Jarhead, you made my day, what good post to wake up too this cold morning.
where in the Sierras are you livings, my retirement plan includes lots of time up there.
Retired 1987
It wasn't freaky at all for us, (until I stumbled on this board, about 2 years ago, and found out according to most of the posters, we had been spending too much.
When I retired, both my daughters were pretty much raised, and we moved to the Sierras in No. Calif. My wife had been a homemaker all our married life, and I had no pension, and no sponsored health ins.
The plan was to see how it goes, and if need be, start a service business. (Had some experience in that area). Until such time, we spent what we wanted to, and I concentrated on working on Golf handicap, and fishing.
Proving that even a blind squirrel gets an acorn once in a while.
, I never did have to get a business going.
We stumbled into Soc. Sec. (7 years ago for me, and 2 years ago for my wife. She gets half of mine.
Regarding spending, I did want to point out something that I made a previous post on.
I honestly think habits change enough as the years go on that you will find yourself not spending as much by choice as you get older.
At least that has been our experience.
We were spending about $50,000.00 a year in 1987, and that figure hasn't changed much.
Still play a lot of tournament golf, fish, etc., but neither one of us care to travel much anymore.
In my experience, inflation over-states the real life case. (Not talking the 60's and 70's type inflation).
Point being, don't short-change yourself, by being too anal about doing what you want when you are young enough to really enjoy it.
Jarhead