Telephone transfers should be used to move money between accounts at the institution in order to maximize interest. Whether or not to use CD's or brokerage accounts depends on how much money you have and how quickly you expect to need to it. Bob and Fumi used CD's and money market accounts. ATM cards, credit cards, and debit cards allow easy access to cash withdrawals as necessary. Anyone who is retired from the military can cash checks anytime at any exchange on any base and avoid ATM fees.
Medical care is a tough issue.
Bob and Fumi were only in their mid-fifties when they started full timing. Their health was pretty good, though not as good as they thought. Particularly in Bob's case. Because of Bob's decision 35 years earlier to stay in the military for 20 plus years their medical care was pretty well taken care of. Bob cannot resist pointing out that none of the good times described here would have been possible without that military career.