Justification of Expense: Different light uses

[Catman10]

There have been some threads on this in the past, but I am wondering what the current situation is. I have now spent a great deal of my disposable income (nearly all) on my flashlight collection. The problem is, I don't have that much to do with them. My job doesn't require them, I live in the city, perhaps I could use one or two for around the house or outside. I am wondering what people use their lights for. What hobbies should I take up so that I can actually use my lights? What excuses can I use so that I can buy more? I will choose the best responses in an attempt to appease my girlfriend.

 

[_mike_]

Camping, cave exploration (spelunking), move to the country, walk at night, flashlight tag, get a new job. Ok, couple of those were just being funny .... but which ones? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mike

 

[Kiessling]

shine them on your white wall and grin like an idiot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/duh2.gif ... works well for me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
bernhard

 

[Netpatrol]

Working on the house (crawlspace, attic, etc) is a perfect use. Or yardwork late at night. Or astronomy. Oh wait...you need *night vision* for astronomy.

Having them around for security purposes is another way of looking at it.

- Tim

 

[paulr]

I think it's a waste of effort looking for bogus justifications of this type. You have the lights because you like them and appreciate them. It's just like enjoying good wine or having a nice stamp collection. It's bizarre to justify a stamp collection in terms of the many exotic places that some emergency might suddenly require you to write letters to. Flashlights are exciting these days because they're in a very busy phase of technological development. Every interesting new flashlight we buy is a little bit of history that we become part of.

 

[Double_A]

Flashlights are tools to help perform a job, just like kitchen knives. You wouldn't use a paring knife to carve a turkey.

 

[Roy]

I know of more expensive hobbies....golf, RC airplanes, etc. Just this afternoon a good friend of mine just put a RC plane into the ground at about 30mph! ...exit several hundred dollars!

 

[Catman10]

Well... perhaps it was hard to read my tone. I was mostly just kidding about justifying the expense. I agree that it's cool to collect things that you find interesting and that have aesthetic value to you. I don't honestly wish to "justify" anything. I just wanted to get an idea of some additional things that I could use my collection for, as well as some humorous ones.

 

[Icebreak]

Night fishing can be relaxing.

I like to walk at night.

An evening bike ride is nice.

Reading a map or movie schedule in the vehical is a good use.

Find her lost earing at dinner and a movie.

Showing the way to the car is a useful thing.

Fluoresce your watch.

Any detail work.

Reduce your electric bill. Use a flashlight for home navigation. The electric company doesn't bill for kilowatts used in recharging batteries...that's free.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Catman,

I often find it useful to go out and put a coat of wax on my truck while pondering life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Not sure if this helps a person gain perspective, but you end up with a nicely polished vehicle... and a clear head.

Now, what was your question?

Tom

 

[sotto]

Get yourself a bedside table (presumably you already have the bed /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif), get yourself some lights (in multiple LED colors) that have a very low level setting or interesting flashing modes, stand the lights on their tails if possible, put some interesting diffusers on the lights (use your imagination here, 35 mm film containers, the ends off magic markers, soda bottle caps, actual purchased "filters", whatever), fill the lights with "dead" batteries from your expensive incandescent toys, lower the room lights, turn on your flashlights, sit back with a good book and occasionally look over and enjoy the "show". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/clap.gif

Incidentally, the little 9 volt PAL eLights that come with diffuser cones (white or orange/red) are great for this.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

Say that you are a collector of fine art pieces {Flashlights}

 

[ernsanada]

I get to use my lights for work. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am an aircraft mechanic. I use a Tri Star Phazer and a Streamlight Stinger. I want to replace my Stinger with the XM-2. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ernsanada]

I get to use my lights for work. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I am an aircraft mechanic. I use a Tri Star Phazer and a Streamlight Stinger. I want to replace my Stinger with the XM-2. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ernsanada]

I meant to replace my Stinger with a XM-3. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Roy said:
I know of more expensive hobbies....golf, RC airplanes, etc. Just this afternoon a good friend of mine just put a RC plane into the ground at about 30mph! ...exit several hundred dollars!

[/ QUOTE ]

Several years ago (geez has it been close to twenty years?) I splashed one down BAD while showing off. It had a really fast roll rate... and it was inverted when I stopped the rolling. Then pulled up elevator...

Lost two other planes to whatever happened to make the reciever intermittently crazy...

We weren't TOO smart back then!

 

[DanM]

I wear contacts and could not drive without them. I always have a light on me to help find that lost contact. It is rare to lose one but when you do the light is invaluable. At least once a week I have a real need to carry a light in the daylight. Just the other day using the restroom at WalMart the lights were turned off. If ever there was a need for a light that comes close to the top of my list.

 

[mixerman]

I have the same problem. In fact, anytime I come across a legitimate reason to use one of my flashlights, I get really excited. When we go out, and we know we will return after dark, I make sure no one leaves any lights on, not even the outside porch light, just so I can have a semi legitimate reason to use them. In fact, if it wasn't for me playing with them on a daily basis, I would probably only have to change the batteries every few years, and i'm talking about the lights i have with only a 20 minute runtime. But, ya know what...next time I have some spare cash i will buy another one.

 

[Greg]

hahahaha, that sounds just like me SilverFox!!!!

 

[357]

I often have to go in attick to store stuff and retrieve stuff. Plus, I've found it useful to mow the lawn at night when the day is too hot (over 90 degrees is hard on me). This justifies my Argo headlamps.

The rest of my flashlight collection is just that, a collection. I enjoy flashlights, and even the ones that don't get used a lot I like.