My Cholesteral was a bit high - high enough for the Dr. to want to put me on meds.....especially since I am insulin dependent diabetic. I started taking a teaspoon of Metamucil every evening - in addition to diet changes that were sometimes hot, sometimes cold on (i.e. not as consistent as I should be, diet wise) My next blood draw 3 months later was PERFECT (well, for everything but my HBA1C) So, metamucil is, essentially water solluble fiber (like what is in oatmeal, etc). If you are open to it, and the oatmeal 5X a week isn't enough - I would strongly suggest adding some Metamucil to your diet. Better then meds, for sure. If you are able to get enough fiber in your diet without it, GREAT - but it is really, really hard with our Western Diet of over-processed foods to get enough fiber unless you make EVERYTHING yourself. Honestly, since I went back to f/t (instead of 50%) plus teaching, plus all of my animals - my diet has definitely suffered. I am strongly considering retiring soon...just to save my health because work is a toxic environment - but if I retired now, I would only get approximately 16% based off of a 2/3 annual salary ( 1 yr. f/t, 2 @ 50% averages to a 66% of f/t salary as a base) Works out of about 10% of f/t salary. If I can manage to hold off 2 more years (honestly, it is doubtful given the escalation of health issues due to stress increases this year) then i will get about 28% of a full time salary (partially because increased age factor, partially because 2 more years of service, and, significantly, because average of highest 3 years will all be full-time salaries, so no proration there) I know I can not live on 10%, might be able to on 28% (though health insurance will take a big bite because in retirement, they pay 50%, now they pay 75% because I have been around long enough - newbies they are only paying 60%). Of course, I will keep teaching - but adjunct pay is fairly low - but it is something!
Presently I am putting away 15% of my f/t salary ( which means 26% is taken right off the top, as they take 11% for pension), and I put away 20% of my adjunct pay. But, that only increased (from 3% & 10% respectively) this past year when I went from 1/2 time to f/t. So, IDK what to do. My health - and longevity - but definitely in poverty - or stick it out 2 more years to get enough to actually manage in retirement - but at the rate I am going, maybe not make it - or not make it in a state where I will be able to enjoy retirement and my chickens.
Unfortunately, hubby and I have only lived in our current house 5.5 years - so no way can pay off mortgage before either retirement date - though we have been putting extra towards it - it is still at least 15 years away from paying off the 30 yr. mortgage with the extra payments.
)
gosh were does the time go. 
