This does have to do with preparedness, honest...

I've been looking at everything going on around me, our investments, the lives of those older than me, etc. and have come to the conclusion that being able to stop working and living off of our investments doing fun stuff spending our child's inheritance isn't going to happen.

I was listening to NPR interview a 62 year old gentleman who was going back to school for his masters so he could shift jobs/career, and I've also watched folks older than me make plans to enjoy their life after retirement only to have something catastrophic medically happen to thwart those plans.

My plan is to have our overhead such that I can work part-time and have some small bit of time to engage in the fun stuff (gardening, travel, etc) that usually gets put off until retirement.

What does this have to do with preparedness? Well, I'm glad you asked. The lower the overhead of operating hearth and home with regards to preparedness, means...a whole bunch of things. Less to keep up with, but less to fall back on (cash, supplies). What to do about medical insurance?

True to my classic ADD nature, I have oodles of ideas (reducing energy usage, insulating, saving, planting a garden, etc), but need a little help in focusing on what to attack first.

Advice from those older and wise than I would be appreciated.