"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
.. .
jabadoodle writes:

So that was all just to tell the story. I'm not really looking for
advice on that. Though comments are welcome.

Two things I've learned over the years:

1. Never, ever pay contractors or mechanics ahead of verified delivery.
If
they can't float the finances, then they're almost certainly incompetent.
They are experts at weaseling out of disputes over their work; you are
just
an unsuspecting novice.


Excellent advice. We live in a farly small community and everything *seems*
to
have that small town feel. We've lived here (or at least my partents have)
for
50+ years. One really wants to trust the "local good old boy". But you're
advise makes sense. Lesson learned...I hope.

2. If you get in a bad situation like yours, either hire a lawyer to write
nastygrams, or forget about it and get on with your life. Nobody likes to
get taken, but if it isn't worth hiring a lawyer, it isn't worth agonizing
over yourself.

Another excellent point. Letting it bother you just compounds the problem.
I feel that way and my dad is somewhat more upset. But then again...it was
his money.

3. Don't get upset when your toys break or otherwise disappoint you.
They're just toys, not your family or career or world peace or your
eternal
soul.


Yep. Just the fact that I'm lucky enought to HAVE a boat, even if it has or
causes me problems sometimes, puts my in a category of great priviledge
that I try to appreciate. We are very lucky.


4. I can't count.

Oh. Yea.