Ryan, that 'save for slow times' thing hits hard, doesn't it? I put 20% of every freelance check into a separate account right away. What do you do with your cash, just let it sit in your main account? Another move is to have a few small, ongoing gigs that cover basics like your phone bill. It's not sexy, but it keeps the lights on when big clients dip out. Why not set up automatic transfers so you don't even see that savings money?

Remember feeling that way when our old hardware store closed... started going out of my way to buy meat from this family butcher even though the big box store is cheaper. It's not just the product, it's that the guy knows how I like my steaks cut and asks about my kids' soccer games. That five minute chat while he wraps the order up matters more than saving a few bucks. Makes the whole errand feel human instead of just another transaction. Honestly, that's worth the extra cost every time.

Honestly I used to be right there with the people saying shale is just boring gray layers. I'd walk right past it looking for flashier stuff. But last fall I was splitting some flat pieces apart, almost just to kill time, and a perfect little fern print showed up on the fresh surface. It wasn't huge or museum quality, but it was mine, you know? That totally flipped a switch for me. Now I give the plain stuff a second look every time, because you never know. That quiet satisfaction of spotting a detail everyone else misses is the best feeling.

I mean, finding that sweet spot with the regulator was huge for me too, but idk, my beads still get those tiny stress cracks sometimes no matter what. Maybe it's just my particular torch or something.

Two feet? That's basically breathing room with a crane!