adrian, was not so keen on the idea. He was content living full-time in their home in England. Finally, he agreed, contingent upon the property being 30,000 euros or less believing Jean would never be able to meet the challenge. Adrian underestimated Jean’s desire to live, at least part-time, in Spain as she purchased a fixer-upper townhouse in a countryside town in Seville Province. Find out more about the couple's Spanish adventures on...

Guy and Melissa Hoagland desired to retire to an environmentally sustainable place with a temperate climate, a college/university, and to be in a city, but not a big city. The couple landed in Asheville, NC, a place with all of the above and more. They rented for a year to ensure it was a fit. Thereafter, they zeroed-in on exactly the part of town they loved and purchased a home there. Check out what else drew Guy and Melissa to Asheville on episode 127 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

According to recent statistics, Italy has one of the highest income tax rates in Europe, with the top bracket taxed at 43%. However, for those who are deterred by the high tax rates, there is an option to consider. Italy has implemented a 7% tax regime for select towns in Southern Italy, specifically municipalities with populations under 20,000 in regions such as Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise, and Puglia. In particular, Carovigno, in Puglia, has been highlight...

For many, Boca Raton, Florida is a dream retirement destination with its beaches, warm weather, a classic downtown featuring great shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Solo retiree Mary Ellen Morgan relocated there and is loving it. Although the real estate is somewhat pricey, Many Ellen saves money in a variety of other ways including having dinner during restaurant “happy hours.” Join us as we talk to Mary Ellen about this quintessential Florida beachside town on Episode 125 of Retire Ther...

Bocas del Toro is a province in northeast Panama comprising an archipelago of 9 islands. If you dream of living on an affordable Caribbean island and love boating, this may be the place for you. Doug Marcy and Anne-Michelle Wand were both immediately enamored with the islands and settled there. Traveling everywhere by boat and working to restore the coral in the ocean has given them an idyllic island life. Check out what it is like to live in Bocas Del Toro, on Episode 124 of Retire There with G...

The population of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico rose from 12,000 in 1964 to 300,000 today. That should be no surprise, given the Mexican beach resort city consists of great weather, warm people, reputed excellent healthcare and mountains which offer stunning ocean views. Robert Nelson fell in love with Puerto Vallarta when he began visiting in the 1970s. Living there has been a dream come true for him. Find out more about Robert’s love for Puerto Vallarta, on Episode 123 of Retire There with GIl & Gen...

Chuck and Mary Casselman left San Diego, California to retire in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. You may be asking yourself why anyone would leave the beautiful beaches and near perfect weather of San Diego. The Casselmans had enough of California’s ever increasing taxes, high cost of living and horrible traffic. In Costa Rica, they love their beautiful modern home with a pool and the warm people of Costa Rica. Find out more about what brought the couple to Costa Rica, on Episode 122 of Retire There...

What comes to mind when you think of San Diego, California: the zoo, the beach or the weather? For Susan Lewallen it was unquestionably the weather. After working as physicians for over two decades in Africa, Susan and her husband Paul Courtright decided to move back to the States for retirement. Their wish was for perfect weather - not too hot and not too cold. San Diego won out. Find out more about retiring in San Diego, the climate capital of the United States, on Episode 121 of Retire There ...

Imagine being a highly specialized physician on the top of your game in your 40s. You are well respected by your patients but feel overworked and burnt out, can you retire? The answer probably depends on your financial situation. Regina Arvon was a Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetics physician in the San Francisco Bay area when she gave it all up to retire at the age of 47. How was she able to do it? Regina pursued a life of financial independence before discovering the FIRE (Financial Independence,...

Gerri Almand believed she was happily retired, while living in Tampa, Florida and tending to her flower garden until her husband, Michael Hamlin, persuaded her to take some short vacations in an RV. She went from being a reluctant RV wife to selling their Tampa home and completely embracing the full-time RV life. The couple loved this new lifestyle until health concerns convinced them to find a home that wasn't on wheels. After considering some of the many towns they had visited, they concluded ...

Where would you retire if you loved Spain and purchased a home there but the Spanish visa requirements made it too difficult to gain permanent residency in the country? This was Bruce Joffe and Russ Warren’s experience so they relocated to the small inland city of Castela Banco, Portugal. Castela Branco is quaint, affordable, and located not far from their other home in Spain. Bruce and Russ are homebodies who highly recommend inland Portugal. Find out more about their journey, on Episode 118 of...

How much thought have you invested in thinking about where you will live during your retirement years? Ryan Frederick, an expert in the field of aging with a particular focus on the role of place, believes that where you live can have a major impact on many aspects of your life. Find out more, as we interview Ryan Frederick, author of Right Place, Right Time, on Episode 117 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Ryan Frederick’s book is Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Home fo...