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...
May 22, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 33
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 cou...
May 09, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 32
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...
May 08, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 31
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. cQ...
May 01, 2021•55 min•Ep. 30
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...
Apr 24, 2021•55 min•Ep. 29
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 . Support the Show....
Apr 17, 2021•54 min•Ep. 28
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...
Apr 10, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 27
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...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 26
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? Support the Show....
Mar 28, 2021•44 min•Ep. 25
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...
Mar 21, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 24
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 rece...
Mar 14, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 23
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, ...
Mar 06, 2021•37 min•Ep. 22
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...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 21
Larry and Margaret Waage became empty nesters in the Fall of 2017. Living in Southington, Connecticut, they wanted to move somewhere with warmer weather, a lower cost of living, including lower taxes and a short distance from a city with suitable employment opportunities before their retirement. After researching various venues, they narrowed in on a select few. When Margaret set her eyes on Marietta, Georgia’s iconic fountain on Marietta Square, the decision was made! Soon after, the Waage’s re...
Feb 20, 2021•34 min•Ep. 20
Can you afford a beautiful waterfront home with a pool? Rob Teichman and Roy Bickford sought to retire comfortably in such a place. They landed in Chelem, Mexico, a small fishing village on a barrier Island on the Gulf of Mexico. Although they reside in a small village, the larger town of Progreso is a mere 6 miles away and the vibrant city of Merida is only 32 miles away. Rob and Roy purchased a large home and turned it into a beautiful bed and breakfast. On this episode of Retire There with Gi...
Feb 13, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 19
After working in Washington, DC, for the federal government for 30 years, Herb Walker decided to retire elsewhere. He wanted a place with a small town feel, near a city, and within a several hours drive to his mother in DC. Although he had hesitations about moving to the South, Herb ended up landing on the border of Cary and Apex, North Carolina. After arriving, Herb soon learned that his new neighborhood offered friendly people, plenty of outdoor activities, and affordable housing. He should ha...
Feb 06, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 18
Have you ever fantasized about living in a quaint little town like Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show? Mount Airy, North Carolina, is the birthplace of Andy Griffith and the place he, purportedly, modeled Mayberry after. These days, Mount Airy celebrates the fictionalized city with an annual weekend celebration called “Mayberry Days,” a barber shop named Floyd’s, a 2,500 square foot Andy Griffith museum and Griffith’s real childhood home. It wasn’t the memories of Mayberry which made Mark and ...
Jan 30, 2021•32 min•Ep. 17
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 spends some of his time volunteering for the American Library in Paris. He writes “Library Culture Picks”...
Jan 23, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 16
Anita White aimed to retire to a low density population town with sufficient amenities. She didn’t want to be in the sticks nor a big city, but rather, somewhere in between. Armed with a detailed spreadsheet and the determination to investigate locations, she started her search. After visiting numerous venues, she landed in Greeneville, Tennessee. Find out more about Anita’s fascinating journey on this episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene. Support the Show....
Jan 16, 2021•59 min•Ep. 15
In 1985, Ron and Shelley Sommer were all set to relocate to Israel with their young daughter. Two weeks before their scheduled fight, a family issue cropped up causing them to cancel the big move. Ron and Shelley were still determined to make the move, but it took them another 28-years until they did so. Find out about the Sommer’s retirement journey to Karmiel, Israel on the first international episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene. To learn more about moving to Israel, visit Nefesh B’Nefes...
Jan 11, 2021•57 min•Ep. 14
Happy 2021! We did it! We created a podcast and actually launched it. A big feat! Looking back, it’s a good thing we plowed ahead. There is still much more to do. But we learned a ton and want to share those lessons with you on this episode. The lessons include: What we learned from our guests; What we learned about podcasting: and What we learned about ourselves. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed creating it! Support the Show....
Jan 02, 2021•33 min•Ep. 13
In 2019, TripAdvisor named a beach in Clearwater, Florida as the #1 Beach in the United States. With its white sand beaches, relatively affordable housing prices, and proximity to St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, it is no wonder Clearwater is on the CBS News’ list of “Ten Best Places to Retire.” However, the gulf coast town is not for everyone. On this episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene, find out why retiree Craig Lang and his wife have fallen out of love with Clearwater. Since the release o...
Dec 25, 2020•29 min•Ep. 12
Eleven year old children fantasize about many things, retirement is not one of them. Do children even know the definition of retirement? At 11, Aida Euges was different from other kids. Not only did Aida know what retirement meant, she knew where she would retire. During a trip to Cape May, the southernmost town in New Jersey, the youngster was blown away by the beautiful beaches and colorful victorian homes. So taken by the town, Aida declared, “Someday I will have a house here!” She now owns a...
Dec 19, 2020•39 min•Ep. 11
Wayne and Laurie Murphy began retirement on the road. They sold their Orlando home along with most of their belongings, and purchased an Airstream trailer! A few days after the home closing, they took off for an adventure across the country. They spent 18 months on the road and didn’t allow the pandemic to spoil their dream vacation. When Covid-19 threw them a curve, they pivoted and found alternative enjoyment. After RVing for over a year, most would settle down for a while, not the Murphys. Th...
Dec 12, 2020•35 min•Ep. 10
Would you buy a home sight unseen? It’s exactly what Patricia and Ray almost did (!!) when they sold their home in Long Island, New York and relocated to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Hear about their adventurous move on this episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene! Check out Ray’s musical talents, The Ray Adams Band , at the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rayadamsband/ . Support the Show....
Dec 05, 2020•52 min•Ep. 9
When you think of Manhattan you may picture the lights of Broadway, the beauty of Central Park or the hustle and bustle of Midtown. You probably don’t think of the people who live there. Yes, many people call Manhattan their home. Some even move to Manhattan to retire. Lou and Barbara Grumet did just that and couldn’t be any happier. Listen to their story on this episode of Retire There with Gil and Gene! Louis Grumet has co-authored two books with John M. Caher. This Land is MY Land: An Insider...
Nov 28, 2020•45 min•Ep. 8
Up until it was time to retire, Hazel and her husband had spent their entire lives in Hawaii. Some couples spend months, and even years, deciding where to retire. This couple considered only one place: Las Vegas. So many Hawaiians have moved to Las Vegas since the 1970s, it has earned the name “Hawaii’s 9th island.” For Hazel and her husband, Las Vegas offered a much lower cost of living, less humidity, and Hawaiian creature comforts such as restaurants and entertainment. Were these amenities en...
Nov 21, 2020•38 min•Ep. 7
Andy and Maureen Kugler were searching for a mellow place to retire, with low taxes, little traffic and chaos, nearby beaches and drivable distances to their sons in Maryland and Virginia. They landed in Millsboro, a small town in southern Delaware located in between the beach people and the farm people. Soon after arriving in Millsboro, the Kuglers realized the beaches were not the only sources of enjoyment, but there was so much more. They quickly took to the parks for hiking and sightseeing, ...
Nov 14, 2020•34 min•Ep. 6
Sedona, Arizona is known as a wonderful vacation destination, whether you go hiking among the glorious red rocks, visit the art galleries or take in a movie at the Sedona International Film Festival. Imagine retiring there! Sedona was featured in the March/April 2020 issue of Where to Retire Magazine as one of the “8 Cities for Hikers and Walkers.” A photograph of Sedona is used as the cover of the issue. https://visitsedona.com/blog/sedona-featured-on-cover-of-where-to-retire-magazine/#:~:text=...
Nov 06, 2020•49 min•Ep. 5
Would you like to retire to a place which is a little bit country and a little bit city? Lancaster, Pennsylvania has the best of both worlds. In October of 2020, Lancaster was ranked the 4th best place to retire by U.S. News and World Report. https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-retire Jeanne and Ed Neff were lured to Lancaster by a 55-and-over life plan community named Willow Valley Communities. They immediately fell in love with Willow Valley, but also soon discovered t...
Nov 04, 2020•45 min•Ep. 4
