[quote=flyer]Standard of living in retirement also has a lot to do with calculating how much one will need. We have a high standard of living, but with our home in RSF paid off, all medical paid, free travel, and other benefits we’ve accrued, we’ll actually be able to maintain our chosen standard of living at a very low cost, and we won’t be touching our retirement funds until we’re in our 60’s.

Everyone has a different concept of how they want to live in retirement. When someone says they can easily live on a certain dollar amount in retirement that’s great, as long as they are living the way they really want to live. To me, living your dreams is what retirement is really all about.[/quote]

This is why I’m thinking of getting a couple of rentals for income … to enable me to have that monthly “cushion” in retirement to hit the road when I want to … and not worry so much about the cost of gas, lodging etc.

You are most fortunate, flyer. The vast majority of retirees aren’t able to fly *free* (space-A) or for a nominal cost.

Military retirees are eligible for Tricare which has a very low deductible or monthly premium and a low-cost “Tricare for Life” Medicare supplement. They can also fly “Space A” on (mostly) military aircraft for a nominal cost. But the lengthy procedure to reach the top of the “manifest list” to actually be able to fly and the conditions they might find on the aircraft itself and also the ride, lol, are no comparison to the comfort of a commercial airline. “Break out the earplugs and lower your jumpseat. Your `box lunch’ (sandwich, apple, chips, peanut butter cookies) will be served in 20 minutes.” The young “stewards” are cute in their tight, camo, belted one-piece uniforms, tho :=)