[Dr. Sivana]

That was set for a phased implementation beginning in January 2014 and full-scale enforcement planned no later than May 2017, at which time the federal government will no longer accept state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards that do not meet the minimum security standards set by DHS.

Here in Wisconsin, you can opt to get a NON-REAL ID card. For the Feds, you can always get a passport, and keep it at home when you aren't traveling. While the Feds may not recognize the non-REAL ID card, the other states do.

[Nifster]

Except of course that your passport would have all of the information in it that your Real ID would have...