I don't have a six-figure income, but I'm comfortable in retirement. What Harutz misses is that those who have a reasonable income (or nest egg or whatever) have usually worked hard for it and appreciate the benefits it brings.

I'm no expert on touring since my first one will be this summer, but I also know that if I have a chance to hit Starbucks (closest one to me is 45 miles away), I'm going to hit it every chance I can. I truly appreciate the fact that my budget will allow me to do so without worrying about whether or not I'll also be able to eat. If I didn't have sufficient funds, then I wouldn't do it.

Isn't it really whatever your own bottom line is? You know what you can and can't spend and you adjust your budget accordingly. What works for you probably would never work for me and so on.

Perfect example: I live in Chapala, Mexico. Many people come down here with just their Social Security. They don't live extravagantly, but they can live comfortably without having a dirt floor or eating beans every day. In one of the popular websites, a common question is "How much does it cost to live in Mexico?" Obviously, there's no real answer, but people always try to give an idea of average housing/food/utilities/etc costs so that the reader has a rough idea. Well, most folks say you can live pretty well for around $1200-1500/month. One lady wrote in to violently disagree with such a low amount. The very least, in her opinion, was $4500+ After all, she had to have her dry cleaning done weekly, the maid, gardener, cook, etc, etc...for her, these weren't luxuries, but necessities!

BTW, I've learned so much from this website and the input of so many people who've been willing to take 5 minutes out to answer my often-naive questions. No one is telling you how to do your tour, they're just trying to answer your questions from their own experiences.

Happy touring!