October 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Today, we’re diving into the spicy topic of walkability and whether you can retire without a car. Spoiler alert: you totally can! I’ve lived in places where cars were as necessary as oxygen, and others where you can strut your stuff on foot with ease. We’ll chat about why walkable neighborhoods are the bee's knees for your health, social life, and wallet, plus I’ll share some fab locations where you can kick back without the hassle of a vehicle. From the bustling streets of New York to the sun-soaked sidewalks of Provincetown, let’s figure out where you can enjoy life without revving an engine! So grab your walking shoes, and let’s hit the pavement!
Retirement isn’t just about sipping cocktails on the beach; it’s about living your best life, and that includes deciding whether you really want to own a car. Mark Goldstein dives headfirst into the importance of walkability in retirement, drawing from his own experiences living in car-dependent and pedestrian-friendly cities. He paints a vivid picture of life in New York, where owning a car feels like an unnecessary burden, versus the sprawling suburbs that demand a vehicle just to grab a quart of milk. Through his lighthearted anecdotes, he emphasizes how walkability isn’t merely about sidewalks — it’s about reclaiming independence and fostering community as we age.
Mark lays out three compelling reasons why walkability matters in retirement: health, social engagement, and financial savings. Walking isn’t just good for your waistline; it’s a gateway to meeting people and experiencing life on a more intimate level. As he humorously notes, when you’re behind the wheel, the only connection you’re likely to make is through a honk or a wave of frustration. But when you’re out strolling, you’re more likely to share a smile or a spontaneous chat with a neighbor. Plus, let’s get real — cars can gut your retirement savings quicker than you can say “car insurance.” With the costs of gas, maintenance, and unexpected repairs piling up, it’s clear that ditching the car might free up some cash for those dreamy vacations you’ve been planning.
As the episode unfolds, Mark explores various cities known for their walkability, from the iconic streets of San Francisco to the historic charm of Boston, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll without feeling like you’re on a treadmill. He highlights LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods that not only offer vibrant community life but also make it easy to live without a car. With a nod to international destinations, he gives a shout-out to places where walkability is the norm, unlike the car-centric U.S. Join Mark on this delightful exploration of where to retire without the burden of a vehicle, and you might just find your next home sweet home, where the only thing you need to worry about is which café to visit next!
Takeaways:
- Walkability in retirement is not just about sidewalks; it’s about freedom and community.
- Living in walkable neighborhoods can save you tons of money on car expenses.
- Places like New York City are great for walking, but they can also be pricey.
- In retirement, it's important to live where life happens at eye level, not behind a wheel.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- New York City
- Phoenix
- Stamford
- Apollo Beach
- Wilton Manors
- Asbury Park
- Providence
- Provincetown
- Valencia
- Malaga
- Nice
- Montpellier
- Berlin
- Reykjavik
- Lisbon
- Mexico City
- Guadalajara
- Puerto Vallarta
Mentioned in this
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
Welcome to the Where Do Gays Retire?
Podcast where we help you inthe LGBTQ community find a safe and
affordable retirement place.
Join Mark Goldstein as heinterviews others who live in gay
friendly places around the globe.
Learn about the climate, costof living, health care, crime and
safety, and more.
(00:22):
Now here's your host, Mark Goldstein.
Welcome Back to the Where2GazeRetire podcast and I'm Mark Goldstein,
your host.
Today we're going to talkabout walkability.
Can you retire without a car?
Something to think aboutWalkability is something I think
(00:45):
about a lot.
I've lived both sides of it.
New York City, where you don'teven think about owning a car, and
Phoenix, where you wheresidewalks sometimes just end in a
cactus.
But I've also lived in placesthat taught me the pain of car dependency.
(01:05):
When I lived in Stamford,Connecticut, there were pockets of
walkability, but step outsidedowntown and you felt stranded if
you didn't have wheels.
And then there's Apollo Beach,Florida, where I lived.
Forget it.
That's where I actually had togo out and buy a car just to function,
to get to work, do shorterrands, even to grab a quart of
(01:27):
milk, which I really don'tdrink much of.
I couldn't rely on walking.
Everything was built aroundcars, not people.
I felt like I'd lost a kind offreedom I've taken for granted in
New York.
Those experiences really stuckwith me.
They showed me how muchwalkability, or the lack of it, shapes
(01:48):
daily life.
It's not just about sidewalks.
It's about independence,community, and even dignity as we
age.
Think about that.
So today I want to ask, canyou retire without a car?
And if so, where in the worldmakes that lifestyle easy or even
(02:08):
enjoyable?
So what's so important aboutwalkability in retirement?
I'll give you three big reasons.
Number one is health.
Walking builds exercise rightinto your life.
You don't need to hit thetreadmill when your bakery, pharmacy,
and wine shop are all on foot.
(02:29):
Walking is the treadmill thatactually takes you somewhere worth
going.
And besides health, thinkabout social life.
You meet people when you're onthe street.
Behind the wheel.
The only connection you makeis honking at someone when you cut
them off or when they cut you off.
But when you're walking, youbump into neighbors, shopkeepers,
(02:52):
maybe even someone carrying abaguette they'll share.
Also, money.
Think about money in yourbudget, in retirement.
Cars eat retirement budgets alive.
The AAA says the averageAmerican spends over $10,000 a year
just to own and operate one car.
(03:13):
That's one if you have a twocar family, double that.
And it's just not the bigthings like insurance or monthly
payments.
It's all those little thingsthat really add up.
Gas prices, they go up anddown, but lately they're more up
than down.
Oil changes every few months,new tires every few years, none of
(03:36):
that is cheap.
And then there is the surpriseexpenses that come out of nowhere.
Just the other week we had toreplace our car battery and our air
filter and boom, there goes afew hundred dollars more than a few.
So, all right, it's like deathby a thousand cuts.
And if you think about whatmoney can do, an extra vacation,
(03:59):
a better apartment, dinnersout, padding your retirement savings,
suddenly a car starts to lookless like freedom and more like a
money pit on wheels.
For retirees especially, everydollar counts.
Being able to ditch the carand walk or take transit isn't just
(04:23):
about lifestyle.
It's about protecting your wallet.
Okay, so now we ask which USCities are truly walkable?
America didn't exactly builditself for pedestrians, but there
are some bright spots.
Example, New York City, whereI grew up, I actually grew up in
Brooklyn.
(04:43):
But New York City, Manhattan,it's like the ultimate car free city.
There's subways, there'staxis, there's Ubers, you name it.
The downside?
Your retirement account mightvanish faster than a bagel at brunch,
because it is quite priceythere as well.
(05:04):
All right.
Boston.
It's compact and historic withplenty of characters.
Well, the winter's lesscharming when you're trudging through
slush and snow.
Philadelphia, Center City andthe Gayborhood are pedestrians dream.
Philly is a great place to walk.
Plus, cheesesteaks cancels outall that exercise.
(05:27):
San Francisco.
Rainbow flags everywhere.
Great transit, but yourmortgage may require its own GoFundMe
page.
Chicago.
On paper, Chicago is walkableand it has great transit.
The L system gets you everywhere.
Neighborhoods like the Loop,Lakeview and Andersonville are terrific
(05:48):
for walking and LGBTQ life.
But come January, walking herefeels less like retirement and more
like a Navy SEAL training.
The Windy City nickname isn'tabout politics.
It's about your face freezingoff on the way to Walgreens.
Seattle, another very walkable city.
(06:10):
If you stay Central CapitolHill is a dream.
LGBTQ friendly, lively, andyou can live car free.
The hills will give you goodcalves of steel, and the rain will
give you a collection ofumbrellas that you never knew you
needed.
Outside the core, though, itgets more car heavy.
(06:31):
But while visiting Seattle, wewalked everywhere, so it was pretty
pedestrian friendly.
And they did have their subway system.
(07:54):
Not the greatest, but it'sstill there and available.
So where are the LGBTQ pluswalkable hotspots?
1.
Wilton Manors, Florida.
Okay, it's a gayborhood whereyou can walk from bar to Rosie's
for brunch to your friend's pool.
(08:17):
It's paradise.
But you still need a car foryour Target runs.
You might be able to get awaywith going to Publix up the street
and carrying groceries backinto your house, but still, you don't
want to be doing that in thehot, humid weather as well.
(08:39):
So you might need a car as well.
Asbury Park, New Jersey.
It's a funky, beachy, artsy town.
You can walk from theboardwalk to drag bingo without breaking
a sweat.
How about Providence, Rhode Island?
It's like a mini Boston, butcheaper and friendlier.
(09:01):
Great art scene, all prettymuch walkable.
And then there's one of my favorites.
There's Provincetown, Massachusetts.
P Town, the granddaddy of allLGBTQ walkable havens.
The entire town is basicallyone long, fabulous street lined with
(09:23):
bars, shops, and art galleries.
No car is needed.
A bike or your own two feetare all it takes.
Owning a car in Provincetownis probably more of a hassle than
a hell.
You walk to the beach, youwalk to dinner, you walk home onto
fairy lights after a drag show.
(09:44):
That's retirement done, right.
They know how to do it in P Town.
And but P Town a little on theexpensive side as well.
So in Phoenix, I once decidedto walk to the grocery store.
By the time I got there, I wasbasically a raisin.
I think I spent 15 minutes inthe freezer aisle.
(10:06):
But yeah, it gets so hot inthe summer, you don't want to walk
anywhere.
Even if you could, you don'twant to.
All right, so let's talk alittle bit about international walkable
havens, to name a few.
So abroad, walkability isoften the norm, unlike the US where
(10:30):
it's very car centric.
So Valencia, Spain.
You know, I love Spain.
I love talking about Spain,and I'm going to be visiting quite
soon.
So Valencia, tapas markets,pride parades, they're all within
strolling distance.
(10:51):
It's like the Fitbit inventeditself here.
Then we have Malaga, Spain.
It's a compact historiccenter, pedestrian friendly streets,
no cars in the city center,beach access, everything within reach.
A tapas crawl here isbasically a cardio workout.
(11:13):
So.
So pretty much all the largercities in Spain are generally the
same as far as fantasticwalkability not to mention fantastic
transportation options.
So again, in both Valencia andMalaga, you have trains and you also
(11:36):
have buses to get you fromplace to place if you can't walk.
So because they are a littlebit larger cities, there is a tram,
I believe, in Malaga that goesdown the Costa del Sol all the way
to the end of Fuengarola.
Okay, next one on the list isNice, France.
(12:00):
The old town is car free.
The Promenade des Anglais isbuilt for long walks, and there's
gelato around every corner.
Montpellier, France.
The medieval core is highly pedestrianized.
(12:22):
Live in the ecousant districtand you'll never need a car.
So Montpellier, something tothink about.
And also nice.
He says nice.
How about Berlin, Germany?
It's a huge city.
Yes.
But neighborhoods likeKrosberg and Prinzlauerburg are extremely
(12:46):
walkable.
Plus the U Bahn will get youanywhere else when you step.
When your step count is maxed out.
So very big city, lots ofwalking options.
How about Reykjavik, Iceland?
It's small, compact, but colorful.
(13:11):
Totally walkable in the core.
Just remember, layers isn't afashion choice.
It's survival.
Kids are pretty chilly.
Reykjavik, Lisbon, Portugal.
There are hills everywhere.
You retire with quads of steel.
But trams are there to saveyour knees.
(13:32):
So.
Yes.
And they do have the funicularor the trams to get you around.
Lisbon, Lyon, France.
It's a walkable foodie paradise.
Everything is in within abaguette's throw.
All right, that was Europe.
And let's move on and talk alittle bit about Latin American options.
(13:59):
So San Miguel de Allende inMexico, it has cobblestone streets,
plazas, art galleries.
Charming, but could be ankle twisting.
When I was there, we had a house.
It was a home exchange, but wedidn't realize how far up the hill
(14:25):
it was.
So the first time we walked upand I really.
That was the last time Iwalked up.
Every other time we had tocall an Uber because literally, if
you come out of the house,it's on a hill.
If you don't apply your footbrakes, you'll fall right down the
(14:49):
hill.
It's so steep.
Bear that in mind.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, iswalkable, especially in the Zona
Romantica.
So the Romantic zone and themale con, LGBTQ plus bars and the
(15:10):
beach, all without needing Uber.
So basically, in those twoareas, you can walk pretty much everywhere.
It's.
When you get to the outskirtsof those areas, you'll probably need
an Uber or a car to get youaround and think about, you know,
if you're a Costco person andyou need to go to Costco or you need
(15:32):
to go to the supermarket.
You're not going to becarrying bags and bags of groceries
back, especially in the hotsummer months.
Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Centro Historico is fullof walkable plazas and markets.
Pick the right neighborhoodand you'll be in a walker's paradise.
Again, very big city.
(15:55):
If you want to get to Ajijicand Lake Chapala, you'll have to
either hire a driver to takeyou there or I'm not sure if they
have Ubers there but.
Or you'll have to rent a car yourself.
All right, Mexico City, cdmxthey have.
It's enormous.
(16:15):
But the neighborhoods likeRoma, Condesa, Coyoacan and Polanco
are leafy, lively and carfree, friendly outside your bubble.
You'll use transit, but fordaily life a car is optional.
So let me tell you also aboutmy experience there.
(16:39):
So we walked everywhere,pretty much in Mexico City.
It is a huge city.
You can't walk from one partto another really.
You're pretty much in thatarea or the adjacent areas the most.
We did take a walk to arestaurant and I think it took us
an hour to get there, but on foot.
(17:01):
But we were exploring and thatwas kind of fun.
But you don't want to do thaton a daily basis.
Also, they have buses and Ibelieve they're not air conditioned
because all it seemed like allthe windows were down and people
looked like they were packedlike sardines.
So I would not me go andtravel those buses again.
(17:26):
If you lived there and gotused to it, I'm sure you would because
those buses were absolutelypacked by locals.
Okay, so in Valencia I canwalk from the old town to the beach,
grab tapas and see a paradeall on the same day.
(17:46):
In Phoenix, if I tried that,I'd need three Ubers, a gallon of
Gatorade and maybe divineintervention because I would bake
out there.
Let's talk about some trade offs.
What's the downside ofwalkable retirement living?
(18:07):
A few things costs.
Walkable neighborhoods can beprime real estate.
Now this is depending uponwhere you are.
For instance, New York City,walkable pretty much everywhere.
And they have great transportation.
They have the subway system, buses.
(18:28):
But it is very expensive.
So think about that.
Developers know what they've got.
Climate fantastic until it's105, 110 degrees and you're or you're
trudging through sleep.
So you want to think aboutthat too.
(18:50):
If it's walkable and you're ina hot, hot climate like Phoenix.
We'll take a look at Phoenix.
I mean, it's not fullywalkable, but you can walk somewhat,
but you don't want to walk outyour door in 105 in triple digits.
(19:10):
You just don't.
The same goes true if you'rein a place that's cold and snowy
and that's walkable, like Chicago.
Why would I ever want to goout in the winter and walk from place
to place with, you know, thatfrozen wind in my face?
(19:34):
I just would.
Anyway, that's me.
Maybe you.
So, accessibility.
Cobblestones look veryromantic in pictures.
In real life, their triphazards in disguise.
And I'm kind of a klutz myself.
Like, I trip and fall.
(19:55):
If I jog, and I cannot, Iwon't jog on cobblestones.
It's just something that youdon't do.
So think about that too.
Especially as we get older, wereally don't want to be walking on
cobblestones.
If we could avoid it, we will.
So how do I figure out if aplace is actually walkable?
(20:18):
Number one, do your homework.
Walk scores tell us if you'rein a walker's paradise or in a suburban
desert.
So also transit and bikescores are out there and available.
They'll tell you if you've gotbackup options.
If there's subways, buses,apps like MoveIt or Citymapper make
(20:41):
car free life easier.
Google grocery stores nearyour Airbnb address.
If the closest one is 30minutes by Uber.
That's not retirement, that'ssurvival training.
Do you really want to bedriving everywhere in your retirement
(21:03):
or walking everywhere?
That's up to you.
It's personal preference.
So what's it like personallyliving with and without cars in New
York City?
I didn't need one.
Everything I needed was ashort walk subway ride away.
There's a Starbucks on everyblock, maybe even two Starbucks on
(21:25):
every block.
I logged more steps than myFitbit at Pride in Phoenix.
Sidewalks sometimes end in dirt.
I once tried to walk to aWalgreens and felt like I was auditioning
for Survivor.
So you know how hot it may get.
(21:46):
And think about a Waymo.
You know what Waymo is if youdon't know what Waymo is?
Waymo is a car that has that'sdriverless, that everything is computerized
and picks you up.
You tell it where to pick youup on your app.
It comes usually to the minute.
(22:07):
It'll tell you on time andhopefully it'll get to your destination.
So think about a waymo.
At 3:30am in the morning, Iwas praying my Waymo would actually
show up and get me to the airport.
The car wasn't lost, but Inearly, I nearly was standing outside
(22:28):
in the dark squinting like, isthat my ride or a ghost?
So yeah, you have to just, youknow, if you know Waymo, it could
be a gift as well.
It's kind of fun.
So Provincetown summers, ifyou've ever been, you know the magic.
You walk down Commercialstreet, stop for drinks, browse art
(22:52):
galleries, catch a drag show,and end the night walking home under,
you know, under the lights.
It's like the entire town wasdesigned by and for LGBTQ retirees
who hate parking meters.
Spain scouting trips inValencia and Malaga.
(23:12):
Everything is charming and car free.
It's like Disneylands forgrown ups.
Instead of churros, you gettapas and instead of Mickey Mouse,
you get Spanish bartenders whoflirt back.
Let's look ahead.
The future of walkableretirement is the US catching up.
Really?
(23:32):
I would say slowly, quoteunquote, 15 minute cities are the
new planning buzzword.
Everybody loves that idea.
But Again, Europe has 15minute cities everywhere.
The idea is everything youneed is within a 15 minute walk.
(23:55):
It's hilarious.
As I said, because Europe isdoing it since the Middle Ages.
For LGBTQ plus retirees,walkability matters even more.
Community thrives when it's visible.
A car centric suburb with sixcar garages doesn't exactly scream
your chosen family.
(24:16):
So what's the takeaway withall this?
Walkability isn't just sidewalks.
It's freedom.
It's health.
It's connection and lifestyle.
Retirement shouldn't be aboutspending half of your life behind
a steering wheel.
It should be about strollingto the cafe, bumping into your friends,
(24:40):
and living where life happensat eye level.
So I want to hear from you.
What's your dream walkable city?
Can you retire without a car?
Share your stories in theFacebook group Where do gays Retire?
Or Even on LGBTQ seniors.comlet's crowdsource the ultimate list
(25:02):
of car free retirement haven.
I hope you found thisenjoyable and somewhat educational
because in reality,walkability in retirement is so important.
And it's important to me, thecity boy who grew up in in a city
(25:23):
and what I, what I feel andtake away from this.
It's all about community and health.
So when you're retired, youneed both very important.
So with that and we'll see youon the next one.
Bye bye.
Thank you for listening to thewhere do Gays Retire Podcast if you
(25:47):
enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast and
consider making a donation byclicking the coffee cup on any page@www.wheredogaysretire.com.
each cup of coffee that youyou buy costs $5 and goes towards
helping us continue the podcast.
Thank you for your continued.
Welcome to the Where Do Gays Retire?
Podcast where we help you inthe LGBTQ community find a safe and
affordable retirement place.
Join Mark Goldstein as heinterviews others who live in gay
friendly places around the globe.
Learn about the climate, costof living, health care, crime and
safety, and more.
(00:22):
Now here's your host, Mark Goldstein.
Welcome Back to the Where2GazeRetire podcast and I'm Mark Goldstein,
your host.
Today we're going to talkabout walkability.
Can you retire without a car?
Something to think aboutWalkability is something I think
(00:45):
about a lot.
I've lived both sides of it.
New York City, where you don'teven think about owning a car, and
Phoenix, where you wheresidewalks sometimes just end in a
cactus.
But I've also lived in placesthat taught me the pain of car dependency.
(01:05):
When I lived in Stamford,Connecticut, there were pockets of
walkability, but step outsidedowntown and you felt stranded if
you didn't have wheels.
And then there's Apollo Beach,Florida, where I lived.
Forget it.
That's where I actually had togo out and buy a car just to function,
to get to work, do shorterrands, even to grab a quart of
(01:27):
milk, which I really don'tdrink much of.
I couldn't rely on walking.
Everything was built aroundcars, not people.
I felt like I'd lost a kind offreedom I've taken for granted in
New York.
Those experiences really stuckwith me.
They showed me how muchwalkability, or the lack of it, shapes
(01:48):
daily life.
It's not just about sidewalks.
It's about independence,community, and even dignity as we
age.
Think about that.
So today I want to ask, canyou retire without a car?
And if so, where in the worldmakes that lifestyle easy or even
(02:08):
enjoyable?
So what's so important aboutwalkability in retirement?
I'll give you three big reasons.
Number one is health.
Walking builds exercise rightinto your life.
You don't need to hit thetreadmill when your bakery, pharmacy,
and wine shop are all on foot.
(02:29):
Walking is the treadmill thatactually takes you somewhere worth
going.
And besides health, thinkabout social life.
You meet people when you're onthe street.
Behind the wheel.
The only connection you makeis honking at someone when you cut
them off or when they cut you off.
But when you're walking, youbump into neighbors, shopkeepers,
(02:52):
maybe even someone carrying abaguette they'll share.
Also, money.
Think about money in yourbudget, in retirement.
Cars eat retirement budgets alive.
The AAA says the averageAmerican spends over $10,000 a year
just to own and operate one car.
(03:13):
That's one if you have a twocar family, double that.
And it's just not the bigthings like insurance or monthly
payments.
It's all those little thingsthat really add up.
Gas prices, they go up anddown, but lately they're more up
than down.
Oil changes every few months,new tires every few years, none of
(03:36):
that is cheap.
And then there is the surpriseexpenses that come out of nowhere.
Just the other week we had toreplace our car battery and our air
filter and boom, there goes afew hundred dollars more than a few.
So, all right, it's like deathby a thousand cuts.
And if you think about whatmoney can do, an extra vacation,
(03:59):
a better apartment, dinnersout, padding your retirement savings,
suddenly a car starts to lookless like freedom and more like a
money pit on wheels.
For retirees especially, everydollar counts.
Being able to ditch the carand walk or take transit isn't just
(04:23):
about lifestyle.
It's about protecting your wallet.
Okay, so now we ask which USCities are truly walkable?
America didn't exactly builditself for pedestrians, but there
are some bright spots.
Example, New York City, whereI grew up, I actually grew up in
Brooklyn.
(04:43):
But New York City, Manhattan,it's like the ultimate car free city.
There's subways, there'staxis, there's Ubers, you name it.
The downside?
Your retirement account mightvanish faster than a bagel at brunch,
because it is quite priceythere as well.
(05:04):
All right.
Boston.
It's compact and historic withplenty of characters.
Well, the winter's lesscharming when you're trudging through
slush and snow.
Philadelphia, Center City andthe Gayborhood are pedestrians dream.
Philly is a great place to walk.
Plus, cheesesteaks cancels outall that exercise.
(05:27):
San Francisco.
Rainbow flags everywhere.
Great transit, but yourmortgage may require its own GoFundMe
page.
Chicago.
On paper, Chicago is walkableand it has great transit.
The L system gets you everywhere.
Neighborhoods like the Loop,Lakeview and Andersonville are terrific
(05:48):
for walking and LGBTQ life.
But come January, walking herefeels less like retirement and more
like a Navy SEAL training.
The Windy City nickname isn'tabout politics.
It's about your face freezingoff on the way to Walgreens.
Seattle, another very walkable city.
(06:10):
If you stay Central CapitolHill is a dream.
LGBTQ friendly, lively, andyou can live car free.
The hills will give you goodcalves of steel, and the rain will
give you a collection ofumbrellas that you never knew you
needed.
Outside the core, though, itgets more car heavy.
(06:31):
But while visiting Seattle, wewalked everywhere, so it was pretty
pedestrian friendly.
And they did have their subway system.
(07:54):
Not the greatest, but it'sstill there and available.
So where are the LGBTQ pluswalkable hotspots?
1.
Wilton Manors, Florida.
Okay, it's a gayborhood whereyou can walk from bar to Rosie's
for brunch to your friend's pool.
(08:17):
It's paradise.
But you still need a car foryour Target runs.
You might be able to get awaywith going to Publix up the street
and carrying groceries backinto your house, but still, you don't
want to be doing that in thehot, humid weather as well.
(08:39):
So you might need a car as well.
Asbury Park, New Jersey.
It's a funky, beachy, artsy town.
You can walk from theboardwalk to drag bingo without breaking
a sweat.
How about Providence, Rhode Island?
It's like a mini Boston, butcheaper and friendlier.
(09:01):
Great art scene, all prettymuch walkable.
And then there's one of my favorites.
There's Provincetown, Massachusetts.
P Town, the granddaddy of allLGBTQ walkable havens.
The entire town is basicallyone long, fabulous street lined with
(09:23):
bars, shops, and art galleries.
No car is needed.
A bike or your own two feetare all it takes.
Owning a car in Provincetownis probably more of a hassle than
a hell.
You walk to the beach, youwalk to dinner, you walk home onto
fairy lights after a drag show.
(09:44):
That's retirement done, right.
They know how to do it in P Town.
And but P Town a little on theexpensive side as well.
So in Phoenix, I once decidedto walk to the grocery store.
By the time I got there, I wasbasically a raisin.
I think I spent 15 minutes inthe freezer aisle.
(10:06):
But yeah, it gets so hot inthe summer, you don't want to walk
anywhere.
Even if you could, you don'twant to.
All right, so let's talk alittle bit about international walkable
havens, to name a few.
So abroad, walkability isoften the norm, unlike the US where
(10:30):
it's very car centric.
So Valencia, Spain.
You know, I love Spain.
I love talking about Spain,and I'm going to be visiting quite
soon.
So Valencia, tapas markets,pride parades, they're all within
strolling distance.
(10:51):
It's like the Fitbit inventeditself here.
Then we have Malaga, Spain.
It's a compact historiccenter, pedestrian friendly streets,
no cars in the city center,beach access, everything within reach.
A tapas crawl here isbasically a cardio workout.
(11:13):
So.
So pretty much all the largercities in Spain are generally the
same as far as fantasticwalkability not to mention fantastic
transportation options.
So again, in both Valencia andMalaga, you have trains and you also
(11:36):
have buses to get you fromplace to place if you can't walk.
So because they are a littlebit larger cities, there is a tram,
I believe, in Malaga that goesdown the Costa del Sol all the way
to the end of Fuengarola.
Okay, next one on the list isNice, France.
(12:00):
The old town is car free.
The Promenade des Anglais isbuilt for long walks, and there's
gelato around every corner.
Montpellier, France.
The medieval core is highly pedestrianized.
(12:22):
Live in the ecousant districtand you'll never need a car.
So Montpellier, something tothink about.
And also nice.
He says nice.
How about Berlin, Germany?
It's a huge city.
Yes.
But neighborhoods likeKrosberg and Prinzlauerburg are extremely
(12:46):
walkable.
Plus the U Bahn will get youanywhere else when you step.
When your step count is maxed out.
So very big city, lots ofwalking options.
How about Reykjavik, Iceland?
It's small, compact, but colorful.
(13:11):
Totally walkable in the core.
Just remember, layers isn't afashion choice.
It's survival.
Kids are pretty chilly.
Reykjavik, Lisbon, Portugal.
There are hills everywhere.
You retire with quads of steel.
But trams are there to saveyour knees.
(13:32):
So.
Yes.
And they do have the funicularor the trams to get you around.
Lisbon, Lyon, France.
It's a walkable foodie paradise.
Everything is in within abaguette's throw.
All right, that was Europe.
And let's move on and talk alittle bit about Latin American options.
(13:59):
So San Miguel de Allende inMexico, it has cobblestone streets,
plazas, art galleries.
Charming, but could be ankle twisting.
When I was there, we had a house.
It was a home exchange, but wedidn't realize how far up the hill
(14:25):
it was.
So the first time we walked upand I really.
That was the last time Iwalked up.
Every other time we had tocall an Uber because literally, if
you come out of the house,it's on a hill.
If you don't apply your footbrakes, you'll fall right down the
(14:49):
hill.
It's so steep.
Bear that in mind.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, iswalkable, especially in the Zona
Romantica.
So the Romantic zone and themale con, LGBTQ plus bars and the
(15:10):
beach, all without needing Uber.
So basically, in those twoareas, you can walk pretty much everywhere.
It's.
When you get to the outskirtsof those areas, you'll probably need
an Uber or a car to get youaround and think about, you know,
if you're a Costco person andyou need to go to Costco or you need
(15:32):
to go to the supermarket.
You're not going to becarrying bags and bags of groceries
back, especially in the hotsummer months.
Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Centro Historico is fullof walkable plazas and markets.
Pick the right neighborhoodand you'll be in a walker's paradise.
Again, very big city.
(15:55):
If you want to get to Ajijicand Lake Chapala, you'll have to
either hire a driver to takeyou there or I'm not sure if they
have Ubers there but.
Or you'll have to rent a car yourself.
All right, Mexico City, cdmxthey have.
It's enormous.
(16:15):
But the neighborhoods likeRoma, Condesa, Coyoacan and Polanco
are leafy, lively and carfree, friendly outside your bubble.
You'll use transit, but fordaily life a car is optional.
So let me tell you also aboutmy experience there.
(16:39):
So we walked everywhere,pretty much in Mexico City.
It is a huge city.
You can't walk from one partto another really.
You're pretty much in thatarea or the adjacent areas the most.
We did take a walk to arestaurant and I think it took us
an hour to get there, but on foot.
(17:01):
But we were exploring and thatwas kind of fun.
But you don't want to do thaton a daily basis.
Also, they have buses and Ibelieve they're not air conditioned
because all it seemed like allthe windows were down and people
looked like they were packedlike sardines.
So I would not me go andtravel those buses again.
(17:26):
If you lived there and gotused to it, I'm sure you would because
those buses were absolutelypacked by locals.
Okay, so in Valencia I canwalk from the old town to the beach,
grab tapas and see a paradeall on the same day.
(17:46):
In Phoenix, if I tried that,I'd need three Ubers, a gallon of
Gatorade and maybe divineintervention because I would bake
out there.
Let's talk about some trade offs.
What's the downside ofwalkable retirement living?
(18:07):
A few things costs.
Walkable neighborhoods can beprime real estate.
Now this is depending uponwhere you are.
For instance, New York City,walkable pretty much everywhere.
And they have great transportation.
They have the subway system, buses.
(18:28):
But it is very expensive.
So think about that.
Developers know what they've got.
Climate fantastic until it's105, 110 degrees and you're or you're
trudging through sleep.
So you want to think aboutthat too.
(18:50):
If it's walkable and you're ina hot, hot climate like Phoenix.
We'll take a look at Phoenix.
I mean, it's not fullywalkable, but you can walk somewhat,
but you don't want to walk outyour door in 105 in triple digits.
(19:10):
You just don't.
The same goes true if you'rein a place that's cold and snowy
and that's walkable, like Chicago.
Why would I ever want to goout in the winter and walk from place
to place with, you know, thatfrozen wind in my face?
(19:34):
I just would.
Anyway, that's me.
Maybe you.
So, accessibility.
Cobblestones look veryromantic in pictures.
In real life, their triphazards in disguise.
And I'm kind of a klutz myself.
Like, I trip and fall.
(19:55):
If I jog, and I cannot, Iwon't jog on cobblestones.
It's just something that youdon't do.
So think about that too.
Especially as we get older, wereally don't want to be walking on
cobblestones.
If we could avoid it, we will.
So how do I figure out if aplace is actually walkable?
(20:18):
Number one, do your homework.
Walk scores tell us if you'rein a walker's paradise or in a suburban
desert.
So also transit and bikescores are out there and available.
They'll tell you if you've gotbackup options.
If there's subways, buses,apps like MoveIt or Citymapper make
(20:41):
car free life easier.
Google grocery stores nearyour Airbnb address.
If the closest one is 30minutes by Uber.
That's not retirement, that'ssurvival training.
Do you really want to bedriving everywhere in your retirement
(21:03):
or walking everywhere?
That's up to you.
It's personal preference.
So what's it like personallyliving with and without cars in New
York City?
I didn't need one.
Everything I needed was ashort walk subway ride away.
There's a Starbucks on everyblock, maybe even two Starbucks on
(21:25):
every block.
I logged more steps than myFitbit at Pride in Phoenix.
Sidewalks sometimes end in dirt.
I once tried to walk to aWalgreens and felt like I was auditioning
for Survivor.
So you know how hot it may get.
(21:46):
And think about a Waymo.
You know what Waymo is if youdon't know what Waymo is?
Waymo is a car that has that'sdriverless, that everything is computerized
and picks you up.
You tell it where to pick youup on your app.
It comes usually to the minute.
(22:07):
It'll tell you on time andhopefully it'll get to your destination.
So think about a waymo.
At 3:30am in the morning, Iwas praying my Waymo would actually
show up and get me to the airport.
The car wasn't lost, but Inearly, I nearly was standing outside
(22:28):
in the dark squinting like, isthat my ride or a ghost?
So yeah, you have to just, youknow, if you know Waymo, it could
be a gift as well.
It's kind of fun.
So Provincetown summers, ifyou've ever been, you know the magic.
You walk down Commercialstreet, stop for drinks, browse art
(22:52):
galleries, catch a drag show,and end the night walking home under,
you know, under the lights.
It's like the entire town wasdesigned by and for LGBTQ retirees
who hate parking meters.
Spain scouting trips inValencia and Malaga.
(23:12):
Everything is charming and car free.
It's like Disneylands forgrown ups.
Instead of churros, you gettapas and instead of Mickey Mouse,
you get Spanish bartenders whoflirt back.
Let's look ahead.
The future of walkableretirement is the US catching up.
Really?
(23:32):
I would say slowly, quoteunquote, 15 minute cities are the
new planning buzzword.
Everybody loves that idea.
But Again, Europe has 15minute cities everywhere.
The idea is everything youneed is within a 15 minute walk.
(23:55):
It's hilarious.
As I said, because Europe isdoing it since the Middle Ages.
For LGBTQ plus retirees,walkability matters even more.
Community thrives when it's visible.
A car centric suburb with sixcar garages doesn't exactly scream
your chosen family.
(24:16):
So what's the takeaway withall this?
Walkability isn't just sidewalks.
It's freedom.
It's health.
It's connection and lifestyle.
Retirement shouldn't be aboutspending half of your life behind
a steering wheel.
It should be about strollingto the cafe, bumping into your friends,
(24:40):
and living where life happensat eye level.
So I want to hear from you.
What's your dream walkable city?
Can you retire without a car?
Share your stories in theFacebook group Where do gays Retire?
Or Even on LGBTQ seniors.comlet's crowdsource the ultimate list
(25:02):
of car free retirement haven.
I hope you found thisenjoyable and somewhat educational
because in reality,walkability in retirement is so important.
And it's important to me, thecity boy who grew up in in a city
(25:23):
and what I, what I feel andtake away from this.
It's all about community and health.
So when you're retired, youneed both very important.
So with that and we'll see youon the next one.
Bye bye.
Thank you for listening to thewhere do Gays Retire Podcast if you
(25:47):
enjoyed today's episode,please subscribe to our podcast and
consider making a donation byclicking the coffee cup on any page@www.wheredogaysretire.com.
each cup of coffee that youyou buy costs $5 and goes towards
helping us continue the podcast.
Thank you for your continued.
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