Retirement

With everything going on with my friend, I have really started thinking about retirement.  The company that I work for has just brought in their 401K representative to talk with us about signing up with the plan.  I have participated in a retirement plan before, but I lost most of my money when the crisis hit in 2008.  I am really too scared right now to put my money into a retirement plan.  But, I am looking at 27 years until I am 65.  That is even scarier.  My husband has been putting into his retirement plan for the last eight years.  I need to be thinking about my own retirement though.  I can't just count on him.  Who knows if we will even still be together in 27 years.  I think if I start small, I can afford to contribute something.  Something is better than not saving at all.  I am not very familiar with all of the different funds that I can put into though.  I know that this representative is willing to help, but I feel pretty stupid asking a lot of questions.  Especially since I am in accounting.  Right now, we already have a tight budget.  I have been told though, that I will only see a slight difference in my actual take home pay.  Also, my employer will match 10% of what I put in.  That sounds pretty awesome.  The employer that I was in with before did not offer that.  We also did not have any guidance on anything.  My company now, has a financial professional that will help in guiding me when the stock market down on what to do.  I need all of the help I can get too.  I do not know anything about it.  If I put money into a savings account, will that be easier?  I wouldn't have to worry about when the stock market is up or down.  I really think the best way to save for retirement would be to but a house or two and rent them out.  The guy that lives in front of us wants us to buy his land that has an old dump trailer on it.  We have been talking about it, since we could rent it out and the place would be paid for in three years.  Then that would just be extra income for us to put into savings.  I really don't know.  Any ideas??