Retirement?

Retiring to Key West once was a dream, but that dream ended the day the average home price there went past, oh, $500,000 or so (it's around $750K now). It might, indeed, make more sense economically to live there on a boat.

 

If you could live somewhere in retirement (or, how about, post-55), where would it be?

My list (in no particular order):
Panama City, FL
Pensacola, FL
Eugene, OR
Port Angeles, WA
Las Vegas, NV
Charleston, SC

In other words, nowhere near the cold, frozen land I've lived in nearly all of my life.

 

I love my job, but I'd retire tomorrow if I could.
There are plenty of things to do that would keep me even more happily occupied.

It's simple matter of finances. I'm soon to turn 47, and I've had children quite late in life with two 14-month-olds and another on the way.
So I'll probably work until some day I get up from my desk and start walking until I find a hole in the ground into which I will simply lurch and lie.

 

I dread that 10-year gap where I'll be on Medicare and wife won't.

 

It largely depends on where our kids are, but I'm pushing hard for a cabin on a lake somewhere in the Canadian Rockies.

 

I have a friend who was nearing retirement. Less than a calendar year away.
Then his wife announced intent to divorce him, so he's looking at an additional two years to make sure his half is more sound.

 

Also, I think today's online tools allow you to have a lot more understanding of what to expect.
My public employee pension, SS, 401K, IRA - I can look at everything and see what my anticipated monthly revenue will be from any number of long-term savings mechanisms.

 

I could make anywhere in the stretch from New Orleans to Cedar Key work. But realistically I'll be working till the day I drop in my late 50s or early 60s. Not even mad about it now. Thems the breaks.

 

My gross retirement pay should be almost exactly what my current take-home pay is. Which is comforting, since in theory it leaves my 401(k) untouched.

But take-home pay already has medical insurance deducted. So I have to keep keep telling myself, "This retirement figure is not what you think it is. Half will be thrown away on our horseshit health care system."

 

I don't want to get into a political discussion about health care, but you are correct to point out the difference between your net pay now and net pay in retirement.
You'll have to account for health insurance until you qualify for Medicare, and even when you do qualify for Medicare you might have to consider additional supplemental insurance if you have some kind of chronic condition for which you can plan ahead. There are possible gaps.

You also might see some expenses no longer taken out of your net monthly income, such as your 401k or IRA contributions or your Medicare tax.
That won't offset the cost of losing an employers contribution to your health care, but you've got factor all things in.