Big Money Jim:
Sounds like you are a little discouraged.
I have found that most of the posters on this board that have actually retired, did so without hitting a lottery, a large inheritence, etc. etc.
As Bob Smith stated in his post, you are a young guy. If you are motivated, and your goal is early retirement, live below your means, and invest as much as you possibly can.
When I was your age I was married with small children, and my wife was a full time homemaker. (In other words, we were happy to be paying our bills.)
I didn't really start making good money until I was about 34. (I retired at age 49, so I basically did it on 15 years of admittingly above average income.).
My kids are all doing fine, and appreciate the fact that we can get together with them unencumbered by job requirements.
In my post to John Galt, I did not mean to suggest that anybody, at anytime could retire, but to point out that if you are not motivated, and unable to grasp what is truly important, (In my case, the luxery of freedom), then the alternative is to continue working.
Retirement is not for everyone. I have known a number of people that have stated they made a big mistake when they retired early.
I do not think you will find many of those people on the board though. My wife and I deferred a great deal raising a family, and investing as much as we possibly could to make retirement possible. As I have stated before, the 17 years of time we bought has been worth it in spades.
Don"t get discouraged because you think that other people have a leg up on you. (Life isn't always fair).
You and you alone will have to take responsibility to realize your goal.
Life doesn"t always serve up a nice big fat homerun pitch, but being a good singles hitter is o.k. too.
Regards, Jarhead