Thanks Sandtrap! Another way of saying your point, is it cannot be the spreadsheet that makes the decision. Like a boss used to tell us , some element of art/gut call needs to be intertwined with the math/science.+1I have relatives in their late 90s & 70s that are struggling with health (now, even after living a healthy and fit life). I’ve known folks pass away in their 50sLife isn't necessarily all that short. Living into the 100s and remaining healthy and lucid is not as uncommon as it once was.Life is short. We must find the right balance[...]
But for the things one is passionate about, say travel as you mention, it makes sense to front-load those activities in life and into into retirement as much as one can. Not only because one would be at their healthiest, but the world has become more crowded and more "MacDonaldized" each year. Many travel destinations have "jumped the shark" and I'm very happy my family and I saw them when they were at their peak (i.e. unspoiled).
So, I know all ends of the spectrum. Overall I’ll stick to my opinion that we over exaggerate our longevity and don’t plan for the right next steps (in general). This forum helps bubble this up in the right ways for us to have these discussions (which is a great thing).
Cogent points, all.
Proof that life does not fit on a spreadsheet projection, certainly mortality.
There are also folks who are in reasonable health per age, then suddenly everything goes South within a matter of short years.
It would be simpler if we knew our "use by" or "expiration date". . then again. . .
j
Also, like a number of folks remind us, expenses can go down as well as up. With the amount of padding some of us have, there is a significant amount of discretionary spend that can be reduced without much tangible impact on our lives
Statistics: Posted by Wannaretireearly — Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:50 pm — Replies 138 — Views 12901