Steve,
I'm recently retired USMC and just bought a new Lance 1172 when I returned from Afghanistan. We down sized from a 40ft 5th Wheel and while we loved the room I hated the setup and limited flexibiity when traveling. The 1172 is great from a FT perspective as it has the rear couch which is really nice in offering additional seating options. We haven't fully retired yet, but purchased the 1172 in preparation for it.
Another thing to keep in mind with any RV is size if a Ferry might be in your future. We want to catch the ferry up to Alaska from Seattle like Dave and Cindy did (btw they are great to talk to so drop them a line). Anyway, those things charge by the foot usually so having a 20-22 ft unit would be another cost saver (stretch that retirement check as much as you can).
Anyway, best of luck and feel free to PM anytime....also thanks for your service.
MGuns