Quote from: K-Dog on Mar 24, 2026, 05:22 PM

QuoteHigher costs aren't an ongoing energy crisis, certainly not for you, me or RE. For poor people, every change in prices is a crisis,

I am not exactly what your point is.

That an energy crisis, as related to energy costs, are different for those in the situation you, me and RE are in, versus perhaps J6P, or the poor, to whom a $400 unexpected expense, or suddenly their fuel bill doubling, is a crisis.

Quote from: K-DogFact is Americans do not have enough on average to provide long term security for themselves.

Could be a fact, sounds reasonable, but first you would need to define what "provide long term security for themselves" might mean. If it means, everyone with a solid job deep into life, saving along the way, and enough to cover medical expenses and mortgage/rent/food a car and utilities and whatnot until death, well....that would be nice. Social Security was supposed to help provide these circumstances. I'm betting that many Americans might not be able to provide all of these items until death, let alone pass along a few bucks to the kids.

Quote from: K-DogLiving in a tent at 80 is not where I want to be. 

Same here. Good thing you aren't living in a tent then. You planned well. Not all do.

Quote from: K-DogThe average retirement balance for a 65-year-old is roughly $609,000 in America, but the median is only $200,000.

I understand skewed distributions very well, and I have no answer for why some people do better, or worse. If it were a matter of simple brain power, RE would have monetized his first website and be dining with Brazos as a consultant as to how to take over the rest of the world right now. It isn't all about brains, sometimes it is, combined with other skills and talent, and sometimes just luck. Timing. I bought some gold back in the early 80's, dumbest investment ever but I was young and stupid and had a car to trade and it looked like the world was ending. Stagflation was a bitch, get gold! Began investing in 401k's back when they became legal. Always contributed. The wife will enjoy any lifestyle she likes when I croak and it has nothing to do with the PMs. 

Quote from: K-DogA small percentage of Americans have millions, but the majority of Americans are far from having it made in the shade.  And health care can break an average American at any time.

Health care can be a bitch. I can carry mine into retirement I beleive, but damned if I know for sure. Medicaid is taking good care of my mom when she is ill.

I'll stick with the Hunter Thompson approach if at all possible.