How to get more “chicken money” after the market eventually comes back.

I have a military pension and Military medical, a large 401k invested into a S&P 500 fund, a paid off house and no debt.

So last year when turned 59 I crunched the numbers and figured that once I started drawing my full Social Security that it and my military pension would cover all my monthly expenses and that my 401K would just be used to travel to world and quality of life. I also had enough “chicken money” in my bank account to get me from 59 until I started to draw Social security. So I went ahead and retired.

Now fast forward to 2022, the market is down 20%, I’ve had to do unexpected house repairs and I’ve helped out my children. With inflation, I’m going through that chicken money faster than expected. The good news is that I still have enough to ride out this market and not touch my 401Ks until the market comes back. In a worst case scenario I could see a recession coming and by the time we climb out of it I will have burned through most of my Chicken money (that is why we have it)

Finally here is my question. If most, if not all of my chicken money is gone when the market comes back, how should I replenish my chicken money fund? I assume it has to come from the 401K’s but how soon should I start withdrawing from those after the market comes back? Too soon and I’ll lose out if the stocks go higher, If I wait too long then the market could take a down turn again before I built up my chicken money fund. Any hard fast rules on how to replenish your chicken fund money if you have used it up waiting out the market?

Thanks