Ed, an American guy, and Tomo, a Japanese gal, were living and working in Tokyo when they thought about retiring somewhere less expensive and more relaxing. They soon developed a fondness for Thailand after visiting a few of its locations. The couple agreed that the island of Koh Samui seemed like their dream location and they quit their jobs and moved there. Koh Samui was not a nightmare for the pair but it was far from paradise. After a year and a half, Ed and Tomo left the island and moved to Khanom, a beach town on the mainland of Thailand and appear to be loving it. Learn more about their relocations on Episode 186 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Ed and Tomo’s educational and entertaining YouTube channel about living in Thailand is at https://www.youtube.com/@edandtomo. 

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Can a couple of longtime Brooklynites survive the peace and quiet of a 17 acre property in Upstate New York’s Hudson Valley? It took a little time for Lisa Preudhomme and Servulus Billy, who moved from Brooklyn to Holmes, New York, but they eventually fell in love with the beauty and serenity of country living. The couple aren't always alone on their property - their estate contains three homes, two of which are rented out as Airbnbs. For more about this relocation to greener pastures, check out Episode 185 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Lisa and Servulus’ estate is known as Westerhall Gardens and the two Airbnbs are The Dahlia Villa and Hibiscus House.

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Lori Cronwell is a writer, travel and lifestyle blogger, small home advocate and designer, slow travel aficionado, and the recent owner of a home in the French countryside. As a part-time expat and digital nomad, Lori divides her time between Portland, Oregon; Loire Atlantique, France; and traveling the world. Check out Lori’s life in this region of France on Episode 184 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. 

Read about Lori’s life in France, downsizing, small space living, and slow travel on her blog, Bringing Europe Home. Her Portland Airbnb is Luxury Richmond Rose Cottage Division & Hawthorne. 

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From 2020 to 2023, Boston area residents Kathy and Tom traveled the U.S. extensively enjoying the sites while also keeping their eyes open for potential retirement locations. A number of “B” towns caught their attention, including Boulder, Bozeman, Bend, and Boise. The small city of Boise, Idaho won out as it seemed to possess just the right amount of culture and wilderness. Find out more about Kathy and Tom’s new life in the “City of Trees” on Episode 183 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. 

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Oklahoma native Ryan Crain had just spent an exhilarating year traveling the world when he found himself back in Oklahoma during the pandemic. He wanted to take a stab at living in another country but most of the borders were closed. Although it was far from his first choice, Mexico was allowing foreigners in. After visiting a few Mexican locales, he and partner Kayla MacArthur landed in Sayulita, a bohemian beach town on Mexico’s west coast. Since moving there almost three years ago the couple has fallen hard for the town and for the Mexican people. To learn more about an unexpected road to surfing paradise, tune in to Episode 182 of Retire There with Gil & Gene. 

Ryan and Kayla’s book is Gravel Roads: One man’s quest around the world to heal, and to live a life with no regrets. Learn more at https://www.ryancrain-author.com/. 

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Living in the Silicon Valley, Bill Ross and his family were fed up with the state’s high cost of living, crime, and politics. Wanting to leave the west coast, they searched for a place without the major problems of California but with a friendly community. They found all that plus a quintessential “Main Street” in Boerne, Texas, a town located about 30 minutes north of San Antonio in Texas hill country. Find out why the Rosses chose the Lone Star State on Episode 181 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Bill’s website is https://www.hillcountryhomesteads.com/. 

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For Philip and Sonya Hubbard figuring out where to retire was all about compromise. She wanted somewhere not too cold and he wanted a place not too hot. They narrowed locations down to Europe, then to France, then to Brittany. They had their hearts set on a house with an ocean view in Brittany, but the prices exceeded their range. Ultimately, they found a very nice large house inland in Brittany, in the town of Pontivy. Find out how the Hubbards’  concessions led to peace of mind and joy on Episode 180 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

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Surf, sand and big hair! Would you like to live in a quiet beach community with walkable access to a town with a quaint main street and another known for hosting famous music acts. Rosa and Guy Losa found their way to Bradley Beach, New Jersey, with its neighboring towns of Ocean Grove, recognized for its abundant examples of Victorian architecture, and Asbury Park, legendary for its rock ‘n roll history. All three towns are seaside resorts and the area is less than an hour to two international airports. Find out why Guy and Rose consider Bradley Beach as their dream town come true on Episode 179 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

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At the age of 51, Patricia Brooks had a well paying corporate job in Richmond, Virginia but there seemed to be something missing in her life. She yearned to live in a French speaking country. As someone who was a painfully shy child and still considered herself an introvert, she surprised many, including herself, by moving to the South of France. A few years later, Patricia is living in Ceret, France and loving it. Find out more about Patricia’s courageous move to France on Episode 178 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Patricia Brooks, founder of The Courage Catalyst, is an Expat Empowerment Coach helping women move abroad confidently and sustainably. Check out Patricia’s informative and funny YouTube Channel about living in France. She is also the author of two books: Live a Bold Life: Your 30-Day Mission to a Fearless Future and Growing Bold: How to Overcome Fear, Build Confidence, and Love the Life You Live.

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If you are searching for a charming and historic southern city, AND, near the ocean, investigate Charleston, South Carolina. Keith Lucas, a realtor and YouTube influencer, moved from Florida to a suburb of Charleston and has become a huge advocate of both the city and its state. He is considered a valued expert on retiring in South Carolina and his YouTube channel contains over 200 videos. Will Keith convince you to move to South Carolina? Listen to Episode 177 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Check out Keith’s YouTube channel, his real estate website (or www.keithlucasteam.com) and his book, Southern Comfort: Your Ultimate Guide to Retirement in South Carolina.

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