The way I see it I don't have a house yet. My parents are both still working and have 10-30 years left to work. Retirement is still a long ways away. However, when that day comes I'm pretty sure that neither has a retirement fund. When I purchase my home (its gonna be another 5-10 years yet probably) I plan to buy enough to land to build a guest house as well. I'll probably use it as a studio but then if anything ever comes up I'll have an area that someone could live in. I could never turn either of them away. They've helped me out a lot when I've needed it. Someday I'd like to be able to return the favor.