Episodes

Happy 2023! In Episode 116, Gil & Gene discuss how the Retire There podcast continued to grow and evolve in 2022. In the episode, we discuss what goes on behind the scenes of Retire There, 2022 statistics, the press we received, highlights of episodes from 2022, and what is upcoming in 2023. If you enjoy the Retire There podcasts, please make a donation at buymeacoffee.com/retiretherepod. Each cup of coffee costs $5 and goes towards bringing you more Retire There podcasts in the future. An artic...

Would you like to live in a small European city with a surprisingly mild climate and views of a beautiful lake and stunning mountains? Many people who could afford to live anywhere, including Freddie Mercury, adopted Montreux, Switzerland as their home. Lynn Denton went to Montreux for a job, but ended up loving it and staying after retirement. Find out what keeps Lynn in Montreux on Episode 115 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. From Lynn’s airbnb Montreux Music BNB you can see views of the Lac L...

Joy and Brent Fletcher were living in Berkeley, California but dreamed of retiring in wine country. Of course, they thought about the nearby Sonoma wine region, but it is prohibitively expensive. Then, they stumbled upon the town of McMinnville in Oregon’s wine region and fell in love with the area. They purchased a home in McMinnville and are enjoying the beautiful wineries, charming downtown, low congestion, and slow pace. Find out more about life in Oregon wine country on Episode 114 of Retir...

Does living in a small, quaint village on a bay in the Algarve sound dreamy? It’s still doable but, as housing costs rise and the ever growing number of expats invade Portugal, the best way to find a reasonably priced home may be to have your feet on the ground and locate property by word-of-mouth. Brits Karen and Nick Telling went on holiday in the former fishing village of Carvoeiro and soon found themselves settling there. On Episode 113 of Retire There, Karen explains that she was smitten wi...

Is it attainable to live on a beach in New York City without going broke? Sharon Lew has proven so. Sharon grew up near the water on Long Island, but spent most of her adult life in Manhattan while having a beach house in Fire Island, New York. In an attempt to be on the ocean, near Manhattan, and without debt, she sold her Fire Island home and purchased a fixer-upper apartment in Rockaway, Queens. She loves hearing the sound of the surf and the security of having low monthly costs. Find out mor...

Do you long for an inexpensive oceanfront city? There aren’t many left in the States, so check out Huatulco, Mexico. The town is quaint, friendly, affordable, clean and a naturally beautiful place on the Pacific Ocean in southern Mexico. Cindy and Fred Ouellette settled in Huatulco four years ago. They love it, think it’s “almost heaven,” and say they live a great life on Social Security alone. Check out why the couple loves the lesser-known city of Huatulco on Episode 111 of Retire There with G...

Would you enjoy a small getaway house, near New York City, for under $150,000? Check out some of the former bungalow colonies north of the city. Marcy Kahn, and her wife Diane Churchill, found such a place in the northern Westchester County town of Mohegan Lake, just 50 miles north of their Manhattan residence. Their community, the Mohegan Woodlands Cooperative, includes a swimming pool, rights to the private lake, tennis courts, and, soon, pickleball courts! Find out more about living in a bung...

Do you wish to live in Panama, but find the housing prices of Panama City, Boquete or Coronado too costly? Try David, a fairly large city, with a small town feel due to its low population density and lack of skyline. Joyce Barr retired to Panama and has lived in several Panamanian cities, but recently moved to David for its low rental costs. Learn more about Joyce’s love of Panama’s people and places on Episode 109 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Learn about Joyce Barr’s company, BLAST! Tours &...

Do you fantasize of having a home right on the beach? Oh, you don’t have millions to plop down on a seaside place in the States? Perhaps you should explore Mexican beach towns. Brighton and Kat West started living their dream after they purchased a beachfront home near La Paz, Mexico. For under $200,000!! Find out more about the couple’s Mexican oceanfront retreat on Episode 108 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. West’s popular Youtube channel Almost Retired in Mexico and his site AlmostRetiredInM...

Is it possible to live in two of the most expensive areas of the world? Yes, but it helps to be organized and frugal. Regina Ang and Sue Davies, high level stressed out executives blissfully retired in Clementi, Singapore and Jersey City, New Jersey. In Singapore, housing is pricey but expenses may be saved by food shopping at wet markets and dining at hawker centers. In the New York City area, the couple cut costs by crossing the Hudson River to move from Manhattan to Jersey City. Learn more ab...

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...