The Derek Foster debate aside, the folks in the examples are IMO existing on the thin edge of what can be considered a comfortable retired life in Canada.
I would expect that given a choice, the vast majority of us don't want to take public transit and rent cars for the rest of our lives. The option of owning an ancient junker of a car in Canada isn't always a financially wise move either because old things bust when it gets cold, towing isn't cheap, and when given an estimate for $900.00 for a relatively minor fix on a $1500.00 car, you've gotta wonder about the wisdom that lead to the purchase of the rusty '95 Taurus with 210,000km.
On to entertainment...as long as you're OK with limiting your on line time to text based stuff like this forum, then dial up internet is a fine way to save a buck, but no cable TV? (OK, for that I expect a backlash from the more extreme LBYM's out there) C'mon we're in Canada, where, apart from the lucky few on the left coast we have optimistically 4.5 months per yr when you'd not cringe at the thought of going outside.
And the ultimate sacrifice...I don't know many Canucks who, while shoveling their driveway for the 3rd freakin' time this week, don't entertain the thought of one day snowbirding for those 6 months that our health care system allows. That doesn't need to be a really pricey item, but when that dream becomes an impossibility replaced by the stark reality of 6 months per year wrapped in a blanket stoking the fireplace out of financial necessity instead of dialing up the furnace, then perhaps I've retired too early.
