You make some great points and your writing is superb!! My dad and stepmom have always been good with their money, they save so much and have their retirement and death all planned out. I keep telling them I don't want their money when they die so they need to go out and spend it now. Take those trips instead of worrying about me.

On the other hand, I don't have a ton of retirement savings but we will make do. I, too, wish that we didn't have to pay insurance!