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 eventually settled in Australia, where he spent most of his adult life with his wife. After more than 40 years of marriage, the couple divorced, prompting Ged to rethink his future. Faced with Australia’s h...
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 213
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 $210,000. Now, they spend their summers soaking up life on what’s known as “the Adirondack Coast” or “the poor man’s Vermont.” Although Plattsburgh may seem secluded, there is plenty to do including lounging ...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 212
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, wh...
May 25, 2025•48 min•Ep. 211
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 Portugal’s island of Madeira — with its lush mountains, vibrant flowers, and scenic hiking trails — that truly stole their hearts. It’s no wonder Madeira is often called the “Hawaii of Europe.” The couple eventu...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 210
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 best aspects of Northern California—without the downsides. As The Unretirees, they launched A Guide to Unretirement Abroad to help others make the leap to living overseas while still earning an income. Thei...
Apr 27, 2025•50 min•Ep. 209
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 “halfback retirees,” a term which refers to retirees who move from the Northeast to Florida, only to relocate halfway back to states like the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, or Georgia. Although Eileen onc...
Apr 13, 2025•52 min•Ep. 208
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 a home in Panama that caught her eye. Intrigued, Patty parked her RV at the airport, booked a flight, and flew to Panama with the determination to see the house in person. However, Patty never did visit ...
Mar 30, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 207
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 that she had “broken up with New York City,” Diane expanded her search to cities within a two-hour train ride of New York. Her journey led her to Philadelphia, where she found herself drawn to the charm of...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 206
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 Pogradec, Albania, which met her financial criteria but ultimately felt isolating and unfulfilling. After two years, Karen discovered a far better fit in Arles, a charming town in the south of France renowne...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 205
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 their search for a warm, budget-friendly destination with excellent healthcare, they found Coronado, Panama. This charming beach town offered stunning condos, a relaxing atmosphere, and a lower cost of li...
Feb 23, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 204
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 rammed earth home. You can learn more about their experience of splitting time between Hawaii and Arizona in Episode 203 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. For more about rammed earth homes, check out...
Feb 09, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 203
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 took root. During a trip to Rennes, France, the couple instantly felt it was the place they were meant to be. To learn more about their journey and what drew them to France, tune in to Episode 202 of Ret...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 202
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 daughter who was starting a family. However, her daughter later returned (!!!) to Hawaii but Doreen decided to remain in Nevada. Hear why Doreen stayed in North Las Vegas on Episode 201 of Retire There ...
Jan 12, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 201
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 There podcasts, consider supporting Gil & Gene by making a $5 donation at https://buymeacoffee.com/retiretherepod. Each contribution goes towards production expenses. Retire There was spotlighte...
Dec 29, 2024•25 min•Ep. 200
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 houses as investments. Unfortunately the Great Recession of 2007-2009 rendered her real estate near worthless. By 2010, she was bankrupt, in foreclosure, and owed money to a friend. Marsha believed she coul...
Dec 22, 2024•59 min•Ep. 199
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 move to a small town in Alabama: Muscle Shoals. It may be rural there but it is known around the world for the music made there. It is home to two famous recording studios and is known as “The Hit Recordi...
Dec 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 198
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. Viewing the move as a practical task rather than an idealistic dream made their transition smoother. In Taipei, their children are acclimating to public school, Maxwell is rekindling his desire to become a m...
Nov 24, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 197
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 villages. Those towns and more are featured on Mike’s website, BestSmallTownsInAmerica.com. When the opportunity to move to a small-town arose, he jumped at the chance to settle in Frankfort, Michigan. For mo...
Nov 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 196
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 city seamlessly combines old world charm with new styles and technology. Hear Christopher share his story on Episode 195 of Retire There with GIl & Gene. Christopher’s website is CleverExpat.com and...
Oct 27, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 195
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, and her husband Kim, fell in love with Istanbul, Turkey, the land of grand empires, monumental mosques, breathtaking churches, stately palaces, and where fortune tellers use live rabbits to foretell futur...
Oct 13, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 194
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 lessons taken for her son’s wedding would lead to ballroom dance competitions around the world. Learn more about how Cathy’s move to a classic New England coastal city led to the world of ballroom dancing on...
Sep 29, 2024•47 min•Ep. 193
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 month. Needless to say, we were surprised to learn that Janet had moved to San Antonio Tlayacapan, a small Mexican town on Lake Chapala. It turns out that Mazatlan is not the sleepy little city it once was ...
Sep 15, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 192
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 fun. Her chosen long-term destination homes are in Dublin, Ireland, Celebration, Florida and Guanacaste, Costa Rica. She spends 9 months in Celebration (sort of), summers in Dublin, and having a condo...
Sep 01, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 191
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 moved to Playas de Rosarito, Mexico, a small city located on the ocean only 10 miles south of the US/Mexico border. Due to its proximity to San Diego, Rosarito enjoys a similar climate. And get this, the co...
Aug 18, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 190
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 preparing their Lansing home sale. Fred carried on, moved to Traverse City and has kept himself busy with the area’s numerous shops, cultural centers and natural surroundings. The small city includes two indep...
Aug 04, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 189
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 selling his practice, Selena was quitting her job and the couple was moving to Ronda for a change of pace. These Gen Xers intended to stay a year and then reevaluate their situation. It has been over 5 ye...
Jul 21, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 188
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 giddier. The active couple retired to Mirabella at ASU, on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Residents don’t just live on campus, they are interwoven into the fabric of university li...
Jul 07, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 187
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 like their dream location and they quit their jobs and moved there. Koh Samui was not a nightmare for the pair but it was far from paradise. After a year and a half, Ed and Tomo left the island and moved to...
Jun 23, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 186
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 country living. The couple aren't always alone on their property - their estate contains three homes, two of which are rented out as Airbnbs. For more about this relocation to greener pastures, check out...
Jun 01, 2024•41 min•Ep. 185
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 traveling the world. Check out Lori’s life in this region of France on Episode 184 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Read about Lori’s life in France, downsizing, small space living, and slow travel on her...
May 18, 2024•51 min•Ep. 184
