[ckelly78z]

Anything I say about how I live will be construed as being cheap from those of you who live in half million dollar houses, have new cars, and have services rendered for you on your home, or cars. When I need a plumber, I go get the parts from Lowes and do it myself, when I need a mechanic, I generally tackle everything but the most complicated surgury. At 50 years old and with two kids still needing our help, I have my $150,000 house and barns paid off, and have more than that in my 401K (currently saving 20%) with no debt. I will have a 27 year pension when I retire early at 60, and have no plans of moving to the beach or the mountains....we're staying put and enjoying our 10 acres in the country. Living in small town USA, you learn to be practical and conservative, we don't have big plans of world travel or a new yacht, we will travel all over the united states and Canada in our 30 ft camper /truck, and I might get a nice fishing boat for the local resevoirs and inland lakes.

Between my pension, my SS, my wife's SS, and a nice 401K annuity with no debt, we should be able to do anything we want to do within reason.......go out to dinner, go on a cruise now and then.

With my health issues, i'm going to retire as early as I possibly can and try to enjoy time for my kids/grandkids and puttering around the farm.