Hey Bailer, welcome to the forum.* Just wanted to let you know my wife and I are in a similar situation and real estate was very good to us and still is.
This forum should help you out as far as investment advise and how to better live in early retirement, but I find that there is not a whole lot of support for real estate minded investors (maybe because some of them don't understand or see the big picture)* I still haven't figured out why.

* *But we have kinda formed our own little group here.* *
I look forward to hearing your story and bouncing new ideas around.* One thing I have found from RE investors is that we all tend to have our niche' and we all tend to do things just a little differently.* A lot can depend on your location and what the market gives you but also where your talent is.* That is why I like it, because to me, it's never boring, and it is an always changing environment.* So it always keeps my interest and am always learning.*
Feel free to PM me or better yet, respond again with your story.* I'd love to hear it.* *