I didn't read all 67 pages of this thread, so shoot me !
IMHO... Anyone in the working class that has been able to save enough money to have a secure and care free retirement is VERY lucky.
I am the middle of three sons, educated and maintained a relatively good job for 30 years as an Quality Assurance Engineer.
My wife also has a decent job as a customer Service Supervisor in a large company.
We both saved/invested as much as possible, took advantage of not only stock purchase plans but also stock purchasing on the open market. (best one to date was FORD at $1.99)
We did without a new vehicle every other year as some of our friends had, we didn't remodel our home everytime a new color was the accepted thing and we were pretty frugal with our spending and our daugther's spending.
Today we are retired, have a home in SoCal on ten acres in SoCal Wine Country and every weekend we go to one of the local Wineries and sample wines have something to eat and take in a movie. We are able to do things we only thought about when we were working, although I can't remember where I had time to work, there are so many things going on here in SoCal.
My other two brothers had jobs, one as a mechanic and one worked in a large leather shop.
They didn't have any type of pensions or saving, they both didn't worry about retirement because they always said S/S would cover them and both of them are looking for work now that they are retired.
Do I think I am lucky, yes and no, I worked, saved and planned , purchased and sold houses to become mortage free without touching my savings... I worked for what I have achieved and in that sense I am where I planned on being, wherei hoped I would be and I didn't plan on S/S for anything more than paying for insurance and buying lottery tickets, (yes I am still hoping to hit the big one).
My daughter now is doing her savings, her husband doesn't fully understand the implications but let her do what she thinks is required to where she wants them to be and I can only hope my wife's and mine examples have pushed her to a good plan and in turn a great retirement.
So, yes I am lucky to be where I am in life and enjoying life for all it has to offer and no, I am not because I worked to be here, panned to be here and I/we got here.
Sorry for the rant... I will get off the box now !