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I've been retired for 16 years, and over that period have never had taxable income over $20k per year. By your standards I retired into poverty. On the other hand, I travel internationally regularly, own 2 vehicles and 3 boats, and drink craft beer. I sure don't feel like I'm living in poverty!

Retired with 550k I'm 61, retired at 45. My investable net worth, not including house is 550k, and I've comfortably lived off 3% we since retiring.

Burning man.

I had back fusion a year ago. Great for first 9 months, now new pains 8n leg and back. It's not a long term panacea for everyone.

At 60 years old I've finally decided to write a will. I'm never married with no kids. Most of my estate is going to various charities, but I'm stumped on who to pick for an executor. I figure it should be someone young enough to likely outlive me, but all my friends and close relatives are my...

Agreed that this is not a vacation for the workers involved, but I have little sympathy for the folks who've been working for the federal government for years without setting aside an emergency fund. Maybe the government should fund a mandatory financial planning seminar for all employees?

I've been retired for 14 years (retired at 45) with almost the exact same nestegg as you. I withdraw $1500/month, and it's been easily sustainable for me, so I think your plan is reasonable.

Bring half as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you'll need.

If your money has been invested in the ROTH for more than 5 years you can withdraw the principal penalty-free.

You'd be surprised at how inexpensive it is to remove a wall, compared to the total cost of a kitchen remodel. A non-load-bearing wall could be done for a few hundred dollars, but even removing a load bearing wall would probably be less than 10% of the total remodel cost.

leaving next month for 10 weeks of backpacking through myanmar, laos, and vietnam.

For snowy roads (as opposed to 4wd trails) a low center of gravity (subaru) is much better than a high center of gravity (lifted 4wd pickup).

If you decide not to go, please have your friend contact me. A trip like this through southern africa has been on my bucket list for years, but I've never found anyone else interested.

I received an email from delta a few days ago offering me 50,000 frequent flier miles for transferring $100,000 to Fidelity. The fine print reads that this has to be a non-retirement account and has to stay at Fidelity for at least 6 months, but if you've got investments (stocks, bonds, etc)...

I'm going to be spending the winter sailing in the sea of Cortez, and could use some company. The boat is an older, basic, but seaworthy 27 footer, so this is definitely not a luxury cruise. Have room for one person, male or female. Good company is more important than sailing skills. Send a...

I'm considering renting out my house and transitioning to a full-time RV/snowbird lifestyle. The main concern I have is what my social life would be like. I'm 54, single, and active (rock climber, rafter, backpacker, etc). It seems like most of the folks I see out there traveling full time in...

Someone coined the term "pretired". i think that's pretty goo, except that you'll end up having to explain it to most people. I generally tell people I'm a financially independent investor.

My general experience is that you'll save at least 50% by waiting until you get there to book.

I'm in the same position and plan to increase my taxable income by selling appreciated assets and then buying them back (harvesting the gain and increasing my cost basis) and doing Roth conversions. The nice thing about roth conversions is that you can convert more than necessary before the end...

Check out this link for some amazing photos from a self drive trip to namibia to botswana in a rented safari-equipped 4wd: Namibia and Botswana 2013 vacation - Expedition Portal

My plan is actually to take at least 4-6 months, and have a vehicle equipped the way you suggest. I have a 4wd camper van that's been everywhere from Prudhoe bay to Cabo, so I think I've got a reasonable idea about what to expect. Two vehicles traveling together would be ideal, but I think I'd...

I live in Utah, which has decided not to fund medicaid, and my taxable income also falls below the $16,000 threshold. I've come up with 3 different ways to increase my taxable income without paying a penalty for an early withdrawal from my IRA: 1) Sell stocks (or other appreciated assets) to...

I've done a number of treks in nepal over the years (including EBC), always as a FIT. There are many other independent trekkers on all the popular routes, so you'll never really be solo unless you want to be. If you're a reasonably competent/experienced backpacker here in the states then...

Lots of canadian snowbirders in beach towns on the west coast of mexico (San Carlos, mazatlan, puerto vallarta, etc). You can live pretty cheap down there, especially if you get away from the gringo ghettos.

One of the trips on my bucket list is to buy/rent a camperized landrover in south africa and spend 6 months (or more) roadtripping through southern africa (SA, namibia, botswana, mozambique, maybe zimbabwe or zambia). This would work best with 2-4 people. Anyone on here interested?