Retire in Racine, Wisconsin - EP 211
When we—Gil & Gene—are curious about where people are choosing to retire, we often turn to the “Where To Retire” Facebook Group for inspiration. That’s where we became intrigued by Marilyn Kaslofski, the group’s Administrator, who chose Racine, Wisconsin as her retirement destination. We were eager to find out why, so we invited her to share her story on our show!
Marilyn’s husband had always dreamed of living by the water, and at first, Florida seemed like a natural choice—until Marilyn, who strongly dislikes hot weather, ruled it out. Determined to find a place they would both love, she launched an extensive search of towns and cities along the shores of Lake Michigan.
One Indiana town had attractive lakefront homes, but Marilyn preferred a condo. Chicago was too pricey, and the Milwaukee condos were too far from the water. Then they discovered Racine—just right in terms of location, lifestyle, and affordability. The couple ultimately purchased a two-bedroom lakeview condo for $245,000. While it needed some updating, it checked all the boxes.
Hear the full story of Marilyn’s journey to Racine on Episode 211 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.
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Marilyn Kaslofski
Marilyn and her husband, Don, have truly stood the test of time—they'll be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next year (yes, they were basically kids when they met!). Their journey together has taken them from their roots on the South Side of Chicago—Don in the city and Marilyn in the suburbs—through a variety of places including Orland Park, IL; Broadview Heights, OH; West Brookfield, MA; Chicago's Greektown; and most recently, Park Ridge, IL.
Both high school grads with various college stints, Don worked at a gas station and later as a mechanic for Goodyear when he and Marilyn met. Marilyn, then an administrative assistant (and, by her own admission, a bit of a job hopper), followed Don’s career as he transitioned from a residential HVAC technician into management roles. His work took them across the country and ultimately back to Illinois, where he became Vice President of a commercial HVAC company.
Marilyn held various administrative and sales positions while also raising their two sons. Their eldest served in the Navy and now lives in San Diego with his wife (whom he met in Guam), her daughter, and her mother. Their younger son followed in Don’s footsteps, carving out a similar career in HVAC—and now employed by the same company! Well, Don is working part-time so he says.
