I actually have hardly any retirement savings but life is still doable, wife retired and now works a couple days a week because she likes it. She does have money in retirement savings but we don't want to touch any of that unless absolutely necessary.Good to hear you don't need $1,000,000 to be able to retire. That seems to be the "magic" number "everyone" says you must have.
I have been reading/watching some stuff lately though that some may be coming off that number. Probably realizing that a lot of people will never hit that number as far as savings are concerned.
My full retirement is closer to 67 (66, 10 months?). I will work at least until then and assess at that point whether I push on to 70.
We did put ourselves in a good position for retirement so we could live well enough on what comes in. Downsized our house with a new modular 2 1/2 years when we moved out of high tax and all around crap hole Illinois to Indiana. Used my savings to get the lot bought and the well and septic systems and some other stuff. Sold our old home for enough money to have a nice home that is paid for. You can live decent on little if you have no debt. Jim.