<p>^ Oh, my … “lost”. . indeed …</p>
<p>My whole point is that the stock market is a long term investment vehicle and for that reason is a great strategy for investing for retirement (a decades long process), but only for those who have a risk tolerance that can gut it out thru downturns. Save in a diversified manner. Have the courage to buy and hold thru downturns. I have been steadily buying at incredible sale prices all through the downturn and I didn’t sell during the downturn. By the time I am 70, I expect to be doing well enough to comfortably pay utilities and buy groceries. 
Doesn’t take much to run me, thankfully …</p>