My retirement funds took one hell of a hit when the stock market tanked so feeling less flush these days. I shant need any tag days to get us through but the future is less rosy than it was a few months back. Out of this I am pausing but it is hard to discern how much is financial and how much is just having reached the end (ish) of my hat collecting. Having said this if Hufvud gets any beaver felt colours that appeal I will probably jump back into a queue.
One dark and rainy evening many years ago, right when I first started working on Wall Street, I was walking down Broad Street with an old fellow from my office, and, just as we were passing the Exchange from the far side of the street, he put his hand on my arm and asked me if I'd ever really looked at the pediment at the top of the neoclassical facade. As we did, he pointed out that the two figures at the extreme left corner were "shooting craps." He then said, "No matter what anybody tells you, always remember that: it's a crap shoot." Over the years the truth of that statement has been proven to me over and over again and is the reason I've always put my money, when I had any, elsewhere.
Being the vintage that I am have lived through many many downturns and resurgences....the down side of getting old is that the time line for any resurgence is now severely limited. Even still, over the 50 years of being in the 'market' I am much further ahead than if I had placed the money under my mattress or placed it in a bank even.
That's largely the way I feel. When Mikael of Hufvud said yesterday on that thread that the best part of getting a custom hat is in the planning and design I agreed with him completely, though it's nice to hold the finished product in your hands and admire the workmanship. I guess I also like the anticipation and the idea of having something to look forward to.
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style. 
And the upside for us collectors could be if business slows a bit maybe then the queue will shorten for a few of my hatters that have stupid long wait lists.
Exactly so, my wife and I are now in our 70's, haven't had a mortgage in over thirty years, every thing is paid for at the time of purchase, live now, pay later is nothing more than a distant memory. But in our early years we struggled, financially I mean, always robbing Peter to pay Paul. We got through those years and we learned the meaning of thrift, a lesson that has always been a timely reminder.
