We should be able to keep out expense low (and even lower them), at least for that long, since our landlords are our best friends. At that rate, we might not have enough for ER fully. Depends on how markets do and what my wife makes during that time. Eventually I do want to put money in an IRA for her at Vanguard. I'm not sure if her 401k is matched at all. Realistically we can 'live it up' on 25k a year, so the rest can be invested. 'Retirement would more likely mean part time work for both of us, or working at a lower rate at something I enjoy more.
Not really anticipating her being at Home Depot forever, but one of the good things about it is that it's very close to the house. If they ever build a sidewalk that goes there she could walk.
No kids are in the picture, and cats are relatively inexpensive. We thought about kids, but she's not really domestic, I'm the breadwinner, and we'd end up eventually having to move farther from work, thus making us have a car, etc. Just not interested in doing that. Her father is also in the earlier stages of Parkinson's, so we'd like to be nearby to help.
Unfortunately we live where there are only 2 internet providers, Comcast and Centurylink. They're very aware of this. I tried to get rid of even basic cable, but they then up the fee for not having it. If I went with the other provider, I'd have to replace my equipment, plus they get you by forcing you to have an activated home phone line, 'just to carry the DSL signal'. This is actually total BS, but they have us by the short and curlies. Overall with the discount provided on rent, we pay $35 for stupidly fast internet + local channels, which we barely utilize.
I trained in martial arts for over 20 years, and have had some good experience with personal training/bodybuilding, so I'd really like to just pick up some gear off CL was mentioned. The local gym is great (we walk there), and they do offer a lot for your money, but $80/mo is expensive. The 'good' part is that we go more due to the "well, we're paying for it, we HAVE to go...".
Using the same principles, BodyrockTV, Zuska, and a few other services are totally free, using only the same equipment.
Thanks for the responses, there's a lot of 'oh yeah, I'd need to plan for X' ideas in there.