Sell your house what would you do?

the economic woes are beginning to creep up. if you could no longer afford your mortgage payment. but had the money to pay your home off. would you tap that resource that is invested and somewhat growing to pay off your home. or would you sell your home and take what equity that's there, and combine it with the savings money vehicles that are in place for retirement? so another words lose the retirement fund and keep the house. or lose the house and beef up the retirement fund... and hope that the economy picks up and start all over again.