Episodes

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 - Co...

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, locate...

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 Carol...

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 wor...

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 traveli...

When Russell Blake sold his real estate development company in 2002, he could have moved anywhere, but ended up in Mexico and has never looked back. He started writing suspense and thriller novels but was unable to find a publisher. In 2011, he started self-publishing and sold his books on Amazon. His idea was to write and publish books quickly, and at one point he released 25 thrillers in 30 months. This led him to become a New York Times bestselling author. What brings Russell to our podcast i...

Rhode Island is the new Florida! says Warwick, Rhode Island resident Colleen Kelly Mellor, and her life partner Paul Wesley Gates. These two visited various popular retirement destinations before falling in love with Asheville, North Carolina. For 9 years, they enjoyed winters in Asheville and summers in Warwick, but a fluke accident on a mountain road and the crisis that followed forced them to reconsider their lives. On Episode 32 of Retire There with Gil & Gene, find out what led the couple f...

Would you like to live in a place where the old and the new co-exist gracefully side-by-side? If your answer is yes, check out the beautiful and tranquil city of Cuenca, Ecuador. An Ecuadorian city with no shortage of expats. To guide us there, we have the man who, literally, wrote the book on relocating to Cuenca. On Episode 31 of Retire There with Gil and Gene, Terry Dean Roberts provides an honest depiction of what it is like to move to and live in Cuenca. Terry’s book is Relating to Ecuador ...

Would you like to live near the beach in a place with a small town feel with plenty to do? Dania Beach is that place, with a nice beach, a long pier, antique shops, and one of the largest jai alai frontons in the United States. And for more entertainment and dining options, Dania Beach is nestled between the larger locals of Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood. On Episode 30 of Retire There with Gil and Gene, find out how Rosemary Palladino and Marianne Brennick stumbled upon Dania Beach, Florida. cQu...

Life coach Margaret Nash and her husband Luis were searching for a place to live with a thriving art scene and plenty of hippies. They landed in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a place which combines old-world charm with a modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Hear about Margaret’s circuitous journey to San Miguel, on Episode 29 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. As a life coach, one focus of Margaret’s is helping people locate places they will be happy living in. To find out more about Margaret’s li...

Denise and Bill liked living in western Massachusetts but were getting tired of the cold and snowy winters. They wanted to move to a warmer climate but knew they would miss family and friends in the Northeast. The solution - they became snowbirds and now spend winters in Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville provides year-round golfing, which is Bill’s joy, and many diverse restaurants to enjoy. Find out more about Greenville on Episode 28 of Retire There with Gil and Gene.

From 2015 to 2017, Neill Kramer took extended vacations in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali. He enjoyed all of the Asian areas, but Bali stood out - he felt it was the place to be. Convinced, he purchased a villa there during a visit in 2017. Find out what led Neill to move to and open a hotel in the magical land of Bali on Episode 27 of Retire There with Gil and Gene. Neill’s highly rated hotel is the Ohana Retreat Bali. For more information about the hotel, or to make a reservation, go to:...

Ken and Bina Cline enjoy hiking and travel immensely. They searched for a retirement location to serve as a launchpad for travel to other parts of Europe and beyond. They landed in Tavira, a fishing town with a year-round comfortable climate in a southern region of Portugal known as the Algarve. It is no wonder that Tavira has become a popular retirement destination for Americans and even more so for Europeans. The couple consider themselves “global nomads” — living mostly outside the U.S. — sin...

Are you looking for a less congested town with year-round warmth and wonderful restaurants? Look no further than Stuart, Florida, known as “The Sailfish Capital of the World.” Our guest, Diane Gusch was not seeking to retire in Florida, but once she found the quaint town of Stuart, she couldn’t think of living anywhere else. This, the 25th episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene, was released on March 27, 2021, their 25th wedding anniversary! Do you believe in destiny?

Steve and Paulette Tuggle liked the idea of retiring in Latin America, but they weren't sure where. They decided to use the “try it, if you don’t absolutely love it, move on'' technique. Consequently, during a 5 year span, they lived in Honduras, Panama and Ecuador, before falling in love with Colombia. The Tuggles believe retiring comfortably on social security is possible if you retire outside of the USA. Find out more about the Tuggle’s journey to Medellin, Colombia, on episode 24 of Retire T...

Sarasota, Florida was named the best place to retire in 2021 by US News & World Report https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2021/01/u-s-news-names-sarasota-best-place-to-retire and Sarasota’s Siesta Key Beach was named the best beach in America in 2020 by TripAdvisor https://www.visitsarasota.com/article/siesta-key-beach-fan-favorite. Lisa van Sand and Everett Harlow agree! Although the couple relocated to Sarasota to be closer to family, they soon discovered why the area receives ...

Would you like to live in a walkable small town with a variety of restaurants, antique shops and art galleries? Lambertville, New Jersey has all that, plus it’s a hop and a skip to New Hope, Pennsylvania, another small town with more restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. In addition to being in the midst of amenities, Lambertville is just steps from nature. On days when you are looking for more action, Lambertville is about a 50 minute drive to Philadelphia, 90 minutes to New York City, ...

Rob and Jeni Evans happily retired early but faced a dilemma - their jobs did not pay for health insurance after retirement and they were too young to qualify for Medicare. Health insurance would have cost the couple $24,000 per year. As a solution, they decided to rid their 30+ years of possessions and move to another country. They whittled down everything they owned to 10 suitcases and relocated to Costa Rica. The Evanses analogize Costa Rica to Disneyland and they have no regrets! Rob contend...