70 is the new 40

[Cracker]

Yes we have a villa & car here in the Sunshine state where we spend the winters. It's great, we have breakfast, close up villa up north, drive to airport in rented car, get on plane & 3 hours later we get picked up at the airport by car service & dropped off at our villa here. We get in our car here and it's off to lunch. And when it gets too hot & humid here, we reverse it & go back north to our NE villa, & cars there.
Ain't life grand?

Yeah, that's great Cars. It sure does sound like the life. I would like to end up with a mountain house and a beach house.

Do you mind me asking what you did/do for a living? Is that rude? It probably is, you don't have to answer. I'm just curious. I like to know how people attained their success...

I worked hard all my life for 45 years, trying to become successful. I almost made it, as I made it to a 6 figure salary as an eng dept mgr.
I must give credit to my betterhalf, as she finally convinced me to start really socking it away the last dozen years of my working life. (If it wasn't for her wisdom, we wouldn't be nearly as financially comfortable as we are now) Each year I always got a substainsial raise and I would just put it all into my 401K, (never felt it, as we lived comfortably on my old salary) & my company matched it 50 cents on the dollar up to 16%.
The last 5 years I went up 22% even though only 16% was matched.

Now I'll get on my soapbox: Some friendly advice: All you younger working people out there, as tough as things are, save save save as much as you can. Especially if your company matches your savings.
When I was young, I never thought too much about it before 53, and you blink a couple of times and all of a sudden walla, retirement age is just around the corner, it sorta just sneaks up on you! So . . .

That is great advice, Cars. Thank you for answering. You hear people talk about how to be smart and save for retirement, but it is more valid when you hear it from someone who is doing well.

I have a retirement plan that is matched, we are just very limited as to the amount that is added each year. Plus, the money really isn't safe because my state is so financially screwed. I'm vested, so I'm going to let that money sit so I can get the optional health insurance at a decent rate if I retire before my soc sec retirement age. So much to watch out for.

I agree with reduced household spending. I have every single thing I need. Too much, really. I want to get a smaller house in the next few years. I don't need this house full of stuff I rarely touch...