Retire There with Gil & Gene

Gigi Best Richardson and her husband Skip embarked on a quest to find the perfect location for relocating themselves and their African American bookstore/museum. Their criteria included a place with a rich African American history, abundant cultural institutions, and a blend of natural beauty along with a warm climate. Their search led them to St. Augustine, Florida, a city often regarded as the b...

Have you given thought to living alone later in life or joining a community of like-minded individuals? Some 50-plus individuals who are seeking this compromise are considering cohousing communities. Cohousing is defined by Wikipedia as “an intentional community of private homes clustered around shared space.” Jude Tisdall has found that a cohousing community can be much more. Jude lives in New Gr...

When Jo-Anne Bowen looked for a home in the Pacific Northwest, her wish list included an affordable single-story home in a nice community within a short distance of an international airport, as she loves to travel. She landed in the beautiful small city of Vancouver, Washington and her home is only eight miles from Portland International Airport. Jo-Anne’s motto, “spend as little as possible on th...

Michael Andrade had visited every Spanish and Portuguese speaking country in the Americas searching for a retirement destination. The catch was his sole source of income was social security. He landed in Salvador, Brazil, a place he describes as “magical.” Michael’s rent is a mere $400 per month for a one bedroom apartment in an upscale neighborhood near the beach. Check out his vibrant life in Br...

Julie Diebolt Price and her husband Gordon spent much of their working years in Southern California, but longed for a change. They initially bought a cabin in Rhododendron, Oregon in the shadows of Mount Hood enjoying years of vacations there. Despite Julie’s firm stance against Arizona, where she had visited her parents for three decades, fate led them to Goodyear. Surprisingly, they explored a m...

Brits Sallyann Phillips and her architect husband dreamed of designing and building a home on a Greek island. They started visiting the Greek island of Kos and later purchased land and began the process of planning the home. Just prior to the pouring of the cement foundation, Sallyann’s husband passed. She faced a monumental decision - stay in England or start construction of the house and move to...

Beverley and Chris Wood moved from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada to Mexico, where they stayed for 9 years. After a series of unfortunate events, Beverley yearned for more stability in her life and the couple journeyed back to Vancouver, Island. This time, to the small harbor city of Nanaimo, located mid-island. It is important to note that Vancouver and Vancouver Island are very uniqu...

Are you courageous enough to move across the world to start a new life on rural land? Dani and Evan Benton relocated to Omishima Island, Japan and seem to be loving the challenge. The industrious couple purchased two akiyas (abandoned or vacant houses in rural japan) for a total of approximately $30,000. For income, they remodeled one of the homes and are renting on airbnb. They plan to earn addit...

Have you watched the Yellowstone series and imagined roaming free on wide open land in Montana? Real estate agents Will and Angie Friedner moved to Whitefish, Montana where they enjoy living near Glacier National Park, lakes and a Rockwellesque downtown. The couple even have a YouTube channel, Living in Montana , and a book, Moving to Whitefish, Montana , where they explain what it is like to move...

Celebrate the New Year with Gil & Gene! Tune in as we reflect on the remarkable growth and transformation of the Retire There podcast throughout 2023. We share behind-the-scenes happenings, key 2023 statistics, revisit standout episodes, and offer a sneak peek into the exciting plans for 2024. If you value the Retire There podcasts, consider supporting Gil & Gene by making a $5 donation at at buym...

Kevin Cavanaugh spent his junior year of college abroad at the University of Seville in Spain. He immersed himself in Spanish, becoming fluent in the language. This was the beginning of his love affair with the country, but little did he know that his time there would play a significant role in deciding where to retire. His language skills allowed Kevin to seamlessly move to Alcala la Real, a smal...

As retirement neared, Paul and Cheryl Thornton moved from Delaware to Florida, believing it would be their “forever” home. While Florida is a great location for cruise enthusiasts like Paul, he hated it - the weather was unbearable and the drive to relatives in the northeast was too long. When it came time to retire, Paul sought somewhere with a temperate climate, a reasonable driving distance to...

After Wendy Whitcomb Marsh’s husband died at age 54, she retired and decided to leave California with her three children, two of which are autistic and the third who is physically disabled. But where to go? Wendy decided to head north to Salem, Oregon’s capital city located between Portland and Eugene. Salem has been called the most Oregon part of Oregon, with its scenic vistas and vineyards, old...

In this special episode, we chat with David Pogue about decluttering and disposing without adding to landfills. David is a six-time Emmy winner for his stories on CBS Sunday Morning , a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED Talk speaker, host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS, and creator/host of the CBS News/Simon & Schuster podcast Unsung Science . He was also the New York Times we...

If you dropped everything to care for your ailing mother for 3.5 years 24/7, what would you do after that? Mark Steven Porro, an actor and snack food company owner, was in that precise situation and after mom passed, he retired and moved to his dream destination, Pezenas, in the South of France. The city dates back to the 16th Century and is known for its art and history. Follow Mark’s relocation...

Envision forest bathing throughout the vast landscapes of the United States and Canada! Jenell Jones, a full-time solo RV traveler, lives this lifestyle almost year-round. She spends most days and nights enjoying stunning views parked in National and State parks. Having explored over 50 out of the 62 U.S. National Parks and 49 States, solo RVing is not that difficult and almost anyone can do it if...

Would you like to live near water and a short drive to a charming southern city? Check out Hendersonville, Tennessee, known as the “City by the Lake.” Both Johnny Cash and Taylor Swift had homes there and it’s conveniently located 18 miles from downtown Nashville. Tired of the high cost of Southern California living, realtor and ice cream store owner Nicole Fedorchek moved to a home on the lake in...

Would you enjoy life on a beautiful Caribbean island without breaking the bank? Renate Solomon chose Cozumel, Mexico as her retirement destination and it appears she couldn't be happier. Her monthly social security income covers her $350 cozy studio apartment and all living expenses. While high-end real estate options certainly exist in Cozumel, there are also affordable rental opportunities. The...

If someone were to create an international version of the old TV show “Green Acres,” it might be about a couple who moves from a big city to a small rural village in Italy. Anthony Paonita and Kathy Scozzare relocated from Staten Island, New York to Valfabbrica, Italy, in the Umbria region, and they are having far less problems than Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert ever had. In fact, the couple love the...

After Anthony Casablanca retired in 2015, he and his wife, Linda, started traveling the country in a 45-foot RV from their home in Batesville, Indiana. Their love for the Cincinnati Reds drew the couple to Pueblo El Mirage , an active 55+ RV and golf resort in El Mirage, Arizona and near the Reds’ Spring training facility. Although the RV brought them to many communities, El Mirage felt most like...

Janet Sussman stands as an inspiring testament to resilience in the face of adversity. In 2006, she and her husband were on the verge of realizing a cherished dream: the construction of a log home nestled within 5 acres of woodland in Florida. However, their dreams were shattered when her husband suffered a stroke and one of her sons tragically lost his life in a construction accident. To compound...

Having a career in the military enables one to see the world and may provide a glimpse of where to retire. Michele and Branden McAloon’s military service offered the opportunities to live among numerous cultures and they are currently residing in Wiesbaden, Germany where Branden is engaged with the U.S. Government. While the couple is enjoying the spas, beer and schnitzels in Wiesbaden, they will...

Bridget and Davlyn Boyd, residents of Houston, Texas, were in their early 50s, held frenzied jobs, and dreamed of living on a Caribbean island. Their goal was to find an affordable island with a large population of people of color and a middle class - not a place with solely rich and poor inhabitants. After a thorough search, the Boyds discovered Punta Cana, Dominican Republic checked all the boxe...

The thought of living in Japan is considered by many to be prohibitively expensive. That may be the case in Tokyo and other large cities, but not everywhere in the country. Check out “akiyas,” abandoned or vacant homes in rural areas available for very low cost. The type and condition of these houses vary drastically depending on each property, but there appear to be many hidden gems among them. L...

How long does one need to sense a true feel for Paris? For some, a week will suffice, for others perhaps a month, yet there are those who spend 3 months in the city of love and beauty and yearn for more! Mike Duffy was so drawn to Paris, he upped and sold (almost) everything and retired there! That move was over five years ago and Mike’s still finding new reasons to love the city.   Also, Mike spe...