Saved my entire life hoping to be able to retire at some point. Worked for Safeway for 43 years and my wife put in 42 years there. Didn't get married until age 37 and my wife had been divorced and had a 3 year old daughter. We each owned a house and mine was paid off already. We live in Santa Clara Valley. I had some money in the stock market in conservative companies. Two years later we had a son,sold both houses and bought up to a larger house in a more expensive city. We each made about 37,000 back then and when we retired 25 years later were making about $42,000 each at that time.
Moving into retirement between pensions and social security we each now make about $50,000. Took my early retirement at 62 and my wife at 61. Already had bigger house paid off. We get about $15,000 in dividends and another $30,000 in tax free bonds.
We were both leary of retiring. Today, we are living the easy good life. We have more money and time then ever. We own 4 different timeshares and try going on about 6-7 weeks a year in them along with a few cruises each year. Started going overseas until the pandemic hit but will start that up again when things are safer.
My best advice is to somehow get income coming in on a regular basis (haven't touched our 401k's but have to by law in 2 more years). Roth's will go to the kids along with the house and money left. Forgot to mention we have long term insurance we started buying 15 years ago and have a union medical plan that is very reasonable in cost.
We worried about having enough in retirement and now along with enjoying life are able to give our kids each $15,000 a year to help them out. For them,living in California is not easy and we are glad to have them and my grandaughter able to live close by.
Run the numbers to see what you will need to live on. Expenses so far have been much less then when we worked and our income is much higher. Medicare also helps to keep the medical down. We pay dental out of pocket and because we always had a dental plan and used it regurly that too has stayed under control.
If we can do it so easily as grocery clerks I would think others can too.
Bart