Retire There with Gil & Gene

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: Challenging the Myths of Expat LifeHiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (Travels with Jim and Rita)The Galapagos Islands: On Your Own and On a Budget (Travels with Jim and Rita)An Uphill Climb: Survivor’s Guilt and the Inca TrailMoving Overseas: Ship or Mule? (Travels with Jim and Rita)My Struggles with Stage FrightFirst Tango in Buenos Argentina (Travels with Jim and Rita)Three views of LIma Peru (Travels with Jim and Rita)Love Never DiesFoolish MortalsThe Body Remembers: A Baseball StoryJim’s articles in International Living Magazine, are available hereJim’s Author Facebook PageJim’s YouTube channel is available hereSupport the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Linda Correll had traveled around the world, but when it came to selecting a place to retire she narrowed it down to two countries: Spain and Portugal. Its more liberal visa and resident requirements gave Portugal the edge. Of the many wonderful cities available, Linda chose Porto for its cool weather and myriad of activities. Check out the more-popular-than-ever city of Porto, Portugal on Episode 93 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.For more of Linda’s story, read She Left The Country She Knew and Created Unfamiliar Lifestyles in Unfamiliar Places from the blog, She has not finished yet!  Note - this article was written when Linda lived in Spain, prior to her move to Portugal.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mel and Patricia Schlesinger love Mexico but they wanted an inexpensive home in the States to come back to annually, so as to not lose their Medicare benefits. They ended up purchasing a casita in one of the many 55 plus communities in Green Valley, Arizona, 30 miles south of Tucson and 60 miles north of the Mexican border. Residents of the city love Green Valley Recreation, an entity which consists of 13 busy hubs, seven golf courses and miles of hiking and biking trails.Mel Schlesinger’s website, concerning Medicare Advantage plans, is available here.Mel Schlesinger’s book on Medicare is The Better Medicare Solution: How to Minimize Your Costs So That You Can Maximize Your Healthcare Coverage, What No One is Telling You.For information on Mel’s insurance practice, he may be reached at mel@melschlesinger.com.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What would you do if your other half dreams of living in Europe but the thought hadn’t even occurred to you? This happened to Nancy Hampton! Instead of dismissing the idea, she broadened her mind and ended up loving life in Europe. First in Germany, where her husband Luther found a job, and thereafter in Italy where the couple retired. They stumbled upon the 16,000 resident city of Umbertide in Umbria. Umbria was chosen for its beauty, reasonable cost of living and great location close to transportation hubs. Find out more about living in the charming region of Umbria, on Episode 91 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Nancy blogs at Nancy Goes to Italy: A record of an American's dream to live in Umbria. The blog shares great insight into living in Umbria, photographs and recipes. Nancy’s article in Dispatch Europe is Want to live in Italy? Small-town Umbria is an affordable, beautiful option.Information about Nancy and Luther’s apartment for sale, in Umbertide, Umbria, Italy, may be found here.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some retirees long for the luxurious amenities and numerous clubs of a 55+ active adult community, but also want both the culture of cities and the natural beauty of rural areas. Marsha and James Cuddington seem to have found it all at On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida. Marsha especially loves its fully-equipped wood shop. Outside the community are great parks, hiking/biking trails and hundreds of thoroughbred horse farms. Ocala is also home to a museum of art, a theater, a ballet company and its own symphony orchestra. Find out more about living in Ocala, Florida, on Episode 90 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever fantasize about living on an Island in the middle of an ocean? At some point you probably talked yourself out of it, believing that it would be too isolated, too expensive and too hot. According to Bill Strickland and Sam Palmer, the Portuguese island of Madeira, off the African coast, is none of those. Bill and Sam retired to the city of Funchal on Madeira in 2021 without ever having stepped foot on the island. The couple described Funchal as having the feel of an old European city, even though it is on an island and surrounded by beautiful mountainous land. It is no surprise that this archipelago has been called the Hawaii of Europe. Find out more about how Bill and Sam found their paradise, on Episode 89 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.  Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bob Wheeler and Kurt Kleespies lived and worked in San Francisco for years. When they retired, they desired a warmer climate and great outdoor activities without compromising excellent medical care and longtime social connections. Naturally, they were drawn to the quintessential Southern California city of Santa Barbara. They purchased a home and are loving everything about their new city. Find out more about living in Santa Barbara, California, on Episode 88 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Mark L. Hinshaw and Savina "Sunny" Bertollini were seeking a vacation in Italy, they desired the beauty of Tuscany but without all the tourists and high costs. They stumbled upon the small ancient hilltown of Santa Vittoria in Matenano in the le Marche region and purchased a beautiful home with stunning views at a very, very affordable price tag. In the few years they have lived there, the couple has fallen in love with Santa Vittoria and the town has equally embraced them. Learn more about the hidden gem known as the Le Marche region of Italy, on Episode 87 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Mark L. Hinshaw’s illustrations of and stories about living in Santa Vittoria in Matenano can be found on his website.  His forthcoming book, titled Navigating Paradise, will consist of stories about the venue, which will be available Summer 2022. Mark’s two other books are: Citistate Seattle: Shaping a Modern Metropolis and True Urbanism: Living In and Near the Center.Sunny’s website, which includes photographs of le Marche, and so much more is available here. Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peppy Castro, one of the founding members of the legendary rock band Blues Magoos and a lifelong New Yorker, dreamed of living on the water but he couldn’t afford most waterfront price tags. A few years ago he happened upon a one-bedroom waterfront condo in Lake Worth Beach, Florida and his life changed immeasurably. The beach calms the musician and there he met his partner, Jeanne McNaney. Peppy is now selling his one-bedroom condo, as he purchased a larger unit in the same building. On Episode 86 of Retire There, hear Peppy and Jeanne talk about the eclectic town of Lake Worth Beach and his one-bedroom condo for sale.Peppy Castro’s website is PeppyCastro.com. Jeanne McNaney has authored two children’s books: Legend of Honey Hollow and Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you always assumed Hong Kong would be  prohibitively expensive to live in? When Brits Ben Zabulis and Hilary Garland spent nine hectic years living and working in Hong Kong, they didn’t consider retiring there. The worklife in the city grew tiresome and the couple returned to England. Unbeknownst to them, that move would mark the beginning of their retirement while still in their 40s. Eventually, they returned to Hong Kong and found ways to make living there pleasantly affordable. Find out more about the surprising retirement destination of Hong Kong, on episode 85 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Ben Zabulis authored Chartered Territory: An Engineer Abroad.Support the Show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.