On renting, and brick walls

More on renting..... I spent the last 9 years lamenting the fact that we rent. In 2009 we were finally beginning to look at houses to buy, only to have Brent laid off two days later. Now I look back and wonder if we had bought a house years ago, would we have lost it, like so many others? Or be upside down on a mortgage?
I feel like I beat my head up against a brick wall on many things I want changed. What else am I lamenting now, that I will look back and say "it was a good thing I had to wait"?
It all boils down to this...When I begin to I wax philosophical...I probably just need a nap.