Retire There with Gil & Gene
by GIl & Gene, Bleav
Gil and Gene are dreaming of their future. Ideas of how they will spend their retirement days abound. They just don't know where in the world they will spend them. Join them each week as they explore a new potential retirement location. On each podcast, Gil and Gene chat with retirees who describe life in their adopted city. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us and/or follow us! Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/retirethere_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Retire-There-Podcast-100063594093051/
Episodes
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Retire in Fort Collins, Colorado - EP 228
Retire in Fort Collins, Colorado - EP 228 Mark Goldstein and Peter Burnash had lived in New York, Connecticut, and Florida before relocating to Arizona. After spending some time in downtown Phoenix, they both decided it was time to escape the unbearable summer heat—and the frustrations that...
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Retire in Baltimore, Maryland - EP 227
LeeAnn Blanchard grew up in small-town Utah but seemed destined for city life. A childhood trip to Washington, DC opened her eyes to urban living, and as a longtime people person, she has always enjoyed social interaction. While living in Arizona, LeeAnn realized in 2022 that it was time to...
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Retire in Central Portugal with Real Estate Experts - EP 226
In 2019, Bill Mauro and Marcus Laurence sold their home in the beautiful woodlands of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains and boarded a plane to Portugal with just six suitcases. They initially settled in Lisbon but soon realized they missed the slower pace of country life. That led them to purchase…
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Retire in Fuente de Piedra, Spain EP 225
Sarah Wortman has always loved to travel and long dreamed of buying a home and retiring in Italy. When she and her husband, Lahab, began searching for a property in Tuscany, they repeatedly came up empty-handed. After one particularly disappointing attempt, Lahab reminded Sarah that he actually...
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Retire in Santa Luzia, Portugal - EP 224
Retire in Santa Luzia, Portugal From an early age, Barbara Grassey imagined a life for herself in Europe. During the COVID pandemic, she found herself reflecting on that long-held dream—and realizing she had yet to make it a reality. Rather than wait any longer, she made a bold decision. She let…
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Retire in Auckland, New Zealand - EP 223
Jules and Effin Older were enjoying retirement in a beautiful rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco until COVID hit and the appeal of big-city life faded. Having lived in New Zealand before, they saw it was handling the pandemic better than most places. Soon they left their apartment, shed...
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Special Episode - George Siegal, Buying and Building in the Era of Climate Change - EP 222
Special Episode - George Siegal, Buying and Building in the Era of Climate Change - EP 222 After years in the television industry — including a long run as a weatherman — George Siegal relocated from San Antonio, Texas to Tampa, Florida, only to find himself facing the very extreme weather...
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Special Episode - Federica Grazi, Founder, Mitos Relocation Solutions - EP 221
Special Episode - Federica Grazi, Founder, Mitos Relocation Solutions - EP 221 Dream of retiring to Europe but have no idea where - or how - to begin? Federica Grazi can help. Through her consulting firm, Mitos Relocation Solutions, Federica specializes in guiding retirees through every step of...
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Retire in NYC after Cruising the World - EP 220
New Yorker Jill Chalsty tried retiring in both South Carolina and Florida—without success. By the end of 2024, she was still recovering from a battle with cancer and grieving the loss of her husband. Looking for a fresh start, Jill decided to explore potential retirement destinations by embarking...
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2025 Retire There Year in Review - EP 219
Celebrate the New Year with Gil & Gene! Tune in as we reflect on the remarkable growth and transformation of the Retire There Podcast throughout 2025. We share what kept us busy this year, revisit highlights, and offer a sneak peek into the exciting plans for 2026. Episode 219 - Link in bio. If…
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Retire in Merida, Mexico - EP 218
What would you do if you had to walk away from the thriving Bed & Breakfast you’d run on Mexico’s Pacific Coast for more than 20 years—because of medical issues? That was the challenge facing Canadians Brooke and Rick Gazer. Their solution: relocate to Mérida, the cosmopolitan capital of Mexico’s...
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Special Episode - Andrew Motiwalla, Founder and CEO of The Good Life Abroad - EP 217
Are you considering moving to Europe for retirement but unsure where to start? Andrew Motiwalla’s company, The Good Life Abroad, offers exclusive month-long programs in some of Europe’s most captivating cities for adults 55+. These programs fill the gap between guided tours and independent…
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Retire in Fontainebleau, France - EP 216
Janice Deerwester, a retired teacher and widow, was working at Cracker Barrel when a song stopped her in her tracks—Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?” It struck a chord, sparking a deep realization: there had to be more to life. Determined to make a change, Janice set out to transform her…
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Retire in Piobbico, Le Marche, Italy - EP 215
Ashley and Jason Barton had established careers in the restaurant and hospitality industries in New York City when they realized there was something missing in their lives. With great ambition, but not a lot of money, they decided to start a cooking school/inn/farm in Italy. The adventurous…
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Retire in Fort Collins, Colorado - EP 214
Where can a writer, editor, illustrator, and avid mountain-sports enthusiast find solace and inspiration in semi-retirement? For Peter Moore, the answer was clear: Fort Collins, Colorado. This vibrant college town is celebrated for its thriving arts scene, live music, theater, craft breweries…
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Retire in Hua Hin, Thailand - EP 213
Growing up in the gritty industrial town of Middlesbrough, England, Gerald “Ged” Hogg was told he wouldn’t amount to much. Determined to prove otherwise, he left town at the first opportunity, embarking on a global journey as a chef aboard cruise ships and top-tier hotels and restaurants. Ged...
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Retire in Plattsburgh, New York - EP 212
When Scott Dukette left his hometown of Plattsburgh, New York, to attend college, he never imagined he’d return for more than the occasional family visit. But as retirement approached, Scott and his wife, Barbara, couldn’t pass up the chance to buy a home directly on Lake Champlain—for just...
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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…
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Retire in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal - EP 210
Retire in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal! EP 210 Bill and Jola Mansfield lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for over 30 years before deciding to move to Europe to be closer to their son in Helsinki, Finland and Jola’s mother in Poland. While many places across Europe captured their interest, it was…
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Retire in Nazare, Portugal - EP 209
After spending most of their lives in Northern California, Matt and Dawn had planned to wait a few more years before retiring to Europe. But everything changed when they decided to move to Nazare, Portugal, on the Silver Coast, while still working. They say the Silver Coast offers many of the…
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Retire in Garner, Raleigh, North Carolina - EP 208
Eileen Vorbach Collins and her husband Hugh had retired to Florida, but after growing weary of repeatedly fleeing hurricanes, they decided it was time for a change. Wanting a place that wasn’t too cold, they settled in a 55+ community in Garner, North Carolina, just outside Raleigh—making them...
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Retire in El Valle de Anton, Panama - EP 207
Patty Blue Hayes was living in San Luis Obispo, California, recovering from a “near-death” divorce. Seeking a fresh start, she bought an RV and embarked on a cross-country journey across the United States. During one of her late-night real estate scrolling sessions, she came across a listing for…
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Retire in Old City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - EP 206
Diane made a life-changing decision—she was done with suburban living and yearned to return to the energy of the city. She initially considered condos and co-ops in New York City, where her three adult children lived, but quickly realized the Big Apple was out of her financial reach. Declaring…
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Retire in Arles, France - EP 205
Karen Espig took early retirement from her government job in Ottawa, Canada, to dedicate more time to her passion for art. Concerned that her pension wouldn’t provide a comfortable lifestyle in Canada, she explored more affordable options in Europe. She initially settled in the small town of...
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Retire in Coronado, Panama - EP 204
Greg Kitzmiller and his wife, Jen, dreamed of retiring early after years of hard work and enduring chilly Michigan winters. However, since they were still in their 50s, they faced the challenge of securing affordable health insurance, as their jobs would no longer cover it once they retired. In...
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Retire in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii & Prescott, Arizona - EP 203
Carol Fahy had always dreamed of living in the tropics, and after talking to expats, she decided to stay in the U.S. She and her husband, Gene, moved to Oahu, Hawaii, but Gene, a car enthusiast, missed long drives. To satisfy this, they bought a second home in Prescott, Arizona, which is a unique...
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Retire in Rennes, France - EP 202
A murder in Philadelphia set Theresa Conroy on an unexpected path to discovering her love for France. But the story behind this revelation is likely not what you think. Over the years, she returned to the country multiple times with her husband, and it wasn’t long before the idea of living there...
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Retire in North Las Vegas, Nevada - EP 201
Doreen Hall Vann is a native Hawaiian who has always loved the state and thought she would never leave. That all changed when one of her daughters relocated to the mainland. Doreen pulled up her stakes, along with her husband and young son, and moved to North Las Vegas, Nevada to be closer to her...
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2024 Year in Review - EP 200
Celebrate the New Year with Gil & Gene! Tune in as we reflect on the remarkable growth and transformation of the Retire There Podcast throughout 2024. We share behind-the-scenes happenings, revisit standout episodes, and offer a sneak peek into the exciting plans for 2025. If you value the Retire...
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Retire in Madrid, Spain - EP 199
Marsha Scarbrough worked in Hollywood for 20 years as an Assistant Director on major feature films and prime-time television shows. In 2006, she retired and moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico, a place she thought would be her “forever home.” In Sante Fe, she used her small nest egg to purchase two...
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Retire in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - EP 198
Jennifer Oliver O’Connell and Lynn O’Connell were living in southern California and were hit hard by the Great Recession of 2007-2009. They had thought long and hard about relocating to a less expensive part of the United States. After doing extensive research, in 2023 they finally made the big...
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Retire in Taipei, Taiwan - EP 197
Maxwell Lee and Kelly Lei were living in Florida but believed it was important for their school-age children to experience other cultures. This prompted their decision to move to Asia and selected Taipei, Taiwan due to its relative ease of accessing a visa and comparative low cost of living....
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Retire in Frankfort, Michigan - EP 196
Retire in Frankfort, Michigan! Mike Andersen had lived in Chicago for many years but he loved exploring small-towns. Whenever he had a chance, he would take short car-trips staying at hamlets along the way. Those excursions led him to an eighteen-month trek across the United States visiting...
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Retire in Valencia, Spain - EP 195
Retire in Valencia, Spain - EP195 Christopher Wells enjoys experiencing new cultures and meeting new people, so it was no surprise when he moved to Valencia, Spain. However, an attractive job opportunity brought him back to the US. When the chance to return to Valencia arose, he jumped on it. The...
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Retire in Istanbul, Turkey - EP 194
Retire in Istanbul, Turkey! Lisa Morrow is a travel writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, CNN Travel, The Guardian, and BBC Travel to name a few. She grew up in a quiet leafy suburb of Sydney, Australia but caught the travel bug at a young age. With a world to choose from, Lisa…
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Retire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire - EP 193
Retire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire - EP 193 When Cathy Donnally moved from New Jersey to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, it was primarily to be near her son and his family. She was thrilled to learn that Portsmouth had small town charm and big city amenities. She was further surprised that dance...
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Retire in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Lake Chapala, Mexico - EP 192
Retire in San Antonio Tlayacapan, Lake Chapala, Mexico - EP 192 When we first interviewed writer Janet Blaser about living in Mazatlan, Mexico in June of 2021, we were convinced she had found her forever place. There, she had a large apartment a stone's throw from the beach for under $500 per...
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Retire in Dublin, Ireland & Celebration, Florida - EP 191
Retire in Dublin, Ireland & Celebration, Florida - EP 191 Powerhouse Gail Clifford is a doctor, podcaster, writer, blogger, coach, foster parent, tremendous Disney fan … the list goes on. Naturally, she’s not one to retire, or stay at one venue too long. But she loves life, down time and having...
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EP 190 Retire in Rosarito, Mexico
EP 190 Retire in Rosarito, Mexico! How would you like to live on the ocean and enjoy the near perfect weather of San Diego, California? Most of us would, but not many of us could afford its beachfront living. Jym and Renee Varnadore found a way to live such a lifestyle on a budget. The couple…
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EP 189 Retire in Traverse City, Michigan
Retire in Traverse City, Michigan! Fred Anderson has lived most of his life in Michigan. He considers himself vintage, not old. When retirement rolled around, Fred and his wife decided to move from Lansing, Michigan to Traverse City, Michigan. Sadly, Fred’s wife passed while the couple was...
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E188 Retire in Ronda, Spain
Selena Medlen, an attorney, and Jason Luban, an acupuncturist, had successful careers in Oakland, California, but they were stressed out. After taking a trip to Spain, they fell in love with Ronda, a small mountain top city in the southern part of the country. The next thing you know, Jason was...
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E187 Retire on Campus at Arizona State in Tempe
Imagine being a college student for the rest of your life. Enjoying a college town with lifelong learning while living on campus, what could be better? No exams! Former university president Jessica Kozloff and her husband Steve Kozloff, a former physician, chose this lifestyle and couldn’t be...
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E186 Retire in Khanom, Thailand
Ed, an American guy, and Tomo, a Japanese gal, were living and working in Tokyo when they thought about retiring somewhere less expensive and more relaxing. They soon developed a fondness for Thailand after visiting a few of its locations. The couple agreed that the island of Koh Samui seemed…
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E185 Retire in Holmes, Hudson Valley, New York
Can a couple of longtime Brooklynites survive the peace and quiet of a 17 acre property in Upstate New York’s Hudson Valley? It took a little time for Lisa Preudhomme and Servulus Billy, who moved from Brooklyn to Holmes, New York, but they eventually fell in love with the beauty and serenity of...
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E184 Retire in Loire Atlantique, France
Lori Cronwell is a writer, travel and lifestyle blogger, small home advocate and designer, slow travel aficionado, and the recent owner of a home in the French countryside. As a part-time expat and digital nomad, Lori divides her time between Portland, Oregon; Loire Atlantique, France; and...
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E183 Retire in Boise, Idaho
From 2020 to 2023, Boston area residents Kathy and Tom traveled the U.S. extensively enjoying the sites while also keeping their eyes open for potential retirement locations. A number of “B” towns caught their attention, including Boulder, Bozeman, Bend, and Boise. The small city of Boise, Idaho...
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E182 Retire in Sayulita, Mexico
Oklahoma native Ryan Crain had just spent an exhilarating year traveling the world when he found himself back in Oklahoma during the pandemic. He wanted to take a stab at living in another country but most of the borders were closed. Although it was far from his first choice, Mexico was allowing...
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E181 Retire in Boerne, Texas
Living in the Silicon Valley, Bill Ross and his family were fed up with the state’s high cost of living, crime, and politics. Wanting to leave the west coast, they searched for a place without the major problems of California but with a friendly community. They found all that plus a…
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E180 Retire in Pontivy, Brittany, France
For Philip and Sonya Hubbard figuring out where to retire was all about compromise. She wanted somewhere not too cold and he wanted a place not too hot. They narrowed locations down to Europe, then to France, then to Brittany. They had their hearts set on a house with an ocean view in Brittany…
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E179 Retire in Bradley Beach, Ocean Grove, and Asbury Park, New Jersey
Surf, sand and big hair! Would you like to live in a quiet beach community with walkable access to a town with a quaint main street and another known for hosting famous music acts. Rosa and Guy Losa found their way to Bradley Beach, New Jersey, with its neighboring towns of Ocean Grove…
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About this show
Gil and Gene are dreaming of their future. Ideas of how they will spend their retirement days abound. They just don't know where in the world they will spend them. Join them each week as they explore a new potential retirement location. On each podcast, Gil and Gene chat with retirees who describe life in their adopted city. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us and/or follow us! Email: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/retirethere_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Retire-There-Podcast-100063594093051/
Hosted by
GIl & Gene, Bleav