Glad to know I'm not the only one then!
Also, Nemo30, regarding the house you bought for $182k in 2002, sold for $282k in 2005 and bought again for $385k in Dec 11.... you did really well out of that, it seems :) Great timing!
Thanks Alex for your honesty in sharing your situation. I have always read your posts with interest because you are so upfront with what you're going through at the moment. I have recently come to a similar conclusion too re: buffer. (And ages ago, Skater did a really excellent thread on the...