Episodes

What images come to mind when you hear the terms trailer park or mobile home park? You may think of run-down communities with stray dogs and men walking sporting wife-beater tops. That stereotype is what led to the birth of the name “manufactured” homes and their communities. Many manufactured home communities in Florida have beautiful dwellings with fabulous amenities such as pools, gyms and pickle ball courts. Design a mid-century style manufactured home in your dream venue and you’ll be set. ...

Brits frequently complain about gloomy weather, but how many of them leave the country because of it? Fiona Mackenzie-Spence did. I was spiritually guided to Gozo, Malta, says Fiona, a place she had never been. Gozo is a beautiful Mediterranean island where nearly all of the natives speak English. Listen to our conversation with Fiona, about moving to Gozo, on Episode 67 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Fiona Mackenzie-Spence’s book on relocating to, and living in, Gozo, Malta is Rock Hopping Ta...

How would you like to retire to a diverse, vibrant city, one that is much, much more affordable than New York or San Francisco? Sarah Vogel opted for Philadelphia, a city which offers all the amenities of other major hubs at, what can be, a fraction of the price. Among other things, Philly is brimming with cultural and historic institutions, delicious eateries, pro-sports teams, many parks and wooded trails. Join us as we chat with Sarah Vogel about the City of Brotherly Love on Episode 66 of Re...

Happy 2022! In Episode 65, Gil & Gene discuss how the Retire There podcast has evolved in 2021. Specifically, they chat about what they have learned from their guests, themselves, and where they think they’ve agreed to retire. Gil & Gene are proud of their 2021 achievements: Retire There with Gil & Gene won a 2021 Golden Crane Award for Best Society & Culture podcast by the Asian American Podcast Association. They were invited to and appeared on Wes Moss’ podcast Retire Sooner. It’s Episode 52, ...

If you were retiring on a U.S. military pension and wanted to live a comfortable life, where would you go? Donny Chamberland recently retired from the military, and his wife, Victoria, recently did the same from a civilian position. They decided to leave Madison, Wisconsin and retire to San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Each year throngs of people come to relax at the many resorts the Dominican Republic has to offer. But what is it like to reside there full-time? Find out on Episode 64 of Retir...

If you were in the red zone of retirement and you love outdoor activities such as fishing and hiking, where would you retire? Julie Sosinski selected a lake home near Hayward, Wisconsin for most of the year and a condo in Bonita Springs, Florida for the winter months. Find out more about Julie’s adventurous life, on Episode 63 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Imagine this, you are living in Abu Dhabi but desire more of a rural life. You have never been to Spain and you don’t know Spanish, would you purchase an old house, without a roof, in a rural spot in Andalusia, Spain? That’s exactly what Sabina Ostrowska and Robert Ryan did. It took a year and half to renovate the house, which included the addition of two guest suites that they rent out under the name “Cortijo Berruguilla.” Although the couple is very busy with their airbnb and running an Englis...

Find a home within a two-hour driving radius of Hoboken, New Jersey, where your new grandchild resides. Where do you go? Nancy and Joel Collamer decided to check out Bucks County, Pennsylvania by renting a home in an active 55+ community in Langhorne. After a year, they ended up loving it and purchasing a home in the same community. Bucks County has the best of both worlds--quaint towns and beautiful nature for outdoor activities. Our guest, Nancy Collamer, shares all the details on Episode 61 o...

In 1992, Mark Greenside was a 47 year old New Yorker living in Northern California. His most valuable possession was a 20 year old car and he considered himself downwardly mobile and a lifelong sceptic. Nevertheless, he purchased a beautiful home in Brittany, a quaint area in France. Mark is now retired. He and his wife, Donna Umeki, enjoy a tri-coastal life - they live part-time in Alameda Island, California; New York City and Brittany. Tough life, but someone has to do it! Hear about Mark and ...

Many immigrants come to America for better opportunities for their future generations, then yearn to return to their homeland in their golden years, only to find that what they left behind has dramatically changed and their American born offspring innately have no desire to join their parents in their ancestral lands … what do you do? That precise conundrum is what gave Iggy Ignatius the idea of creating a retirement community, geared to immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, in Florida. Iggy ...

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 books...

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 pa...

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 stay...

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 p...

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 touring...

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.