So...



I realize it's Shin-kaya, which is really Spruce, rather than Chinese Kaya (Japanese Kaya would be prohibitively expensive--up of half a million dollars). Still, one day, when I cross 1 dan, when I'm that strong, if I feel I've put that much into it, I think I'll drop the $1800 on a proper, high-grade Go set. It won't help me play better; but at that point, I'll have already put all that into it, with the thousands of hours of study and game time and meditation and personal improvement required to improve my game.

Once I've put the work in, I'll buy the nice set. It's of no use if it doesn't reflect on me; fancy, expensive toys are worthless and wasteful.



I'm not buying this today, either.

I think, maybe next year, if I'm still commuting, if my commuting miles go up, if I've made the summer and the winter, at least 8 months, maybe pushed more than 150 miles per month (theoretically, my commute is a minimum of 280 miles/month), gotten stronger ...

... maybe I'll buy a Trek Portland.

It's a $1700 bike.

I'm not doing that now. I might do that next year though. It's too much for me right now ... too much money, it reflects in workmanship though ...

... but it doesn't reflect me.

But if I do, say, 50% of my yearly commute-- 13 x 280 / 2 == 1820 miles/year --or more, I could probably justify it. It would seem appropriate to buy something of meaningful quality at that point. My GT Tachyon is perfectly functional--so is my bamboo board with Yunzi stones. That's not the point.

Should I do it? Would you buy a Portland if you had the money? More importantly, would you not buy a Portland if you were going to spend the money and had nothing else particularly interesting in your sights?