I don't know you personally but I'm going to psychically hold you to this.
So many people have a dream list for their retirement and they never do it. Not because of money, but because they get set in their ways or life stuff comes up. I love the idea of a cabin in the mountains, but I'm also pretty happy with my little beach shack.
I've got a dream. Originally my retirement goal was 50. That coulda happened until we decided to buy a grocery store in 2004 for ~$2mil and sell ing it 4 years later at ~$1.5mil - that ended up putting us in Chap11 bankruptcy for almost 10 years. Ok- just a small blip. Moved the goal to 55. That came and went 3 years ago - COVID affected that goal because we were planning on doing some weekend travel to start looking for a place to move to. I will be 58 this year and just have too much sh!t going on with too many horseshoes in the fires and snow. Wife wants to work till 60. By that time, there may or may not be a grandkid here that would keep us around - who knows. Right now the new granddog keeps my wife happy. Biggest hurdle is health insurance, which she carries with her job. Relatively debt free - house & rental was paid off 10 years ago. No farm debt. Just some store debt that I can leave to my daughter. I've managed all of our investments since we've been married. People may think we are making so much money I have to carry it to the bank in a suitcase, but we are not. A hardware store in a small town is not a get-rich-quick scheme - it's always been a hobby for me - something I've kept because the community needs it. The farm has it's ups n downs but I love what I do - hard work for a modest lifestyle. My wife is just a govt contractor employee with a HS diploma - she isn't making the big executive pay, but she goes to work everyday and likes what she does. We have lived within our means, saving every dollar possible. Started out at $20/month investing in AFLAC, putting all her pay raises into the 401k acct over the years, where now its a couple thousand $ a month going into stocks/401k/mutual funds. We are probably rich by your standards, but by mine, we are just ok. I have considered seeking a financial advisor but not sure what they could offer me. My current projections say we need $7500/month to maintain our lifestyle, which is not lavish by any means. That sounds like a lot, but health insurance/medical exp account for $2500 of that. Hell just to maintain 2 vehicles with ins/gas/tags/maint is $750/month. Utilities - elect/internet/phone - is $500/month. It all adds up. Trump has been good to our investments for the last year, but what happens when another demonrat takes office in 3 years?
Would still like to look at some places in NW Georgia/W S.Carolina/SE Tennessee. I think I need to be near, not on, some type of water, not that I'm a water sports person or fisherman, but just need the tranquility of it. A lake, river, creek, stream, etc. I don't want the ocean life - too much risk. Would like to be within an hour to 90mins of a major airport - I would like to continue traveling. Nothing exotic, other than an African safari. Otherwise, just some trips to Europe, cruises, national monuments, etc. Of course being near good medical care will be needed. Used to think I could be happy in SW Virginia but current state politics making me rethink that. My daughter is happy here and will likely stay on the farm, but not necessarily work the farm. Ideally 8 hours from 'home' is where I would like to be, but even that could be a good distance to travel in a day as we get older. Lets revisit this post in 5 years...
I didn't have anywhere near the million dollars they say you need.
