America grows a lot of corn! This is not an epiphany- It is an actual observation. We recently had the good fortune of visiting 19 states on our journey to see family, essentially traveling from sea to shining sea. And I know you are all ears to hear this…all we saw from the interstate was corn. If we were playing "I spy with my little eye…" or ear in this case (sorry, couldn't resist), it would be corn…South Dakota corn, MinnaSNOWta corn, Illinois corn. We saw many other highlights on our trip, but corn was so prevalent that I felt it was worth mentioning! Apparently, we must use corn in many things. There is corn in our cows. There is corn in our gasoline. There is corn in Jack Daniels. A quick Google also mentions its use as starch, sweeteners, and corn oil. Yep, that reminds me...I had cornflakes this morning.
Notable Road Trip Observations
-Occasionally, we ventured to the side roads to capture old Route 66. It was neat to see the remnants of Americana as it were, compared to what we appreciate along the new interstate today.
-South Dakota is supposed to be the bison capital. I'm here to tell you they must have been on strike. At Custer State Park, I saw ONE. One bison. As we passed the time counting the hundreds of miles of …YES CORN... we finally saw ten bison in someone's backyard near the border sign for the next state. Those beasts are as big as they are elusive.
-At Mount Rushmore, we experienced the majesty of one man's vision permanently emblazoned on a granite mountain. Even better yet was the National Park Service ranger's illumination of the presidents. She reminded us of what previous generations accomplished to get us to this point in our history. If she were running for office, she would have earned my vote.
-In St. Louis, the Arch was a sight to behold, another wonder of imagination and engineering. The immaculately manicured lawn beneath was in itself amazing to us, coming from the land of deserts, scorpions and rocks. While I don't miss mowing it, I still appreciate how cool and soothing it feels. Sitting in the shadow of the Arch and admiring the clouds was great. We don't get many clouds in the Sonoran Desert either.
-Oh yeah, the parks in the Northeast along the Merrimac were so inviting. Moseley Woods completely shaded the park grounds. Due to the dense cover, you would hardly know what time of day it was. The dogs are free to roam there, which Rex enjoyed. And truly dog friendly; no fear of being approached by a new furry friend. We walked miles in that park every morning we were there.
-Back to the corn. Holy moly. Seriously! The thousands of miles of corn are beyond comprehension. Take a drive and see for yourself.
Is traveling the country on your bucket list? Give us a call to look at your retirement income plan to make sure you can hit the road with financial confidence to see the corn and more!
By David Schaeffer
Founder of American Retirement Advisors, David has spent decades helping retirees and pre-retirees build secure financial futures. His straightforward approach to retirement planning has guided hundreds of families toward confident, well-prepared retirements.
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Easy Eddie's Take
David's cross-country adventure touches on something I hear about all the time: "How can I afford to travel in retirement?" The good news is that with proper retirement income planning, those bucket list trips are absolutely doable. Most people are surprised when they learn how much their Social Security, 401k withdrawals, and pension income can actually cover when planned correctly.
Let's take a look at this together. For 2026, if you're planning extended travel, you'll want to consider how being away from home affects your Medicare coverage, especially if you have a Medicare Advantage plan that's tied to specific provider networks. Traditional Medicare with a Supplement plan gives you more flexibility to see doctors anywhere in the country. A lot of people ask me, "Can I use my Medicare benefits while traveling?" and the answer depends on which type of Medicare plan you have.
Here's what makes travel budgeting easier than it sounds: once your required minimum distributions from your IRA or 401k start at age 73, you can build those into your travel fund planning. A little preparation today can make those cross-country adventures a regular part of your retirement tomorrow.