What's the stupidest thing you're lusting after right now?

[iris lily]

Arts and crafts era bamboo style beds. Horner made one about 1895 and there’s a couple of them on eBay. They are too expensive, too far away, too problematic. But I love them.

[Metalcat]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

[Taran Wanderer]

You should make him some spaghetti… or pizza!

[Metalcat]

You should make him some spaghetti… or pizza!

He's from Ontario, so he would probably like that.

[RetiredAt63]

You should make him some spaghetti… or pizza!

He's from Ontario, so he would probably like that.

He's from Ontario?  He has certainly absorbed the local ethos.  Did you read about all the Newfoundlanders who helped the couple whose RV caught on fire?

[Metalcat]

You should make him some spaghetti… or pizza!

He's from Ontario, so he would probably like that.

He's from Ontario?  He has certainly absorbed the local ethos.  Did you read about all the Newfoundlanders who helped the couple whose RV caught on fire?

Lol, yep, it's another world here.

I'm actually getting nervous about the culture shock of going back to Ontario.

[iris lily]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

[Metalcat]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

The benefit is that it's raised, even just being raised by a few feet improves the view, which is spectacular. I'm not overly concerned about taking care of it, I like having those house projects to work on.

[iris lily]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

The benefit is that it's raised, even just being raised by a few feet improves the view, which is spectacular. I'm not overly concerned about taking care of it, I like having those house projects to work on.

I guess it depends on if you like the thing you’re fixing up. We spend our lives fixing up old houses so we’re always working on a house.  I like the houses and making them beautiful. I consider decks to be ugly carbuncles, I don’t like any resources spent on them. But I  appreciate their practicality I guess. And like I said for this house there was no other choice, had to put on a deck.

[Dicey]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

Photos or it didn't happen, lol. Bonus points if you can get the builder in the shot. So cool!

[Sanitary Stache]

I suppose I am lusting after some pretty stupid things just now.
 
The stupidest is what is likely a highly polluted property with a teardown structure and a car junk yard neighbor.

[getsorted]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

I've been on the fence (on the railing?) about keeping or tearing down my deck; you've almost convinced me to get rid of it. It's under a big tree and tends to stay wet, which is only accelerating its deterioration. It's got stupid triangle-shaped steps that I am sure are going to break someone's ankle someday. I've already torn down a rotting privacy wall that the previous owner used to hide his hot tub (and which kept the deck even wetter) and have to rebuild a new railing on that side. The sagging lattice work looks terrible and is an absolute pain in the ass to re-stain.

And a brick patio would match the house about 1,000 times better. Hmmm.....

[englishteacheralex]

Microblading. It's a temporary tattoo that makes your eyebrows look thicker. I'm getting older and the 90's weren't kind to my eyebrows, which I overplucked. It takes a couple of appointments to complete and the cost would be ~$400 total. I'd probably go for it if I had more spare time to go sit for the procedures.

[Metalcat]

Microblading. It's a temporary tattoo that makes your eyebrows look thicker. I'm getting older and the 90's weren't kind to my eyebrows, which I overplucked. It takes a couple of appointments to complete and the cost would be ~$400 total. I'd probably go for it if I had more spare time to go sit for the procedures.

Take a look at how microblading looks as it fades and you may not be so into the idea. It's fine if you keep it up, but if you don't, it can take several years to fade completely.

I've seen a lot of ugly orange eyebrows thanks to microblading, that then require daily eyebrow pencil/powder to cover the ugly faded orange, which defeats the purpose of the microblading in the first place.

So if you do it, be extremely conservative about where you get it bladed and stay within the hair pattern of your brows. Don't let them talk you into any pigment beyond where you already have hair, otherwise if you don't stick with it, you could be stuck penciling over orange skin for years.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.allure.com/story/why-my-microblading-isnt-fading/amp

https://news.nestia.com/detail_share/6611356?media_type=1

[englishteacheralex]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

[mountainmama]

Moving to a much more expensive neighborhood, so that my kids can ride their bikes to school.

[Metalcat]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

Gotta love when a stranger on the internet just assumes you will have an informed opinion on eyebrow tattooing...and they're right.

[FIRE@50]

Moving to a much more expensive neighborhood, so that my kids can ride their bikes to school.

I don't think this is stupid. I would do almost anything for my daughter. We bought a house a couple years ago and the high school that she will go to was our number one priority.

[Raenia]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

Gotta love when a stranger on the internet just assumes you will have an informed opinion on eyebrow tattooing...and they're right.

At this point, I assume you have an informed opinion on everything, and wait to be proven wrong.  Still waiting! :P

[Metalcat]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

Gotta love when a stranger on the internet just assumes you will have an informed opinion on eyebrow tattooing...and they're right.

At this point, I assume you have an informed opinion on everything, and wait to be proven wrong.  Still waiting! :P

I know virtually nothing about boats.

[mountainmama]

Moving to a much more expensive neighborhood, so that my kids can ride their bikes to school.

I don't think this is stupid. I would do almost anything for my daughter. We bought a house a couple years ago and the high school that she will go to was our number one priority.

I guess that's why it keeps going around in my head. But, it would cost significantly more and would only marginally cut down on the amount of driving I do, because of where my office is. It really only makes since if I switch jobs, yet I keep daydreaming about it.

[Raenia]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

Gotta love when a stranger on the internet just assumes you will have an informed opinion on eyebrow tattooing...and they're right.

At this point, I assume you have an informed opinion on everything, and wait to be proven wrong.  Still waiting! :P

I know virtually nothing about boats.

Give yourself a few years of living part time on the coast, I'm sure you'll absorb it through diffusion :)

[iris lily]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

I've been on the fence (on the railing?) about keeping or tearing down my deck; you've almost convinced me to get rid of it. It's under a big tree and tends to stay wet, which is only accelerating its deterioration. It's got stupid triangle-shaped steps that I am sure are going to break someone's ankle someday. I've already torn down a rotting privacy wall that the previous owner used to hide his hot tub (and which kept the deck even wetter) and have to rebuild a new railing on that side. The sagging lattice work looks terrible and is an absolute pain in the ass to re-stain.

And a brick patio would match the house about 1,000 times better. Hmmm.....

If I can prevent one ugly carbuncle from being created in my world, I have done a service to humanity indeed!

[iris lily]

...aaaand that's why I posted here, a thread I know you follow, Malcat. Cuz I had a feeling you'd have some info to talk me out of it. :)

Gotta love when a stranger on the internet just assumes you will have an informed opinion on eyebrow tattooing...and they're right.

At this point, I assume you have an informed opinion on everything, and wait to be proven wrong.  Still waiting! :P

I know virtually nothing about boats.

But see, we’ve got Sailor Sam to cover that (and She Rah when she appears) so between you people, we have All The Knowledge.

[Metalcat]

All summer I've been lusting after a front deck.

My place had 4 stairs up to the front door, which were rotted. The economical thing would be to replace just the stairs, but my view from the front of the house is ocean and cliffs, so a deck would be amazing. But horridly expensive with the cost of wood and labour.

Thankfully, my neighbour offered to build it for free!!

So I got a deck today!

...now to get him to lend me his boat...

I hope you like your deck. I hate decks. But with our current house we had to have a deck because there’s no flat ground for a patio. It will be constant staining, repair, staining, , repair the rest of its life and my life. Blech.

I mourn my beautiful brick patio in my city house.

I've been on the fence (on the railing?) about keeping or tearing down my deck; you've almost convinced me to get rid of it. It's under a big tree and tends to stay wet, which is only accelerating its deterioration. It's got stupid triangle-shaped steps that I am sure are going to break someone's ankle someday. I've already torn down a rotting privacy wall that the previous owner used to hide his hot tub (and which kept the deck even wetter) and have to rebuild a new railing on that side. The sagging lattice work looks terrible and is an absolute pain in the ass to re-stain.

And a brick patio would match the house about 1,000 times better. Hmmm.....

If I can prevent one ugly carbuncle from being created in my world, I have done a service to humanity indeed!

Your deck hatred is fascinating to me. Brick patios can be lovely, but they would be horridly out of place here where my house is. Granted that may have something to do with every house being build on rock.

[Tempname23]

Private school for the Kiddo.

There is a STEM-themed private school locally that has won several awards. Kiddo is really bright, very STEM-inclined, but had an awful year in school last year (and absolutely zero science instruction-- it's not on the state test for his year, so they just don't teach it!). The local schools are seriously under-supported and I get why they are struggling, but it's a huge area of frustration. Really would like to just buy my way out of this problem, but tuition is about 15% of my gross income, and I'm already way behind on retirement savings. Wish I had better options.

  You didn't mention how old the kiddo is, but there is plenty of stem education online and many universities have their college classes online.

[getsorted]

You didn't mention how old the kiddo is, but there is plenty of stem education online and many universities have their college classes online.

He's 9. We do make good use of online resources, magazines, subscription science kits, etc.

[jinga nation]

@K_in_the_kitchen mentioned an Ankarsrum stand mixer. $750. I want it. Now. So bad. To make breads.

In reality, I won't be baking that much. I have a bread maker, which makes good enough loaves 1-2x/week for sandwich bread. And I don't have the time for the whole manual proof and bake process. I've seen enough videos to realize I need time for practice. Keyword is time.

Maybe I need to lust for more time? But isn't lustily dreaming just plain ol' time wastin'?

[Dicey]

@K_in_the_kitchen mentioned an Ankarsrum stand mixer. $750. I want it. Now. So bad. To make breads.

In reality, I won't be baking that much. I have a bread maker, which makes good enough loaves 1-2x/week for sandwich bread. And I don't have the time for the whole manual proof and bake process. I've seen enough videos to realize I need time for practice. Keyword is time.

Maybe I need to lust for more time? But isn't lustily dreaming just plain ol' time wastin?'

I call it planning ;-)

[ditheca]

Private school for the Kiddo.

There is a STEM-themed private school locally that has won several awards. Kiddo is really bright, very STEM-inclined, but had an awful year in school last year (and absolutely zero science instruction-- it's not on the state test for his year, so they just don't teach it!). The local schools are seriously under-supported and I get why they are struggling, but it's a huge area of frustration. Really would like to just buy my way out of this problem, but tuition is about 15% of my gross income, and I'm already way behind on retirement savings. Wish I had better options.

Hey now... this discussion is only for stupid things! Getting your kids well educated isn't stupid. Lots of people burst their budget to buy houses in the "good school district" when they could do much better with a private school.

[getsorted]

Private school for the Kiddo.

There is a STEM-themed private school locally that has won several awards. Kiddo is really bright, very STEM-inclined, but had an awful year in school last year (and absolutely zero science instruction-- it's not on the state test for his year, so they just don't teach it!). The local schools are seriously under-supported and I get why they are struggling, but it's a huge area of frustration. Really would like to just buy my way out of this problem, but tuition is about 15% of my gross income, and I'm already way behind on retirement savings. Wish I had better options.

Hey now... this discussion is only for stupid things! Getting your kids well educated isn't stupid. Lots of people burst their budget to buy houses in the "good school district" when they could do much better with a private school.

I guess it's more stupidly out of reach than "stupid" at this point.

I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to natural in-ground pools-- is that stupid enough for you? :)

[rothwem]

So one of my co-workers just bought a new F150.  I ran the numbers on the Ford Website, it looks like a ~$50-55,000 truck, which is totally insane.  I have no use for one and I'd be way better off using my utility trailer or borrowing a Lowe's truck.  Its also huge and red, like a giant, throbbing, *thumb*.

-BUTTT-

God damn its an impressive vehicle.  Its the twin turbo 3.5L and it just silently wafts its way past any speed limit with ridiculous ease.  It rides fantastically, not just fantastically for something with leaf springs in the back.  It even corners pretty darn flat for something that weighs 5500 pounds. There's so much room in it too, I sat in the back for the ride out to lunch and I think I had more room back there than anything else I've ever ridden in. 

I kinda want one.  I won't get one, but man.  Its been a while since I've ridden in a truck and they've really gotten GOOD in the last 10 years. 

[Frugal Lizard]

Private school for the Kiddo.

There is a STEM-themed private school locally that has won several awards. Kiddo is really bright, very STEM-inclined, but had an awful year in school last year (and absolutely zero science instruction-- it's not on the state test for his year, so they just don't teach it!). The local schools are seriously under-supported and I get why they are struggling, but it's a huge area of frustration. Really would like to just buy my way out of this problem, but tuition is about 15% of my gross income, and I'm already way behind on retirement savings. Wish I had better options.

Hey now... this discussion is only for stupid things! Getting your kids well educated isn't stupid. Lots of people burst their budget to buy houses in the "good school district" when they could do much better with a private school.

I guess it's more stupidly out of reach than "stupid" at this point.

I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to natural in-ground pools-- is that stupid enough for you? :)

I have a Pinterest board of natural in-ground pools.  It is particularly stupid for me as my house is perched on the side of a ravine.  The flattest place for a pool is in the front lawn - crisscrossed by under ground utilities.  So really not going to happen!

[Dancin'Dog]

Private school for the Kiddo.

There is a STEM-themed private school locally that has won several awards. Kiddo is really bright, very STEM-inclined, but had an awful year in school last year (and absolutely zero science instruction-- it's not on the state test for his year, so they just don't teach it!). The local schools are seriously under-supported and I get why they are struggling, but it's a huge area of frustration. Really would like to just buy my way out of this problem, but tuition is about 15% of my gross income, and I'm already way behind on retirement savings. Wish I had better options.

Hey now... this discussion is only for stupid things! Getting your kids well educated isn't stupid. Lots of people burst their budget to buy houses in the "good school district" when they could do much better with a private school.

I guess it's more stupidly out of reach than "stupid" at this point.

I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to natural in-ground pools-- is that stupid enough for you? :)

I have a Pinterest board of natural in-ground pools.  It is particularly stupid for me as my house is perched on the side of a ravine.  The flattest place for a pool is in the front lawn - crisscrossed by under ground utilities.  So really not going to happen!

A pool might fit into a ravine if you put a retaining wall on the downhill side.  Instead of wasting valuable flat yard space, you might be able to fit it into an otherwise worthless area.  I've got a similar situation, but our place is on a lake, so it's hard for me to justify a pool.

[Dancin'Dog]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

[Metalcat]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

Lol, I just read a story about a couple who do this year round. They've gotten to the miserable point of taking several months to live on land apart from each other just so that they can stand getting back on the boat together.

I was talking about sail boats with a dear friend of mine who said that the best explanation she had ever heard of what it's like to own a boat was "if you want to know what life is like on a sail boat, just stand in the shower with the cold water on and tear up hundred dollar bills."

ETA: I, of course, acknowledge that I've only been talking to people about boats because I *want* a boat. Lol, but I do enjoy the stories that convince me that it's a stupid thing to want.

I just want to be able to go hang out with the whales.

[Askel]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

There's a mustachian/dirtbag approach that that'll get you most of the first paragraph and lot less of the second. 

[Dancin'Dog]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

There's a mustachian/dirtbag approach that that'll get you most of the first paragraph and lot less of the second. 

Thanks for the video.  I've started watching and it's very entertaining.  I actually gave away a nicer sailboat than they bought a few years ago.  It was at my dad's old dilapidated dock that we were having demo'ed and replaced.  I offered it to the dock crew & one of them wanted it to make a treehouse for his kids.  It had a little cabin, but was too small to really stay in for more than a night or two. 
DW & I are heading to Oriental, NC in a couple of days for a week of vacation.  It's the sailing capital of NC.  We're staying in an AirBnB close to the water.  I'm taking a small inflatable dinghy along so we can putt around the marinas, and inlets, and maybe cross the Neuse River if it's not too rough.  Hopefully, we'll meet some boating folks while there and hear what it's really like. 
From what I've gathered, from forum surfing, most folks prefer power boats over sailboats because tall masts don't fit under low bridges and the winds don't usually blow in the direction you're heading, and often don't blow at all.  But, it would be nice to hear from the perspective of more sailors.  I think one of the main advantages of sailboats is that, although they're slow, they aren't limited by fuel range. 
I've wondered why kites haven't become popular for harnessing the wind on power boats.  Kiteboarders wakeboard using kites.  It seems relatively simple enough to rig a bigger one up to a boat, but it must not be. 

[Sailor Sam]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

There's a mustachian/dirtbag approach that that'll get you most of the first paragraph and lot less of the second. 

From what I've gathered, from forum surfing, most folks prefer power boats over sailboats because tall masts don't fit under low bridges and the winds don't usually blow in the direction you're heading, and often don't blow at all.  But, it would be nice to hear from the perspective of more sailors.  I think one of the main advantages of sailboats is that, although they're slow, they aren't limited by fuel range. 

I think it's because the barrier to entry is lower for power boats, skill-wise. With engines, people assume they can point the bow in the right direction and go. Whereas looking at a sailboat makes it way more apparent there are forces at work most peeps don't feel automatically comfortable with harnessing.

[Askel]

Thanks for the video.  I've started watching and it's very entertaining.  I actually gave away a nicer sailboat than they bought a few years ago.  It was at my dad's old dilapidated dock that we were having demo'ed and replaced.  I offered it to the dock crew & one of them wanted it to make a treehouse for his kids.  It had a little cabin, but was too small to really stay in for more than a night or two. 
DW & I are heading to Oriental, NC in a couple of days for a week of vacation.  It's the sailing capital of NC.  We're staying in an AirBnB close to the water.  I'm taking a small inflatable dinghy along so we can putt around the marinas, and inlets, and maybe cross the Neuse River if it's not too rough.  Hopefully, we'll meet some boating folks while there and hear what it's really like. 
From what I've gathered, from forum surfing, most folks prefer power boats over sailboats because tall masts don't fit under low bridges and the winds don't usually blow in the direction you're heading, and often don't blow at all.  But, it would be nice to hear from the perspective of more sailors.  I think one of the main advantages of sailboats is that, although they're slow, they aren't limited by fuel range. 
I've wondered why kites haven't become popular for harnessing the wind on power boats.  Kiteboarders wakeboard using kites.  It seems relatively simple enough to rig a bigger one up to a boat, but it must not be.

I've still been making do with much smaller human powered vessels.  I'm pretty comfortable with ~5 mile open water crossings by sea kayak and that puts about 95% of destinations reachable by bigger boats within my reach and quite a few places big boats can't go as well. 

Maybe someday I'll finally use up all those trips or not be able to paddle myself around and feel the need to get a big sailboat, but I'm not seeing it yet. 

4 miles off the mainland at an uninhabited island in lake superior:

[GuitarStv]

4 miles off the mainland at an uninhabited island in lake superior:

I can almost taste the blackflies from here.  :P

[Askel]

I can almost taste the blackflies from here.  :P

Why do you think I'm so comfortable 5 miles out in lake superior?  The blackflies taper off after 2. :D 

[YttriumNitrate]

Hopefully, we'll meet some boating folks while there and hear what it's really like. 
From what I've gathered, from forum surfing, most folks prefer power boats over sailboats because tall masts don't fit under low bridges and the winds don't usually blow in the direction you're heading, and often don't blow at all.  But, it would be nice to hear from the perspective of more sailors.  I think one of the main advantages of sailboats is that, although they're slow, they aren't limited by fuel range.

My experience with motor boats and sail boats is that there are two different mindsets. If you're burning $1.50 a minute in fuel in a cabin cruiser (and god knows how per minute in engine repairs), you're probably trying to get somewhere or accomplish something. On a sail boat, the incremental costs of being out are minimal, so randomly going back and forth all day is perfectly reasonable.

[Bartlebooth]

DW & I are heading to Oriental, NC in a couple of days for a week of vacation.  It's the sailing capital of NC.  We're staying in an AirBnB close to the water.  I'm taking a small inflatable dinghy along so we can putt around the marinas, and inlets, and maybe cross the Neuse River if it's not too rough.  Hopefully, we'll meet some boating folks while there and hear what it's really like. 
From what I've gathered, from forum surfing, most folks prefer power boats over sailboats because tall masts don't fit under low bridges and the winds don't usually blow in the direction you're heading, and often don't blow at all.  But, it would be nice to hear from the perspective of more sailors.  I think one of the main advantages of sailboats is that, although they're slow, they aren't limited by fuel range. 
I've wondered why kites haven't become popular for harnessing the wind on power boats.  Kiteboarders wakeboard using kites.  It seems relatively simple enough to rig a bigger one up to a boat, but it must not be.

I have actually anchored there just outside the seawall, for a few nights.  Pretty neat little town.  We also anchored over by Pine Cliff Recreation Area which has some nice beaches (if you do make it across the Neuse).

Sailboat if you can handle moving all night long regularly, and/or in lively weather.  Power boat if you want to put the miles on during nice calm days.  We sailed only 20% of the time, mostly taking the easy way out and traveling during fair days.

[Villanelle]

I know this thread has evolved into more enabling, but I've stupidly been lusting over new clothes lately.  I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I just want new Everything To Wear, it seems.  I'm trying to explore what it is that has caused this unexpected yearning as surely there's something at play--some need or feeling that is manifesting itself as a desire for wide leg jeans and lilac cashmere sweaters. 

[PDXTabs]

I keep finding myself lusting over boats that are large enough to travel around on.  Watching videos of couples cruising the Intracoastal Waterway or the Caribbean makes it look like so much fun.  Tropical cocktails, turquoise water, beautiful sunsets...are all very easy to fantasize about.  Oh and let's not forget, catching your own lobsters for dinner every night!


Of course, there's the reality of $2500 fill-ups, hurricane season, $10K mechanical failures, etc.  Let's not even think about the occasional "operator errors" when you happen to bump into things, like hidden rocks, or docks, or somebody's boat.  That would be like the "Bad Luck" jackpot.  :(

There's a mustachian/dirtbag approach that that'll get you most of the first paragraph and lot less of the second. 

This is great, thank you so much for posting it! The chain-plate failure is bad news bears, I'm glad that the rig didn't come down.

[mspym]

I know this thread has evolved into more enabling, but I've stupidly been lusting over new clothes lately.  I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I just want new Everything To Wear, it seems.  I'm trying to explore what it is that has caused this unexpected yearning as surely there's something at play--some need or feeling that is manifesting itself as a desire for wide leg jeans and lilac cashmere sweaters.

Thanks for bringing it away from motorised things for a moment :D

Alrighty, what need do you think new clothes will serve?  Are your current clothes getting worn out/not fitting? Does your current life need a bit of a shake-up? What is different between Current You and Future You in a Lilac Cashmere Sweater? Where do you wear those wide leg jeans and fancy sweater? What do you see yourself doing in these new clothes?

[Morning Glory]

I recently had one of those filled pretzels with the peanut butter and thought it would be better if they were filled with Nutella instead.  Turns out such things are not widely available in the US. Back to getting my hands dirty by dipping my pretzels in the Nutella.

[Villanelle]

I know this thread has evolved into more enabling, but I've stupidly been lusting over new clothes lately.  I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I just want new Everything To Wear, it seems.  I'm trying to explore what it is that has caused this unexpected yearning as surely there's something at play--some need or feeling that is manifesting itself as a desire for wide leg jeans and lilac cashmere sweaters.

Thanks for bringing it away from motorised things for a moment :D

Alrighty, what need do you think new clothes will serve?  Are your current clothes getting worn out/not fitting? Does your current life need a bit of a shake-up? What is different between Current You and Future You in a Lilac Cashmere Sweater? Where do you wear those wide leg jeans and fancy sweater? What do you see yourself doing in these new clothes?

Thanks for the thoughtful questions!

I think I'd wear them on errands and all the places I go, since I'm mostly eyeing fairly casual things. 

My old wardrobe is okay, but there's been little churn it it for the last few years, during which I've aged a bit and while the scale is about the same, my body is different.  Things still fit in the sense that I can zip the zippers and button the buttons, but they don't look as good as they used to and if I was buying new things, I'd buy different shapes and styles. 

I am going to start with 2 pairs of new jeans, and not limit myself budget-wise so that I get something that I feel great about.  (Well, there will be some limit because I'll never be someone who spends $200 on a single pair of jeans, but I'm not going to look at only <$40 pairs, wither.)  I've learned in the past that going too cheap on clothing leaves me wanting more clothing because nothing feels or looks quite right.  (Which is sort of the problem I'm having with most of my wardrobe right now, come to think of it.) Maybe some great jeans, mixed with all the sweaters I have--which haven't suffered as much around my shifting body as the jeans and other bottoms have) will help me feel less frumpy.  Walking around in semi-ill-fitting things just makes me feel slovenly.   So, I'm saying yes to possibly the wide-leg jeans, and no to the lilac sweater. 

I think I've also fallen into a rut, starting when we moved in 2019 and exacerbated by the pandemic, of just throwing on anything that covers my body, and want to get back to taking some pride in my appearance. 

We will see if a par or two of great jeans (or casual pants) makes me feel less unkempt and scratches the itch.  Hopefully so!

[mspym]

Disclaimer: I have spent more than one sabbatical Thinking About Clothes and just constructed a database to track outfits and cost-per-wear so YMMV.

My old wardrobe is okay, but there's been little churn it it for the last few years, during which I've aged a bit and while the scale is about the same, my body is different.  Things still fit in the sense that I can zip the zippers and button the buttons, but they don't look as good as they used to and if I was buying new things, I'd buy different shapes and styles.

 
OK, this is good. Things aren't fitting as well as they used to, a new silhouette or style would reflect who you are now.

I am going to start with 2 pairs of new jeans, and not limit myself budget-wise so that I get something that I feel great about.  (Well, there will be some limit because I'll never be someone who spends $200 on a single pair of jeans, but I'm not going to look at only <$40 pairs, either.)  I've learned in the past that going too cheap on clothing leaves me wanting more clothing because nothing feels or looks quite right.  (Which is sort of the problem I'm having with most of my wardrobe right now, come to think of it.) Maybe some great jeans, mixed with all the sweaters I have--which haven't suffered as much around my shifting body as the jeans and other bottoms have) will help me feel less frumpy.  Walking around in semi-ill-fitting things just makes me feel slovenly.   So, I'm saying yes to possibly the wide-leg jeans, and no to the lilac sweater. 

 
A good plan- it sounds like you'll get more bang for your buck with new jeans. I know we are all supposed to be smarter than fashion and to not care about clothes and wonder around in the same pair of cargo pants until they literally fall off us but that honestly makes my skin itch. I dislike feeling frumpy and unkempt and enjoy feeling like I am wearing a well-designed outfit - I just try do this in as Mustachian fashion as possible. Buying fewer but better clothes; buying secondhand or making my own; working out a colour palette and then mapping out a functional wardrobe which matches my lifestyle - these have all got me to slow down purchases so that what I do buy is not a mistake.

I think I've also fallen into a rut, starting when we moved in 2019 and exacerbated by the pandemic, of just throwing on anything that covers my body, and want to get back to taking some pride in my appearance. 

We will see if a par or two of great jeans (or casual pants) makes me feel less unkempt and scratches the itch.  Hopefully so!

 
Sorry if this just ends up enabling you but I think you're making a really good case here for getting some new jeans and [potentially] putting a few more things on a wishlist for more consideration.

Resources I used
- Orchids on Your Budget - Marjorie Hillis the original 1930s capsule wardrobe gal
- The Curated Closet - Anuschka Rees - a nicely structured approach to building a wardrobe
- Various slow-sewing advocates on YouTube because if you are sewing everything you wear, you want to plan this out first because the labour cost of making something that doesn't work for you? It's a lot [ask me how I know]