Martin,

Let me reinforce your decision to keep your Jeep. Even the cost of a new motor is less expensive than a whole new car. Same goes for the other biggies. As long as you can keep the body in good shape (salted roads, GGGRR!) just continue to budget a car payment anyway as a way of getting ready for a new motor. Once you build up the necessary "payments" any additional "payments" made into the budget can go towards vacations and other things. I think you are on the right track.

I understand the commute thing. When I was performing in a theater company in Morrisville we had a couple of guys that commuted to The City every day, 2 hours one-way. They loved the Manhattan wage and PA cost of living differntial.

MoBOB