jconk46044

Upon retiring in 2005 we celebrated in paradise at the Hawaiian Islands. We sold our home in Western NC and kept our Park Model home at Emerald Island, NC which we stayed there in between travels. In addition we took an 13 month cross country excursion in our fifth wheel visiting as many USA and Canadian National Parks, big cities and little towns as possible. In between campgrounds we stayed at timeshares for tourist attractions. After the initial year on the road we became snowbirds taking our voyage out west residing mostly on the AZ/CA border along the scenic Colorado River. Aside from our first time white water rafting in the Arkansas River our fondest adventure was zipping up and down the river in our 15 HP, 10' Sea Eagle Raft. We cruised the Bahamas, Mexico. We went on a free Alaska cruise on the Serenity thanks to a bonus on a resale purchase we made buying 500,000 points in timeshares on a business that went bankrupt. We flew to Europe round trip for 2 for under $500 when 2 airlines merged in 2004. After 4 years we decided to purchase a small home in a FL gated community for security purposes while on the road. Here we could store our boat and 5th wheel for $60 month. Fast forward 2014 with my mother-n-law in her 80's and needing knee surgery we figured we needed to move closer to her. We put our home in the market but after a few months with no success we decided to rent it and we bought a 800 sq ft home in De Leon Springs. We so enjoyed being on the road and visiting new and old favorite spots but now we pretty much stay near home. Within one mile is the DLS state park a crystal clear spring we float or kayak anytime of the year and Daytona Beach a 40 minute drive. Our packing and unpacking days are few now. Our only source of income is from our IRA and rental income from our HOA home and timeshares totaling under $20K a year until we collect our social security. We had no medical insurance from 2005-2015. I thought I did not qualify for Obama Care in 2014. Did not know I could draw from my IRA as income. Had paid cash for medical expenses for kidney stones 3 times. The only way I could see a doctor was thru emergency or clinic. Eventually you are forced to go with the plan. Luckily I had no real major expenses. I feel kind of guilty but what else can you do. I just remind myself that I worked for over 30 years and paid taxes like everybody else. I can't take the risk of losing what we worked hard for. So until Medicare comes around we limit our

boating, fishing, beach, spring, hiking, biking, kayaking, state and national parks