Is "higher" in quotes because your RMD is higher than you need to live on? That's an enviable situation--I'm sure many retirees wish they had this "problem"!

Hah! I need it to live on. The gov't does not care if I need it or not, they still call it income.

In 2009, I did not take my RMD because I lost so much money in the recession. I pinched my pennies, if I needed emergency funds, they came from savings. In that case, my income was "lower", at the level before I had to take RMDs, and when I was working full time.

I don't care for the tone of your post one bit. You have no clue just what is my family situation, whether it should be envied or not. I would hope that retirees are now old enough not to be unhappy because someone has more than they do. A sad way to go out....

Birgit