I can definitely relate to that cautious mindset, but honestly, I've seen people get burned on both ends. A friend of mine jumped into a startup job he was passionate about with barely any cushion because he figured the opportunity was too good to pass up. It worked out great for him, but I've also known others who took similar leaps and ended up scrambling when things didn't pan out.
You're right though—there's definitely a sweet spot between caution and action. When I bought my first house, I obsessed over every detail (seriously, spreadsheets on spreadsheets...). But looking back, some of those scenarios I worried about never even came close to happening. Maybe if I'd relaxed a bit, I could've jumped in sooner and saved myself some stress (and money).
Still, I think it's less about having the "perfect" financial setup and more about knowing yourself. If you're someone who can pivot quickly when things go sideways, you might not need as big of a safety net. But if uncertainty stresses you out...well, maybe that cushion is worth the wait.
