Retire There with Gil & Gene

Are you a beach bum? Move to Sitges, Spain, a coastal town with 17 beautiful  beaches. It’s also famous worldwide for its film festival, carnival, LGBT culture and seafront promenade lined with grand mansions. Northern Californians Leo Boni and his husband moved there and are loving it. Tune in to hear Leo’s enthusiasm about their journey on Episode 144 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.

Canadian Karen Espig wanted to retire early so she could spend more time pursuing her passion: painting. Her dream was to live in Europe and be on or near water, with a very limited budget. It appears she accomplished all of her goals by retiring at the age of 52 and moving to Pogradec, Albania, a small city which sits on a large lake. Karen now has time to focus on her art in her impressive apartment in Pogradec, for which she pays under $400 per month including utilities. For more about Karen’s fearless move, tune into Episode 143 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Check out Karen’s paintings, photographs and writings on her website. 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.

If you think downsizing and decluttering is daunting and depressing, you have never done it with Matt Paxton. Matt is the host of the Emmy-nominated PBS series Legacy List with Matt Paxton, author of the best-selling book Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff and was a featured cleaner on the hit television show Hoarders for 15 seasons. He uses stories and humor to ease the usually intimidating task of downsizing. Listen to Matt make us laugh our way through this unnerving topic, on Episode 142 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Check out Matt’s website I Am Matt Paxton for so much more!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.

Its proximity to great bird-watching is what first led Gayle and Ralph Padgett to move to Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France, but the couple soon fell in love with many other aspects of the quaint French town. Whether you're an ornithophile or not, the quintessential European town may be the place that seduces you to move to France. Find out more about everyday life in Saint-Remy, on Episode 141 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Gayle Smith Padgett’s two books about living in France: (1) Passion for Provence: 22 Keys to La Belle Vie and (2) The Birdwatcher’s Wife: A Quest Across France for Birds and La Belle Vie.For more about Gayle, visit her website.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 thinking of cultural European cities, Paris and Florence may come to mind. However, many would not have imagined Plovdiv, Bulgara, but those in the know would. In fact, Plovdiv was recently named the best cultural destination in Europe by EuropeanBestDestinations.com. This came as no surprise to our guest Cathy who developed a passion for Bulgarian music and dance while growing up in Chicago. When deciding where to live during retirement, Cathy knew she wanted to be in Bulgaria and in a city. Tune into why she selected Plovdiv as her home, on Episode 140 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.

Daniel and Timm McBride searched for a place that offered both sophistication and culture, yet spared them from the chaos and commotion of a bustling metropolis. Upon discovering Portugal, they realized it was the perfect place for them. After spending a few months in Lisbon, the vibrant capital, the couple found themselves drawn to Almada, a quaint city nestled on the opposite side of the river. Compared to Lisbon, Almada offered tranquility and a lesser degree of congestion. Additionally, the couple loved that they could reach the city with a mere ten-minute ferry ride. Tune in to hear more about the McBrides’ captivating journey on Episode 139 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Daniel McBride is the author of So You Want to Move to Portugal: Your Ultimate Guide to Retiring in 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.

Have you dreamt about residing in a picturesque small town nestled amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains? Embarking on such a remarkable journey, however, entails embracing the challenges of harsh winters, encounters with untamed elk, and the absence of certain modern conveniences. Nonetheless, Martin and Judy Smith traded their bustling life in Southern California for the serene ambiance of Granby, Colorado, seeking solace in a more tranquil and unhurried existence. Tune in to hear about the Smith’s delightful rural community in Episode 138 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Martin J. Smith is a journalist and author of both crime novels and non-fiction books. His latest non-fiction book is Going to Trinidad: A Doctor, a Colorado Town, and Stories from an Unlikely Gender Crossroads. All his books are available on Amazon.com. For more about Martin and his work: https://martinjsmith.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.

Join us for an exciting adventure as Retire There ventures into uncharted territory! We had the pleasure of hosting Mary Oluonye, a remarkable dual-citizen of the United States and Nigeria. Mary's decision to retire early and pursue a life she had always envisioned has led her to combine her love for business with her research and writing talents, both in the US and Africa.Mary's true passion lies in listening to individuals share their aspirations, providing them with valuable insights to help them navigate their own journeys towards realizing their dreams and goals. According to Mary, nothing brings her more joy than introducing you to the wonders Africa has to offer – its captivating landscapes, diverse people, and rich cultures. She also candidly explores both the rewarding experiences and the challenges that come with living in an African country.Tune in to witness Mary's contagious enthusiasm as she shares her captivating stories and experiences about her new life on Episode 137. Mary published in 2018: Moving to Ghana: The Essential Things You Need to Know;Mary is Co-Owner of Celmar Travel & Tours: Africa Travel Planning & Tour Operator based in the USA and Ghana;Check out Mary’s webpage and blog at https://maryoluonye.com/blog/; and forMary’s articles and tips: https://maryoluonye.medium.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.

Peter Walsh is a professional organizer,  television personality and New York Times best-selling author who has made a career of helping people organize, declutter and downsize. In fact, Gil was a fan of his television show, “Clean Sweep.” We invited Peter to the podcast, as we believe the mere thought of decluttering is overwhelmingly stressful for many retirees. Listen to Peter Walsh try to tackle Gil and Gene’s chaotic struggle to get rid of their stuff on Episode 136 of Retire There. Check out Peter Walsh’s website, YouTube channel, and books including his latest, Let It Go: Downsizing Your Way to a Richer, Happier Life.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.

Nashville residents Zeneba (Zen) Bowers and Matt Walker, symphony musicians, quit their jobs, sold their home, unloaded their possessions, and moved to Italy. All in 6 weeks. Whew! One would expect sophisticated urbanites, who needed to keep working, would relocate to a cosmopolitan city like Florence or Milan. THAT is not at all what happened. Zen and Matt fell in love with, and moved to, Soriano nel Cimino, a small picturesque and out-of-the-way village 57 miles north of Rome. Join the couple’s captivating and amusing story on Episode 135 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.Bowers and Walker wrote I Can’t Believe We Live Here: The Wild But True Story of How We Dropped Everything in the States and Moved to Italy, Right Before the End of the World. The couple also authored four guidebooks: (1) Tuscany, Italy: Small-Town Itineraries for the Foodie Traveler; (2) Italy’s Alpine Lakes: Small-Town Itineraries for the Foodie Traveler: (3) Emilia-Romagna, Italy: A Personal Guide to Little-Known Places Foodies Will Love; and (4) Ireland: Small-Town Itineraries for the Foodie Traveler. Zen and Matt own and operate Little Roads Europe, creating personal itineraries for travelers who seek to get off the beaten track in Italy and Ireland.  Watch the couple on CBS Sunday Morning playing music on their Italian balcony during the lockdown. 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.