I'm much younger than the author, and have been ravaged by all the same devastating recessions, but have still managed to save quite a bit without really having

I'm much younger than the author, and have been ravaged by all the same devastating recessions, but have still managed to save quite a bit without really having to sacrifice. At the least, in 20 years when I get to be retirement age, I do expect to be able to retire - I agree with OP, he must have been saving next to nothing.