I think it will be a few more years before my rentals can fully fund my lifestyle, but every month that mortgage goes down, and I'm one step closer:) I'm also thinking about tapping into my ROTH, and perhaps starting the trad-IRA to Roth-IRA conversion as a way to help jump start FI. 

One of the sayings that makes it's way around Bigger Pockets all the time is, "Don't take advice from anyone whose lifestyle isn't a lifestyle you don't want to lead."

With the mountains, trails, 300 days of sun, it's a lifestyle, not a place to live.

By not purchasing properties yet, they can enjoy a good lifestyle right now.  

Truly depends on your lifestyle and the amount of time you want to spend on real estate.

Not sure exactly what you talked about and maybe you already did my suggestions, but I wouldn't talk figures or numbers so much with her, but rather the dream, lifestyle that making a smart move would make.

So a setup like SFR or small plexes, where I can be a landlord and have property management company maintain it for me, then it would fit my lifestyle. 

Our holds, ie rentals and notes, pay for themselves, for their repairs, pay for any vacancies, AND pay for our lifestyle.

At this time I am doing an insurmountable amount of research to figure out would work best for me, my lifestyle and what do I want out of it. 

I have been doing quite a bit of soul searching and decided that real estate investing is the best route for me to go to achieve the lifestyle I have been desiring.