Really appreciate the feedback.
To answer some questions...
The house is an ongoing killer for me (financially), I know, but we took about 5 years to pick out our ideal spot and ended up buying around a year after the market peaked in 06/07 (it has a unique site that rarely becomes available). I failed to mention we're also tied to the HCOL area in that we have elderly parents nearby. We feel compelled to stay close to assist them with (non-financial) needs.
The $102K figure is gross (before tax). After tax, it's not much more than we need to cover the $60K current budget.
Have to work the rest of 2015 and all of 2016, then in early 2017 would be eligible for entry level pension ($30K/yr). Each year worked after that would equate to about $1K/year additional pension.
Regarding travel, I just threw a rough figure out there of ~$12K. Some years it would be less, some more I'd imagine. I suppose it's more of a cushion figure since, for example, property taxes will continue to increase (or decrease) with home values, and some of that cushion would be used for probable cost increases of such things.
Water utility is another example...just keeps going up in this drought area. Rear yard vegetation is in bad shape as we've cut water usage. Front yard is monitored by HOA gestapo so that needs water.
A trip to Asia last year where we visited several countries over 4 weeks cost about $7K (no resorts, just hotels in the $90 or less/nt range). I'd hope to travel a lot more than 4 weeks once retired, so that's sort of where the $12K figure came from.
To answer whether SO is on board with the whole FIRE idea...umm, I'd say SO is happier with perceived greater stability and conventional working lifestyle. I talk about FIRE all the time and there is no push back, but then again no excited enthusiasm. I sense some skepticism whether SO believes there's enough funds to make it the rest of the way without working and not having to downsize significantly.
Regarding frugality, I don't feel we're doing too badly. We have 2 cars we paid cash for: 2002 truck (87K miles) and 2003 Honda (113K miles).
TV bill: $59/mo + $8/mo Netflix
Phone: $130 pays for our 2 lines and parent's 2 lines (only 1 line has data plan, rest are dumb phones)
SO loves to cook. We eat out about 3 or 4 times a month at restaurants, but we don't get spendy with it. We shy away from expensive dinners when invited by friends/family, although we do from time-to-time get sucked in for "mandatory" special occasions. We eat take-out about 3 or 4 times a month.
We have no child expenses like many of our friends. We have no pets, mainly for frugality reasons.
We do all of our own yard work and DIY maintenance, even car maintenance. We rarely pay for any services.
My computer is now 7 years old. SO has a Kindle reader bought 2 years ago and it gets heavy use. No iPhones, iPads, iPods, etc.
Furniture is sparse and all cheap stuff. TV and appliances were purchased cash when we bought the house 7 years ago.
I think it's just all the regular costs that have us at about $5K/mo expenditures. As mentioned, house related costs are the bulk of it.
I must say how amazing it is to read responses, suggestions, ideas directly pertaining to our situation. Again, thanks, it's really very interesting.
Shoot, I rambled this into a long post...better stop there.