[Evans, Marv]

I did a lot of things backwards - sort of. Like some of you, I worked as a kid doing a lot of jobs you all did. I worked lots of hours during the week and weekends at a gas station starting at 15 1/2. I changed jobs at the beginning of my junior year over to loading semi truck transports with milk and milk products for shipment to other towns. (I really don't know if kids now days can work like kids did then because of laws, regulations, and liabilities.) It was very hard work but I didn't have to work on weekends. After I got out of the Army, I worked and started school (about nine months later) and continued working at night. I took time off to do things I enjoyed like hiking, mountaineering, skiing, and traveling when I could afford it. After marrying at 32 and parting ways 10 years later, I had to start over in effect. I never made a lot of money and lived frugally, but still did enjoyable things that weren't costly and didn't feel a need for expensive house or cars. What I did was keep my living expenses level. I saved and invested any money I got via raises, extra work or other source. Managed to invest in rental property, which I managed and maintained myself. I didn't remarry until 55 and put my now wife through her last three years of university and grad school. We continued living frugally and saved through the first several years she worked. With what I saved & invested, I as able to meet my target of building my house and being debt free after retirement. Since my wife is younger than I and working, I chose a reduced retirement. She will continue to receive my retirement after I'm gone for the rest of her life. We have enough excess income to do things we want and contribute to a Roth account for her. My situation is better than I thought it would be, and I'm glad I made the decisions I did from around 40 on. I do feel a bit sorry for the younger people trying to make it now. I think times will be hard for them at retirement time.