About 10 months back, $48,000 in the bank, from a job I had done. I had to keep reminding myself- pay off the mortgage, pay off the mortgage (which I did), because, well, my mind began to do funny things, like consider how having a Porche Boxter might be just about as practical as paying off the loan. It was tempting, and a little scary that I'd seriously consider such a daft purchase.