Is there a particular place you'd like vacation on a regular basis? Would a lake house or mountain cabin fit into that picture? Buying a vacation home gives you multiple benefits/options:
1. Real estate rarely depreciates in value, other than the occasional market dip. Long term, you can typically ride out those dips.
2. You could potentially manage it as an Air B&B income property, if you don't plan to use it year-round. Then, someone else is paying off your mortgage. You simply block off the dates you plan to be there for your R&R.
3. If income property is not your preference, you can still enjoy your investment until you're ready to sell (instead of monitoring Wall St). It could be a great place for family to visit/vacation.
Note: if you're brave, you could consider a beachfront house, but hurricanes will always be looming and I hear insurance is getting outrageous.
I've lost count the number of people who said, "if I had bought that 20 years ago, it would be worth $$$ today!"
If you're into DIY home improvement, you can lower your expenses.
***BTW, another option could be the pre-paid college tuition program for kids or grandkids. At the rate tuition is rising, that's a low risk investment, IMHO.