This narrative, conveyed in a first-person conversational style, draws from an extended dialogue with Gilen Chan and Gene Preudhomme — both sixty-three years old, both retired attorneys — who together conceived, developed, and continue to cohost the podcast titled \”Retire There with Gil & Gene.\” The story that follows has undergone editorial refinement for the sake of coherence, conciseness, and readability.
It has now been slightly more than five years since we embarked on the venture of producing our podcast. In the earliest months of 2020, the two of us, having devoted decades to our professional lives in law, began to seriously reflect on the approaching chapter of full retirement. At that pivotal moment, we were also clear about one thing: while Brooklyn had been the place where we built our careers, raised our son, and cultivated countless memories, we felt an undeniable pull to begin a new adventure beyond the city’s familiar rhythm. We longed for an environment more deeply intertwined with nature — a world of trees, open skies, and the kind of spacious calm that New York’s bustling energy could rarely offer.
Motivated by that desire, we started exploring potential destinations where this next act of life might unfold. Our first exploratory journey took us to Winter Park, Florida. The town was lovely — its charm, climate, and relaxed atmosphere made a positive impression — yet it became immediately apparent that it didn’t resonate with us as a place to call home. Unsure of where to look next, we returned to Brooklyn, only to have our plans suddenly derailed a few weeks later. The global pandemic emerged, halting virtually all travel. Like millions of others, we found ourselves unexpectedly stationary, confined to our home, and faced with the quiet of forced stillness.
It was within that unusual pause that a new idea arose: if we couldn’t physically explore retirement possibilities by traveling, why not explore them through conversation? We envisioned a project where we could virtually journey across the country, learning directly from individuals who had already chosen their own retirement destinations. Out of this thought, our podcast was born — a show dedicated to personal stories about where and how people retire, what motivates their decisions, and what life feels like on the other side of career.
To bring it to life, we reached out first to those closest to us — our families and friends — and then extended the circle to their social networks. Fortunately, many were eager to share their experiences openly. Understanding that most new podcasts debut with multiple episodes to establish momentum, we recorded four episodes almost immediately. But while our enthusiasm was boundless, the process soon revealed its own challenges. Chief among them was the difficulty of continually finding new and engaging guests. When our initial list of interviewees began to dwindle, a friend connected us with someone who had retired not merely out of state, but abroad — in Paris. His perspective became the foundation for one of our most compelling interviews and also marked our first international feature.
In the earliest days of production, we wrestled with self-doubt. The podcasting landscape, we assumed, was dominated by younger and perhaps more technologically fluent voices. Yet, as experienced professionals and lifelong learners, we concluded that our curiosity and adaptability mattered far more than age. If others could navigate the technical aspects of recording, editing, and distribution, then so could we. Back in Brooklyn, we converted the basement of our home into a recording space, applying soundproofing measures and developing a modest yet effective setup. Every guest conversation — typically lasting an hour to an hour and a half — required extensive editing afterward, often consuming four or five additional hours per episode.
Over time, our library grew beyond what we had ever anticipated. We have now produced and released more than two hundred episodes. Through this process, we discovered a valuable truth: the most compelling guests are those who speak with honesty — people who acknowledge not just their successes but also their setbacks. Many have confessed that while a certain location may offer the perfect getaway for short visits, living there permanently proved far less appealing than expected. Such candor has given our show a depth and authenticity that resonated strongly with listeners. Among our particularly memorable guests was an American retiree who dreamt of relocating to Costa Rica, though his wife remained hesitant. Determined to share his enthusiasm, he arranged for a local consultant to lead her on a two-month tour of the country by herself. Upon her return, she declared that she, too, was ready to move — a charming and unexpected outcome that still makes us smile.
Recently, our efforts have earned modest but meaningful recognition in the form of sponsorship. The funding isn’t substantial, yet it is sufficient to cover our operating costs — the monthly software subscriptions for recording and editing, and the maintenance of our podcast’s website. More importantly, it affirms that others see value in what we do.
Engaging with hundreds of retirees from various backgrounds has profoundly influenced our understanding of what retirement can be. Conversations with individuals who opted for international living especially expanded our worldview. We began to see retirement not simply as withdrawal from work but as a chance to reinvent daily life in ways that would have seemed unreachable before. Inspired by these examples, we started imagining a similar arrangement for ourselves. Now residing in Pennsylvania, we are actively looking for a permanent home base there while envisioning a lifestyle in which we would spend roughly three months each year living abroad. Each year, we hope to choose one city, immerse ourselves in its culture, and explore its surroundings.
This possibility — living outside the United States, even temporarily — once felt unimaginable. Both of us came from humble beginnings, and international living never entered our early dreams. Yet through our podcast, we met countless individuals who shared similar backgrounds and still managed to make it work. Their stories recalibrated our sense of distance and feasibility. After all, a flight from New York to California spans nearly six hours — virtually identical to the travel time from New York to parts of Europe. With that realization, the world began to feel suddenly smaller, more accessible, and inviting.
We’ve come to believe that embracing even a fraction of this global experience could immeasurably enrich our later years. Although our son — with whom we remain very close — lives in Rhode Island, making a permanent move abroad premature, we are eager to begin modestly, one step at a time. The journeys we have completed so far, to places such as France, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, have brought us immense pleasure and renewed curiosity.
Ultimately, retirement has taught us a lesson that spans far beyond financial planning or geographic relocation. It has ushered us into a stage of life defined by self-assurance and reflection — a moment when we not only understand who we are, but also feel secure in that knowledge. Travel, in all its forms, has expanded our perception of possibility and deepened our appreciation for the richness of human experience.
If you have a personal story about moving to a new city, state, or country — perhaps one that mirrors the spirit of reinvention we’ve described — the reporter who compiled this account invites you to share it. You can reach them at agoh@businessinsider.com.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/retired-lawyers-decide-where-retire-live-abroad-started-podcast-aging-2025-11
