Spoken like a Fellow Traveler! I was able to retire at 56 thanks to having health care through my VA (I’m a Vet) and the fact that I saved more than I spent. Always. Since my first fast food paycheck at 15 and various babysitting gigs prior to that.
I have never lacked for a thing, never missed a meal, raised three boy, flipped houses when the flippin’ was good, sold my farm for a small fortune a number of years ago, etc.
Never owned a new car, kept our grocery bills to a minimum due to hunting, fishing and growing my own veggies and herbs.
It is a Lost Art. And when TSHTF, I’m gonna be the one smiling and waving - sittin’ there on my sack-o-seeds*.
*Obscure Jim Stafford ‘Wildwood Weed’ reference. ;)
I *know* that reference...