I've not posted here in four years!

My financial situation goes up and down. I struggle to maintain an ongoing savings plan and change my priorities regularly. I think the real challenge is that I don't have clearly defined life goals. I have goals for this month or this year or for the quarter, but the sort of guiding plans are difficult for me.

I work for the state and am vested in the defined benefit pension, and will soon be vested for retiree health insurance too (full insurance until I am eligible for Medicare, supplemental from that point forward). I have conventional and Roth IRAs but don't regularly contribute to them.

My partner and I own a two family house and rent out the first floor for about $900 per month. It's a big old house and I must admit that most of the rental income goes straight back into the house for maintenance, repair, and capital improvements. The upshot is that if we stay in the house long term, the rental income will pay the maintenance, taxes, and insurance when we finish paying the mortgage.

I had an inheritance and bought a one bedroom condo last Fall. That's rented now and brings in about $500 in income every month. I'm saving the income now to capitalize a maintenance and repair fund for the condo. I've owned condos in the past and realize that special assessments can come at any time and it's best to be prepared.

We keep our living expenses fairly low, we own one car and only drive it about 8000 miles a year; we don't take expensive vacations, just go visit friends and family. We keep things together but are not models of financial responsibility. We both have excellent credit.