Along the lines of Bullswan's "regret" thread, what was something you laid out the cash for, maybe reluctantly, that ended up being a solid purchase?

For me, it's a three-way tie - trailer, truck and boat. All three were big-$ purchases for me and all three have turned out better than I expected. Over 150k miles on the truck (1995 Mits Montero), the boat was five-pounds underweight at it's third Nationals and goes like stink (2006 Capricorn), and the trailer, which I drew on a napkin for a guy and asked him if he could build it, has made three laps cross-country, twice with three boats on it, which made the math for Nationals work out really well (2006 custom aluminum from Wilson Trailers in Jacksonville, FL).

Wotcha gots?

A 2008 Gibson SG diablo edition. Big price tag, but the sound it makes.......

The Blade is the best boat I've ever owned. At least it is best suited for my style of sailing.

'97 Tacoma. Still going strong.

2007 Tiger Great boat and I love sailing it.

Shares in the .com company I worked for in 2000

Yeah baby!! I worked for an arms dealer in the .com wars. They all bought from us. I exercised enough shares to both buy our home on Maui and fund retirement.

I bought a Ludwig Vistalite drum set back in 1974 for about $600. It's now worth around $3,000. I'm not selling though as I still enjoy beating my brains out and destroying what's left of my hearing.

Lasik surgery, best money I ever spent. No more wet glasses or Contact lenses falling out on night legs.
Todd

Yeah, but now you can see when you look in a mirror.

I built damn near an Olympic grade .22 rifle from parts. Cost me $1600 without optics. It was worth every penny.

New insulin pump technology I bought back in 2007.

Changed my life 100% in the right direction.

http://www.myomnipod.com

My house on the water in League City Texas I bought one year before Hurricane Ike. Still no insurance money but 75% fixed. Chris Green is my neighbor accross the water and on occasion we sail right from our backyards to do wed. night races. If I died tomorrow, I will die a happy man. I can look out my window from my bed and see 2 Stilleto 30's moored there that made it through the Hurricane.

Lee, Really glad to hear the move to Texas has worked out so well! Nothing like a house on the water. For me: I got a '03 Honda Civic Si that I'm still in love with; around 10 years ago I got a used Fender Foto Flame Telcaster for about $360, with a little work, it should be worth around $900, but I'm in love with it too; In love with the current H17; and 2 Lincoln Quoddy Lite Kayaks; the ZTR mower I got last summer; my new wireless Logitech mouse; and in the health dept: 24 year old valve still ticking; and my INRatio Home tester totally covered by Tufts Health plan. One more thing, (which I haven't used these 10 years) my Soloright made by Gary Friesen.

Home we built in 1970, with community dock on Lake Sammamish. Great place to raise a family, two more generations. My 1986 H-17, and Tom's 1989 H-17 (he bought), and the SeaRay 210 Sundeck we bought together. All still going strong.

Caleb and Tom

Why the Capricorn initially considered a leap of faith? Great boat, isn't it? Or was it a risky fit for situation?

Prob a good story. Love to hear briefly how it went from risk to rewarding!

Edit: As you see from my pic, I really appreciate my dentures. If I can remember where they are... (kidding, not my pic; resemblance, some...)

Sold my first house the year before the Ski Area went belly up. It was the closest house to the base lodge and sat on a private road that the ski area used to maintain. Made a 400% profit with which we built this current house with no mortgage. All before age 25. Blind dumb luck.

Sold all my Merck stock the week before the lawsuits began and the stock tumbled. Wasn't my decision to sell. I was forced to sell but in this case and it worked out perfectly.

My 1995 Mystere 5.5,

Lasik? Damn, I just jumped to contacts and am already obsolete, but it is sure nice to be able to see w/o glasses.

My wife bought me the Alinghi Swiss Army Knife, and although I loathe Alinghi, I LOVE the knife...I would have never bought it for myself though, but Im sure glad I own it.

that girl that one time Hopefully the Infusion I'm trying to buy

The Mystere 4.3 I bought to learn spinnakers for $3000. But hea, I kept it two years, REAL stable & fast boat for size. Now I am ready for the current spin boats AND I sold it for $3000. Win, win for me.

Doug

what do you sail now?