Alfprfun, is that a 70 mile commute one-way? Yikes. Lots of people here in New England do that, but I had a fit last year when I moved 13.5 miles from work instead of 6.7. Your taxes are the same as mine, so lots of us pay what you do. My house is a little bigger than yours, but we just moved in a year ago, so it will never be paid off. I never expect to pay any house off or live anywhere long enough to do that! I paid my 3 year old car off last month in preparation for quitting work; my husband's car is next in a month or 2. Lots of people thought we were crazy to buy and remodel our house after our kids left; it's bigger than our last one, but we are so much happier here. I couldn't stand my old neighborhood, full of Stepford Wives. I am certainly not ready for the condo...
(No offense to condo dwellers, I mean the "retired" lifestyle. I hope people stop asking me if I will move to Florida. I lived there for 5 years and believe me, that will never happen).