LeeAnn Blanchard grew up in small-town Utah but seemed destined for city life. A childhood trip to Washington, DC opened her eyes to urban living, and as a longtime people person, she has always enjoyed social interaction. While living in Arizona, LeeAnn realized in 2022 that it was time to relocate to a place better suited to her personality.

She wanted the social opportunities of a city—but not an overwhelming metropolis. She was drawn to Baltimore, Maryland, known as “Smalltimore.” While living in and loving Baltimore, LeeAnn founded Adventure-Us, a social and travel club that helps adults make friends and build connections.

Learn more about this city—home to the U.S. National Aquarium, the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem, Maryland blue crabs, and colorful row houses—on Episode 227 of Retire There With Gil & Gene. Link in bio.

#retirethere #adventure-us #baltimore #maryland

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In 2019, Bill Mauro and Marcus Laurence sold their home in the beautiful woodlands of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains and boarded a plane to Portugal with just six suitcases. They initially settled in Lisbon but soon realized they missed the slower pace of country life. That led them to purchase a home in the rural town of Salgueiro da Lomba, in Central Portugal.

We first spoke with Bill and Marcus about their new life in Portugal in May 2022 on Episode 83 of Retire There. Seven years after making the move, they still love calling Portugal home. Along the way, they've helped countless others navigate the process of buying a home in Central Portugal. What began as a passion for helping fellow expats has since evolved into a new career as real estate agents.

To learn more about purchasing a home in the region surrounding Salgueiro da Lomba, tune in to Episode 226 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

To contact Bill and Marcus about real estate Central Europe, email them at [email protected]. They are part of the JPVA Real Estate Group. The couple created the Bears and Friends Retiring in Europe Facebook group and their Instagram page is @CasaDaLomba050.

#retirethere #portugal #salgueirodalomba #casadalomba #coimbra #bearsandfriendsretiringineurope #centralportugal

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Sarah Wortman has always loved to travel and long dreamed of buying a home and retiring in Italy. When she and her husband, Lahab, began searching for a property in Tuscany, they repeatedly came up empty-handed. After one particularly disappointing attempt, Lahab reminded Sarah that he actually preferred Spain—a country she had never visited. To help her explore the idea, Lahab arranged for Sarah to travel to Spain with her best friend, with an agreement: if she liked it, they would shift their home search there. It didn’t take long for Sarah to fall in love with Spain. During the trip, she began touring properties, and despite Lahab not being there in person, the couple ultimately decided to purchase one. They will soon be making the move.

Learn more about how Sarah’s dream retirement took an unexpected turn from Italy to Spain on Episode 225 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

#retiretherepodcast #fuentedepiedra #andalucia #spain #lagunadefuentedepietra #fuentedepiedralagoon #flamingos #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire

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Retire in Santa Luzia, Portugal

From an early age, Barbara Grassey imagined a life for herself in Europe. During the COVID pandemic, she found herself reflecting on that long-held dream—and realizing she had yet to make it a reality. Rather than wait any longer, she made a bold decision. She let go of most of her possessions and boarded a plane to a country she had never visited, where she knew no one and didn’t speak the language. This wasn’t a vacation. Barbara was leaving Florida behind and starting a new chapter in Portugal. Drawn by its warm climate and relaxed pace of life, she settled in Santa Luzia, a charming fishing village in the Algarve. Today, Barbara is embracing her new life abroad with enthusiasm and purpose. To hear more about her journey and why she’s loving life in Portugal, listen to Episode 224 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Grassey’s latest book is American Expat: Moving Abroad Solo After 60. Her SubStack is My Expat Golden Girl Life and her business website is BarbaraGrassey.com.

#retirethere #retiretherepodcast #SantaLuzia #SantaLuziaPortugal #portugal #barbaragrassey #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire

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Jules and Effin Older were enjoying retirement in a beautiful rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco until COVID hit and the appeal of big-city life faded. Having lived in New Zealand before, they saw it was handling the pandemic better than most places. Soon they left their apartment, shed most of their belongings, and boarded a mostly empty airliner for New Zealand. Now in their 80s, they’re loving life on an island south of the equator. Hear more about the Olders’ adventures in Auckland, New Zealand on Episode 223 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Jules and Effin Older’s website is JulesOlder.com. Effin is the author of a children’s trilogy: HELP! Santa is in Trouble, HELP! Easter Bunny is in Trouble, and HELP! Tooth Fairy is in Trouble. Jules also authored a children’s trilogy: Special Ed and the White Force, Special Ed and the Megatroid, and Special Ed and the Hydra-Serpent. 

#retirethere #retiretherepodcast #julesolder #effinolder #auckland #aucklandnewzealand #newzealand #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire #retireearly #bestplacetoretire #retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #genxers 

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Special Episode - George Siegal, Buying and Building in the Era of Climate Change - EP 222

After years in the television industry — including a long run as a weatherman — George Siegal relocated from San Antonio, Texas to Tampa, Florida, only to find himself facing the very extreme weather conditions he once reported on. That experience inspired him to examine how climate change and rising sea levels are reshaping the way we buy and build homes.

More of George’s work may be found here:

If you enjoyed the episode and wish to leave George a review, please visit:

After submitting your review, you’ll receive access to George’s valuable resource: “List of Questions One Should Ask Their Builder or the Seller of the Property They Are Purchasing.”

#retirethere #retiretherepodcast #movetheworldfilms #thelasthousestanding #builttolastbuyerbeware #retirewhere retireearly #bestplacetoretire #retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #genxers

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Special Episode - Federica Grazi, Founder, Mitos Relocation Solutions - EP 221

Dream of retiring to Europe but have no idea where - or how - to begin? Federica Grazi can help. Through her consulting firm, Mitos Relocation Solutions, Federica specializes in guiding retirees through every step of moving abroad. From deciding whether relocation is right for you, to choosing the best destination and settling in with confidence, Mitos Relocation provides expert support from start to finish. Hear Federica share her strategic insights on international retirement in Episode 221 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Link in bio.

#retirethere #retiretherepodcast #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire #retireearly #bestplacetoretire #federicagrazi #mitosrelocation #mitosrelocationsolutions

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New Yorker Jill Chalsty tried retiring in both South Carolina and Florida—without success. By the end of 2024, she was still recovering from a battle with cancer and grieving the loss of her husband. Looking for a fresh start, Jill decided to explore potential retirement destinations by embarking on an around-the-world cruise aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne.

The ship departed from Brooklyn in January 2025, visiting 26 ports across six continents over four months. After a long but rewarding journey, Jill came to an unexpected conclusion: the best place for her to retire was right where she had been all along—Manhattan.

Find out more about Jill’s search for a new place to call home on Episode 220 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. Link in bio.

Jill Chalsty’s recently published memoir is Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery (https://www.amazon.com/Packets-Hope-Journey-Healing-Rediscovery-ebook/dp/B0FSYGTY7V/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38W66TNRV02PP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FE3XnhQzvjFy4HpwgkOGP6dP7LYfPEQMtYjfB4f5oj_q9ZAnnDPywRmU2qvk5c7TQF6wjr5jUj6kwwtk9wVRWaI3-Eow97HvEVYmjZ3WpwX0_8U2V36BHS-MqyITrrO-.fW2WWHrcCJyq60EgRCNAr5p4E_pxGQyxu9Xde97Q7Vs&dib_tag=se&keywords=packets+of+hope&qid=1768186547&s=books&sprefix=packets+of+hope%2Cstripbooks%2C269&sr=1-1). She is also the Founder and Chairperson of the nonprofit life skills curriculum publishing organization Overcoming Obstacles (https://www.overcomingobstacles.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19821851477&gbraid=0AAAAADJZKlUbguAYppkNMj-ya7q85i_Zs). Jill’s website is PacketsOfHope.com (http://packetsofhope.com/).

#retirethere #retiretherepodcast #bestplacetoretire #jillchalsty #packetsofhope

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Celebrate the New Year with Gil & Gene! Tune in as we reflect on the remarkable growth and transformation of the Retire There Podcast throughout 2025. We share what kept us busy this year, revisit highlights, and offer a sneak peek into the exciting plans for 2026. Episode 219 - Link in bio.

If you value the Retire There show, consider supporting us by making a donation at buymeacoffee.com/retiretherepod. Each contribution goes towards production expenses.

Retire There was featured in the November 27, 2025 issue of Business Insider: We’re Retired Lawyers Who Started a Podcast to Figure Out Where to Live. 5 Years in, We’ve Got a New Idea.

#retirethere #retiretherewithgilandgene #retiretherewithgilandgenepodcast #retiretherepodcast #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire #retireearly #bestplacetoretire #retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #genxers #bleav #businessinsider

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What would you do if you had to walk away from the thriving Bed & Breakfast you’d run on Mexico’s Pacific Coast for more than 20 years—because of medical issues? That was the challenge facing Canadians Brooke and Rick Gazer. Their solution: relocate to Mérida, the cosmopolitan capital of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Frequently ranked among the safest cities in North America, Mérida offered them a fresh start and a high quality of life.

To learn more about life in Mexico, check out Brooke’s book, House of Blue Water: Memories of Our B&B in Mexico, and her blog, BrookeGazer.com.

#retirethere #retiretherewithgilandgene #retiretherewithgilandgenepodcast #retiretherepodcast #retirewhere #retireabroad #retirehere #wheretoretire #retireearly #bestplacetoretire #retirement #retirementplanning #babyboomers #genxers #merida #meridamexico #mexico #huatulco #huatulcomexico #yucatan #yucatanpeninsula

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