Here's the deal. My oldest girl needs $2k worth of orthodontics, and if we get on it now we avoid paying triple that much later. It's structured in a couple of installments, with one in August and a larger one later. Okay... I could get the bike legalized for about $70, plus about $50 in maintenance, and that would have it insured until August. Then, I could insure the bike for the next entire year, ride until it's too cold, cancel the insurance and be refunded the remainder.
Sharp eyes would notice the recurrence of August. It would appear that a year's insurance policy is roughly equal to the installment on my daughter's teeth. My wife adamantly insisted that she was not going to tell me "no bike" and that she would "find some way" to pay for the orthodonture -- meaning she'd work more hours at the job she kind of detests.
Well...I'm not that selfish. I can't go spend $$ on something that only benefits me when the money needs to go for something that benefits the family. That's just the way I work. Also knowing the way I work, getting the bike on the road for the next eight weeks -- one of which I'll be out of town for school and another of which we'll be on vacation -- and then having to stop in the middle of summer would hurt me more than just looking at it in the garage. My wife really can't understand that one.
I toyed with selling the bike, but logically I know that it'll be cheaper to get this one going in the future, than to go spend thousands on a bike AND pay for all of the legalities. So, the XS will sit in the garage.
And no, I'm not quitting the forum. I'm sure that those of you who were biting your fingernails over this are relieved.
Quite frankly, I enjoy reading what the rest of you have to say. I just don't really have anything to contribute.
