Retire There with Gil & Gene Retire in NYC after Cruising the World - EP 220
Jan 12, 2026
Jill Chalsty, an author and nonprofit founder with a passion for life skills education, takes listeners on her journey after battling cancer and losing her husband. She shares her 107-day world cruise, exploring various retirement destinations, only to discover Manhattan was her true home. Jill discusses memorable ports like Samoa and New Zealand, the emotional connections made, and the challenges of health and care on board. Her insights on New York's community and amenities offer practical advice for those seeking vibrant urban living.
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Cruise As Healing Mission
- Jill signed up for a 107-day world cruise after caregiving, cancer, and grief to honor a shared dream with her late husband.
- She used the voyage to visit ports and present her free life-skills curriculum to education leaders.
Curriculum Needs Local Delivery
- Overcoming Obstacles provides a full K–12 life-skills curriculum that schools can adopt without building materials themselves.
- Translating and delivering materials in person unlocked adoption in Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Concrete Wins From Port Meetings
- Jill describes direct wins: Tonga translated materials, Samoa and the Philippines requested translations, and New Zealand gave principal contacts.
- These concrete responses came from in-person meetings and local champions she met on the cruise.
