The population of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico rose from 12,000 in 1964 to 300,000 today. That should be no surprise, given the Mexican beach resort city consists of great weather, warm people, reputed excellent healthcare and mountains which offer stunning ocean views. Robert Nelson fell in love with Puerto Vallarta when he began visiting in the 1970s. Living there has been a dream come true for him. Find out more about Robert’s love for Puerto Vallarta, on Episode 123 of Retire There with Gil &...
Feb 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 123
Chuck and Mary Casselman left San Diego, California to retire in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. You may be asking yourself why anyone would leave the beautiful beaches and near perfect weather of San Diego. The Casselmans had enough of California’s ever increasing taxes, high cost of living and horrible traffic. In Costa Rica, they love their beautiful modern home with a pool and the warm people of Costa Rica. Find out more about what brought the couple to Costa Rica, on Episode 122 of Retire There...
Feb 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 122
What comes to mind when you think of San Diego, California: the zoo, the beach or the weather? For Susan Lewallen it was unquestionably the weather. After working as physicians for over two decades in Africa, Susan and her husband Paul Courtright decided to move back to the States for retirement. Their wish was for perfect weather - not too hot and not too cold. San Diego won out. Find out more about retiring in San Diego, the climate capital of the United States, on Episode 121 of Retire There ...
Feb 04, 2023•39 min•Ep. 121
Imagine being a highly specialized physician on the top of your game in your 40s. You are well respected by your patients but feel overworked and burnt out, can you retire? The answer probably depends on your financial situation. Regina Arvon was a Prenatal Diagnosis and Genetics physician in the San Francisco Bay area when she gave it all up to retire at the age of 47. How was she able to do it? Regina pursued a life of financial independence before discovering the FIRE (Financial Independence,...
Jan 28, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 220
Gerri Almand believed she was happily retired, while living in Tampa, Florida and tending to her flower garden until her husband, Michael Hamlin, persuaded her to take some short vacations in an RV. She went from being a reluctant RV wife to selling their Tampa home and completely embracing the full-time RV life. The couple loved this new lifestyle until health concerns convinced them to find a home that wasn't on wheels. After considering some of the many towns they had visited, they concluded ...
Jan 21, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 119
Where would you retire if you loved Spain and purchased a home there but the Spanish visa requirements made it too difficult to gain permanent residency in the country? This was Bruce Joffe and Russ Warren’s experience so they relocated to the small inland city of Castela Banco, Portugal. Castela Branco is quaint, affordable, and located not far from their other home in Spain. Bruce and Russ are homebodies who highly recommend inland Portugal. Find out more about their journey, on Episode 118 of...
Jan 14, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 118
How much thought have you invested in thinking about where you will live during your retirement years? Ryan Frederick, an expert in the field of aging with a particular focus on the role of place, believes that where you live can have a major impact on many aspects of your life. Find out more, as we interview Ryan Frederick, author of Right Place, Right Time , on Episode 117 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Ryan Frederick’s book is Right Place, Right Time: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Ho...
Jan 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 117
Happy 2023! In Episode 116, Gil & Gene discuss how the Retire There podcast continued to grow and evolve in 2022. In the episode, we discuss what goes on behind the scenes of Retire There, 2022 statistics, the press we received, highlights of episodes from 2022, and what is upcoming in 2023. If you enjoy the Retire There podcasts, please make a donation at buymeacoffee.com/retiretherepod . Each cup of coffee costs $5 and goes towards bringing you more Retire There podcasts in the future. An ...
Jan 01, 2023•19 min•Ep. 116
Would you like to live in a small European city with a surprisingly mild climate and views of a beautiful lake and stunning mountains? Many people who could afford to live anywhere, including Freddie Mercury, adopted Montreux, Switzerland as their home. Lynn Denton went to Montreux for a job, but ended up loving it and staying after retirement. Find out what keeps Lynn in Montreux on Episode 115 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. From Lynn’s airbnb Montreux Music BNB you can see views of the L...
Dec 17, 2022•55 min•Ep. 115
Joy and Brent Fletcher were living in Berkeley, California but dreamed of retiring in wine country. Of course, they thought about the nearby Sonoma wine region, but it is prohibitively expensive. Then, they stumbled upon the town of McMinnville in Oregon’s wine region and fell in love with the area. They purchased a home in McMinnville and are enjoying the beautiful wineries, charming downtown, low congestion, and slow pace. Find out more about life in Oregon wine country on Episode 114 of Retir...
Dec 10, 2022•53 min•Ep. 114
Does living in a small, quaint village on a bay in the Algarve sound dreamy? It’s still doable but, as housing costs rise and the ever growing number of expats invade Portugal, the best way to find a reasonably priced home may be to have your feet on the ground and locate property by word-of-mouth. Brits Karen and Nick Telling went on holiday in the former fishing village of Carvoeiro and soon found themselves settling there. On Episode 113 of Retire There , Karen explains that she was smitten w...
Dec 03, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 113
Is it attainable to live on a beach in New York City without going broke? Sharon Lew has proven so. Sharon grew up near the water on Long Island, but spent most of her adult life in Manhattan while having a beach house in Fire Island, New York. In an attempt to be on the ocean, near Manhattan, and without debt, she sold her Fire Island home and purchased a fixer-upper apartment in Rockaway, Queens. She loves hearing the sound of the surf and the security of having low monthly costs. Find out mor...
Nov 26, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 112
Do you long for an inexpensive oceanfront city? There aren’t many left in the States, so check out Huatulco, Mexico. The town is quaint, friendly, affordable, clean and a naturally beautiful place on the Pacific Ocean in southern Mexico. Cindy and Fred Ouellette settled in Huatulco four years ago. They love it, think it’s “almost heaven,” and say they live a great life on Social Security alone. Check out why the couple loves the lesser-known city of Huatulco on Episode 111 of Retire There with G...
Nov 19, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 111
Would you enjoy a small getaway house, near New York City, for under $150,000? Check out some of the former bungalow colonies north of the city. Marcy Kahn, and her wife Diane Churchill, found such a place in the northern Westchester County town of Mohegan Lake, just 50 miles north of their Manhattan residence. Their community, the Mohegan Woodlands Cooperative, includes a swimming pool, rights to the private lake, tennis courts, and, soon, pickleball courts! Find out more about living in a bung...
Nov 12, 2022•38 min•Ep. 110
Do you wish to live in Panama, but find the housing prices of Panama City, Boquete or Coronado too costly? Try David, a fairly large city, with a small town feel due to its low population density and lack of skyline. Joyce Barr retired to Panama and has lived in several Panamanian cities, but recently moved to David for its low rental costs. Learn more about Joyce’s love of Panama’s people and places on Episode 109 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Learn about Joyce Barr’s company, BLAST! To...
Nov 05, 2022•56 min•Ep. 109
Do you fantasize of having a home right on the beach? Oh, you don’t have millions to plop down on a seaside place in the States? Perhaps you should explore Mexican beach towns. Brighton and Kat West started living their dream after they purchased a beachfront home near La Paz, Mexico. For under $200,000!! Find out more about the couple’s Mexican oceanfront retreat on Episode 108 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . West’s popular Youtube channel Almost Retired in Mexico and his site AlmostRetir...
Oct 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 108
Is it possible to live in two of the most expensive areas of the world? Yes, but it helps to be organized and frugal. Regina Ang and Sue Davies, high level stressed out executives blissfully retired in Clementi, Singapore and Jersey City, New Jersey. In Singapore, housing is pricey but expenses may be saved by food shopping at wet markets and dining at hawker centers. In the New York City area, the couple cut costs by crossing the Hudson River to move from Manhattan to Jersey City. Learn more ab...
Oct 22, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 107
Dave Hughes and Jeff McKeehan had independently moved to Arizona to escape freezing winters. Jeff contends that “snow is for snow globes.” When they got together, they searched for a place that would support their love of playing music and gardening. They chose Chandler, Arizona for its proximity to Phoenix enabling them to enjoy all of its culture but far enough to avail themselves of less pricey real estate. Find out more on Episode 106 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Read Dave’s book on...
Oct 15, 2022•51 min•Ep. 106
Dream of living somewhere surrounded by beautiful scenery with temps that are never too high or too low? If so, seek out that perfect elevation in the stunning mountain town of Boquete, Panama where neither air conditioning nor heat is required. Correct, you can have a comfortable year-round climate and it’s AFFORDABLE! It is no wonder the place is full of expats. Hear what brought Jackie Lange to Boquete and what kept her there, on Episode 105 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . Jackie Lange’...
Oct 08, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 105
You unquestionably love the music, food and spirit of New Orleans, but prefer a rural area … oh, what to do? Musician Ben Redwine and his artist wife, Leslie Redwine, believe they found the perfect compromise. The couple moved to Covington, Louisiana in Tammany Parish - which offers a quaint country location and is only 40 miles from downtown New Orleans! Find out more about the laidback lifestyle of Louisiana in St. Tammany Parish on Episode 104 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . For Ben Red...
Oct 01, 2022•39 min•Ep. 104
As a child growing up in Canada, Perley-Ann Friedman dreamed about living on a tropical island. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively around the world, but on her first trip to the southern Thailand island of Koh Lanta, she knew she had found her magical island. Listen to how Perley-Ann transformed from tourist to local expat on Episode 103 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Perley-Ann Freidman’s book on retiring to Koh Lanta is Retired Way Out There: My Evolving Life in Koh Lanta, Tha...
Sep 24, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 103
When does “forever” last only a few years? When your “forever home” in your dream destination, among the red rocks in the Arizona sun, turns out to be a nightmare. After long careers on the East coast, Bob and Irene Peake retired to the picturesque town of Sedona, Arizona. The couple loved it there, but a change in the real estate laws and Bob’s new fascination with horseback riding (he learned how to ride at age 71) had them looking for a home with more land. After 5 years in Sedona, they sough...
Sep 17, 2022•54 min•Ep. 102
Hugh Donagher and Brian Rountree were living in San Antonio, Texas and wanted to settle down in Spain but not quite ready for retirement. Brian had little trouble securing a tech job in Barcelona. Obtaining a work visa is another story. They discovered that since Hugh achieved Irish citizenship through descent, the married couple could live and work anywhere in the EU without difficulty. The couple have fallen in love with Barcelona and could see themselves retiring there. Find out more on Episo...
Sep 10, 2022•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 101
Where should you retire if you wish for a place with water warm enough to enable you to swim in the ocean year round? Oh, and you don’t want to leave the United States. Don and Linda Hurzeler discovered their ocean paradise in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Too expensive, you say? Don scoffs at that notion, maintaining that living in Hawaii is doable if you are flexible with some of your must-haves. Learn more about living in Kailua-Kona on The Big Island, on Episode 100 of Retire There with Gil & Gen...
Sep 03, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 100
Dreamt of living on a little Caribbean island? Has the fear of being distant from city conveniences prevented you from realizing your fantasy? Isla Mujeres in Mexico may be the answer. The island is a short commute from the stores, restaurants and services of Cancun. Dawn Fleming and Tom Clifford moved to Isla Mujeres and claim it’s an 18 minute ferry ride and a world away from Cancun. While around 25,000 tourists set foot on the island each day, solitude is found. Learn more about Isla Mujeres ...
Aug 27, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 99
Do you really know The Villages, the world’s largest retirement community in central Florida? There have been numerous depictions of The Villages by those who don’t live there. Jack and Pam O’Brien moved from Pittsburgh and say The Villages is the perfect place for them to work on their writing, volunteer, enjoy fun ways to exercise, and spend time with their new friends. Hear our guests share what it’s actually like to be residents in The Villages, on Episode 98 of Retire There with Gil & G...
Aug 20, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 98
Retire early and dedicate more time to your passion? Is the fear of not having enough retirement savings holding you back? That was the case for Alyson and Dave Sheldrake of Devon, England. The couple crunched the numbers and determined doing it in England would be difficult, but they pulled it off in the Algarve region of Portugal, a place they loved. They retired and moved to the Algarve in 2011. Alyson is flourishing as a painter and writer and Dave is a prosperous photographer. Find out how ...
Aug 13, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 97
What would it take for you to retire in a small rural town? How about free land? Lincoln, Kansas is giving away free build-ready plots of land in an effort to get people there. Bradley Roberts relocated to Lincoln from - WAIT FOR IT - San Francisco! While Roberts didn’t take advantage of the deal, he purchased a converted barn home for $22,000!! What else drew Bradley to Lincoln, Kansas? Listen to Episode 96 of Retire There with Gil & Gene to find out! See what Bradley’s up to on instagram: ...
Aug 06, 2022•47 min•Ep. 96
Do you dream of living like the Jeffersons, ‘in a deluxe apartment in the sky?’ Most of us would be unable to afford such a place in New York, London or Singapore. For city loving retirees who desire residing in a large and luxurious apartment, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia may be the answer. Former Pittsburgh residents Jessica Coup and Scott Bergstein now call home a magnificent four bedroom, 5 bath apartment with maid’s quarters, in Kuala Lumpur - all for under $1,200/month. Listen to their adventure...
Jul 30, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 95
Jim and Rita Santos retired to Ecuador and loved it but missed their 9 grandchildren back in the U.S. When searching for a home in the States, they wanted a mild winter climate, great healthcare, a good airport and scenic hiking trails. Knoxville, Tennessee checked all the boxes. Learn more about Knoxville, The Marble City, on Episode 94 of Retire There with Gil & Gene . For Jim’s life as an author, traveler and voice over artist, visit his website . Jim Santos’ books include: Living Abroad:...
Jul 23, 2022•47 min•Ep. 94
