You will love it!! And if you don’t, talk to me.
Already have that boat! 
Maybe your avatar needs to change to a boat picture!
Congratulations on your next chapter.
Congratulations, notrichenough! I think you’re disproving your screen name! Hope you are rich in experiences and fun, going forward. 
Seems to me two million liquid (investments, cash in bank, retirement funds) with no debt (including mortgage) and a modest lifestyle would do the trick.
I think the reason this thread is sparse on posts listing actual numbers is because it varies so much from person to person, location to location. How much you need to fund the lifestyle you want is so dependent on the substance of that lifestyle and where you choose to live it. There are examples of those who live well on SS alone and those who feel they need full replacement of highest working income, or even more. The key is to decide well before you step off what your parameters are and what you need to amass to comfortably achieve your goals. I’m always interested in hearing what people’s numbers are, but they are not necessarily relevant to anyone else.
Thanks, everyone!
Yes, well, that name was chosen in a fit of pique 13 years ago after discovering that colleges’ opinions about what we could afford to pay were not in the same ballpark as what I thought we could afford. Plus it was the peak of the real estate crash, and our net worth on paper dropped below zero, which was fun. Not that the colleges cared. ![]()
You can’t change your screen name, though, so I’m stuck with it.
My first thought on your retirement announcement was you ARE richenough! As was my thought when I retired this past fall. Congratulations and it is an amazing feeling, yes?
I agree but think a person’s number is a good starting point for further discussion. Plus I was trying to give a direct answer to the question in the title of the thread.
I once thought I’d be happy retiring with $2 million and no debt. Although I’ve minimized lifestyle creep over the years, I’ve since more than doubled my retirement number, because I want a cushion and to be able to do what I want in retirement, including extensive travel, without worrying about money. If I were retiring at Medicare age or had employer-sponsored coverage until Medicare kicks in, I’d probably feel comfortable retiring on less. But I’m planning on retiring well before Medicare and am currently single so I’ll have to self-fund medical for well over a decade. That unknown is a significant factor in my calculations.
We realized we had enough to retire on when our investment incomes(stock dividends and interests) well exceeded my husband’s income and we had no mortgage payments. The figure doesn’t include SS or IRA distribution.
@ChoatieMom, I think I hit what I need before the Pandemic but have not quite hit my target. We have hit my target in absolute numbers but a significant slug is in qualified plans and hence will be taxed at high rates when I am required to make distributions.
We were frugal relative to my professional peers to save for everything – kids college/grad school if needed, housing, etc. But we didn’t suffer. Decent house in a very nice area; trips whenever we wanted, etc. But, relative to peers, we organized the trips ourselves rather than hiring folks to organize the trip (which meant more expensive places plus fee for trip organizers) except in parts of China and maybe a few other places where one could not actually make things work without help. Neither of us has ever been a big spender on clothes and ShawWife no doubt less of a spender on beauty appointments/makeup etc. relative to others. Some of the women we know probably spend money every year on cosmetic surgery of some kind. Odd, but it is what it is. No pets as ShawWife is allergic to dogs and cats (and many other things living and dead).
Now we are less frugal than when we were younger although a) the Pandemic is saving us a lot of money with reduced travel and meals out and b) we are probably still frugal relative to my professional peers. I get my very good wine at Costco but do get some very good wine – hence relatively frugal. But, due to the Pandemic, we are not entertaining much (or now at all). So, expenses down.
I came here from the Parents caring for Parents thread to bring up long term care again. Poster there (not naming to protect relative privacy) reports spending $10,000/month for assisted living (“nice but not luxury” chain) for her mom. I realize this is highly dependent on the cost of living in your area but yikes! (My parents live in an expensive area…)
Some folks here were able to buy long term care insurance back when it was relatively affordable, but for those of us who weren’t, that’s probably not an option any more. Two of us, two years = half a million.
I hear you on health insurance. And the extensive travel as well! It’s a delicate balance between working a few more years to sock more money away and retiring while young and healthy enough to be able to do that traveling.
@dragonmom, my mother is living in an independent facility. Very nice but in Southeast so not as expensive as the Northeast or California. She put up $300K up front (and gets $270K back when she leaves). She pays about $3700 a month for rent/most meals. As she has needed more assistance, her monthly bill is $4500 and up. Assisted living would be $6000 to $6100, I believe, which would provide access to 24/7 assistance. She is 97 and did not move into independent living until she was 95.
Our aim would be to spend as long as we could with help in our current house. I don’t think my mother has been particularly happy since she moved in there – the place is fantastic but it has been lonely generally and especially during the Pandemic and now she is losing short-term memory (Did you eat lunch? I don’t remember. Did you take your pills this morning? I don’t remember.). So, she has needed help and may need to move to assisted living. But, I think she is psychologically ready to go and is just waiting for her life to end. My wife and I would rather go like Thelma and Louise.
H’s parents (now just mom) moved into a very nice AL facility that was less, but memory care costs more than regular care. They have friends in another senior community in their area, and it’s a lot more expensive. The other place requires a buy-in (more than $100,000) plus a higher monthly charge than my in laws pay. We are really happy with the facility they chose. MIL pays $5800/month + $1000 for her assistance level (food, housekeeping, activities, tv, internet included). No lump sum required to move in. Being able to get into a good place at a good price at the time the decision is made to do it is kind of a luck thing. The nice thing for my in laws is that they had money from selling their house, and everything is included in their monthly charge. I do realize that they are more fortunate than many.
We have several friends that have retired the first week in January. Congrats to you @notrichenough .
I chose my screen name rather quickly and picked something unique enough to be ‘a go’. I had a very good friend giving me info from CC (she actually began this thread!) while I was off social media fighting aggressive stage III cancer. My older DD was beginning college in 2012 and my younger DD in 2014.
The huge gains our 401k gained in 2019 and 2020 – and pretty good gain in 2021, our stability with spread of investments outside of 401k, my 5 year sunset career (completed Sept 2021) - gaining me separate Social Security. Paid off the house (had a 10 year 2.5% interest loan) and just pulled cash out again – locking in last Thursday to another 10 year 2.5% interest loan – plan to have the funds available for withdrawals 2 - 3 X a year for home improvements and gifting out to two kids who can use a boost – one is talking about ‘how expensive’ weddings are (she has a very good BF but he needs to get a good start on his career sidelined by Covid) but she also can be looking at purchasing her first house as she will be remaining in her city. Some people may be nervous about having a home mortgage. I suspect we will be here another 10 years. Withdrawing funds from 401k last year while DH was retired, and the fund balance had the home loan approved by our credit union. DH hasn’t started taking SS yet (waiting for his full SS at 66 and 4 months).
I am staying pretty involved with DDs and the grandchildren - close enough on major transitions/decisions and helping the adults learn how to gain the long term financial security we have achieved. Son-in-law’s parents are less prepared and sweat out stuff like replacing a vehicle. While living close enough, spending time with the grandkids!
I have a bigger mortgage now, entering retirement, than I have ever had in my life. But that’s what it took to get the house we wanted, and it’s budgeted for, so “no regerts” as they say.
My dad was in a very nice, brand new AL facility in FL for $5300/month a couple years ago. Couples staying in the same room do not pay twice as much. I think it went up to $6500/month for 2? (plus any extra needs) My numbers may be slightly off, but it seemed affordable
There is a chain of assisted living “Morningside” that may still have the policy of the spouse not paying if they are independent. I know the one we have locally has been well managed and stays at 100% capacity - I imagine a wait list.
@notrichenough glad you have exactly what you want that is in budget.
Our mortgage payment will only be $1400/month.
Like the flexibility of being able to use some of the funds w/o tax consequences for potential of helping DD with obtaining a house. If DD/SIL/GKids move further away - extra spending to see them often enough. Want to be able to be a ‘safety net’ while also teaching DDs on living well/happy while also having finances in place for growth - use of ‘the time value of money’.