I know it sounds lame but here goes: a million just not what it used to be. /when I was a lad you could buy a nice house in new York for $20K now that is your local property tax on the same house. Maybe more. Time is running out for me to get ahead of the "Man" for lack of a better term. My job is not going to get me there. If all goes according to plan. Freddie Mac is gonna make me self sufficient.