Gabby Reece has never been shy about the unorthodox pace of her romance with big-wave legend Laird Hamilton. On the latest episode of Women Our Age With Melissa Rivers, the 56-year-old former volleyball star told host Melissa Rivers that the couple moved in together just eight days after they first met.
At a Glance
- Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton were living together eight days after meeting
- The couple, married nearly 30 years, once considered divorce
- Reece credits Hamilton for keeping romance alive in their empty-nest phase
- Why it matters: Their candid look at long-term love offers a counter-narrative to celebrity breakup culture
Reece recalled the moment during an interview she conducted with Hamilton for the mid-1990s television show The Extremists. She was in her early twenties; he was about 30. Within a week, the pair were sharing a home and have remained partners ever since.
“We’ve only gotten divorced one and a half times,” Reece joked on the podcast, acknowledging the couple has weathered serious ups and downs.
A Marriage Built on Individual Happiness
In a 2017 interview with News Of Los Angeles, Reece explained the mindset that has helped the couple endure.
“We always joke, ‘You go make yourself happy, I’ll go make myself happy and then we can come together and work from there,'” she told the outlet. “Not, ‘It’s your job to make me happy and my job to make you happy,’ because that’s not realistic.”
That philosophy appears to have paid dividends. Nearly three decades later, the pair are now navigating life as empty nesters. Their daughters-Reece, 23, and Brody, 18-have left home, leaving the couple with space to focus on each other again.
Raising Strong Women
Reece, who is also stepmom to Hamilton’s daughter Izabella, 31, from his previous marriage to fellow big-wave surfer Maria Souza, says watching her girls grow into adults has been both nerve-racking and rewarding.
“I bite my nails like all mothers do, but I have really strong daughters,” she told Rivers. “I’ve learned, like, we’re not really gonna control them. And so I’m also trying to make it as easy as possible on myself, just watching them grow up and make their own decisions.”
When Rivers asked whether Hamilton played the intimidating dad when suitors arrived at the house, Reece laughed.
“No, I would almost say I feel more sorry for the boys than the girls,” she said. “My girls are pretty tough. They’re pretty formidable.”
Life After Kids
The transition to an empty nest came as no surprise to Reece.
“When my youngest daughter turned about 14, I knew what was coming,” she said. “That was sort of that time where I became interested in being as busy again.”
Reese believes outside interests are essential for personal fulfillment.
“I think it’s key for me personally, and everyone is different, but I’m a better person when I have outlets of my own that don’t have anything to do with my family,” she said.
Keeping the Spark Alive
While some couples struggle once children leave, Reece says Hamilton keeps the household lively.
“I have a very energetic husband!” she said. “And he does have a very loud speaking voice. Also my house is open to a lot of people. I joke that we make omelets for strangers.”
Quiet evenings alone are now cherished rather than feared.
“When there are quiet nights when it’s just Laird and I, I love it,” she said.
Reece attributes the couple’s sustained romance to Hamilton’s consistent effort.
“I give him a lot of credit for this, to keep the romantic component of our relationship alive,” she said. “He’s really kept the fire going, which has made being it just the two of us a lot easier.”
Women Our Age With Melissa Rivers streams on QVC+ and HSN+.
Key Takeaways
- Reece and Hamilton’s lightning-quick move-in set the tone for a marriage that prizes momentum and shared adventure
- The couple’s mantra of individual happiness first defies traditional relationship expectations
- Even with kids gone, Hamilton’s high-energy presence and intentional romance have eased the empty-nest transition
