Living Abroad in Retirement – As Featured on the Prime Life Podcast
Published: March 31st, 2026
Article Overview
Retirement opens the door to more time and more freedom — but it can also bring unexpected changes to daily routine, identity, and social connection. In a recent episode of the Prime Life Podcast, host Mary Crean sits down with Andrew Motiwalla, founder of The Good Life Abroad, to explore how immersive, extended travel abroad can offer retirees something more than sightseeing: a new sense of purpose, structure, and belonging.
Why Retirement Can Disrupt Routine and Connection
One of the quieter challenges of retirement is the shift away from the built-in rhythms and relationships that work once provided. The social fabric of a career — colleagues, daily schedules, a sense of contribution — doesn't automatically transfer into this new chapter. For many, that transition takes time to navigate.
Mary and Andrew dig into this reality honestly, exploring why so many retirees find themselves searching for new ways to stay engaged, connected, and energized. Travel — particularly the immersive, slow kind — is one answer that's growing in popularity for exactly this reason.
How Living Abroad Offers a Different Kind of Structure
The Good Life Abroad isn't a tour. It's a model built around the idea that retirees have something most travelers don't: time. Rather than racing through a checklist of landmarks, participants spend a month or more living in a vetted, furnished apartment in a European city, exploring at their own pace and on their own terms.
As Andrew explains in the episode, it's the blank canvas approach — with support. Each program comes with a local Community Manager who serves as an on-the-ground guide and connector, introducing participants to local events, hidden gems, and neighborhood rhythms. A cohort of fellow travelers lives nearby, creating natural opportunities for shared meals, cultural outings, and spontaneous connection — while full independence is preserved for those who want to wander on their own.
This combination of structure and freedom is something that resonates deeply with people in the early and middle years of retirement who are looking for more than leisure — they're looking for meaning.
Health, Safety, and Peace of Mind
For many retirees, the idea of spending a month abroad raises practical questions: What if something goes wrong medically? Is it safe? How do I navigate a city where I don't speak the language?
The conversation with Mary addresses these concerns directly. The Good Life Abroad is designed with the 55+ traveler in mind — from the apartments themselves, which are vetted for accessibility and comfort, to access to English-speaking medical support and insurance. The presence of a local staff member and a nearby community of fellow travelers means no one has to figure things out alone.
Andrew is clear that these layers of support aren't about hand-holding — they're about removing the anxiety that prevents people from saying yes in the first place.
Finding Your People Through Travel
One of the most unexpected outcomes that Andrew shares is the depth of community that forms within each cohort. Roughly 30% of Good Life Abroad participants travel solo, drawn precisely by the promise of connection — a group of like-minded people who share the same curiosity about the world and this stage of life.
As the conversation makes clear, what begins as a travel program often becomes something more. Participants come for the destination and stay for the friendships, the shared experiences, and the realization that they've found their people.
For retirees navigating a shift in identity and social connection, that sense of belonging can be just as meaningful as the trip itself.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Listen here: Episode 172 – Living Abroad in Retirement with Andrew Motiwalla
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
About the Prime Life Podcast
Hosted by Mary Crean, the Prime Life Podcast is produced by Nassau Financial Group and is dedicated to helping people make the most of their prime years. The show covers topics ranging from longevity and health to finances, purpose, and lifestyle — with a consistent message that your best years don't have to be behind you. Learn more at primelifepodcast.com.
About The Good Life Abroad
The Good Life Abroad is a travel program designed for adults 55 and older who want to experience Europe not as tourists, but as temporary locals. With vetted apartments, on-the-ground community support, and a built-in cohort of like-minded travelers, The Good Life Abroad makes extended travel abroad more accessible, social, and meaningful.
Curious what a month in Europe could look like for you? Explore our destinations or request a free catalog to get started.
Andrew Motiwalla
Andrew is the Founder of The Good Life Abroad and has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. His first experience living abroad was as a Peace Corps volunteer.
He is also the Founder of Discover Corps, a company specializing in meaningful vacations for families.
Learn More about Andrew Motiwalla