It's funny how often the right tool just makes the work disappear. I spent years with a heavy old drill before getting a modern lightweight one, and suddenly hanging shelves wasn't a whole production. My buddy is a painter and said the same thing when he switched to a lighter extension pole. You don't realize how much energy the bad gear sucks up until you try the good stuff.

Wait you fed eight people for a whole week on just forty bucks? That's insane, I can barely feed myself on that. Chili and rice was a genius move, stretches so far. For another cheap crowd meal, try a big pasta bake with whatever veggies are on sale, maybe some lentils mixed in for protein. It's filling and you can make a ton for almost nothing.

Totally get it. Had my main light die inside a tailcone once. Pitch black, couldn't even find my tools. Now I keep a tiny Nitecore on my keychain. It's saved me more than once. @schmidt.troy might call it extra until he's feeling for a dropped screw in the dark.

Check if they're growing towards the window, @sanchez.sean. That's a classic sign of escape plans. Mine did that before they tried to climb out.

That shop guy's 300 mile check interval is way too long for most riders. I check mine every 100 miles or so, especially after wet rides. A basic ruler with the 1/16 inch marks works perfectly fine, you just measure 12 links pin to pin.