I spend an insane amount of time researching products before I buy them, and pride myself on having great stuff that I can use for a variety of situations and contexts. I really like having the “best” products, and am always on a quest to find the perfect balance of form and function, balanced with longevity as well as price. I definitely subscribe to the saying that he who dies with the most toys wins, and I’d like to add the word “awesome” in there, because I don’t think having an abundance of Happy Meal toys should count.
I appreciate function over form, and greatly value multifunctionalism, which probably isn’t even a word, but I’m sticking with it. I’m perfectly happy drinking from an old spaghetti sauce jar instead of purchasing glassware as it’s the same function and relatively same shape/size/color…nevermind the environmental friendliness. However, when it comes to gear for my hobbies, I am one meticulous mofo. While not a character most people want to identify with, a line from Ed Norton in Fight Club sums up nicely how I feel about my gear. “I would flip through catalogs and wonder, “What kind of dining set defines me as a person?”. For me, it’s the one that does the most, is the smallest, lightest, easiest to use, most discreet, weatherproof, and bonus if it never needs charging.
I can be talked into spending more to get the latest features or added functionality, especially if it saves me from buying an additional supplemental product down the line. I hate buying things twice, as it means I made a bad or unnecessary purchase the first time. This holds true for expensive items or corn cob holders.
In my non-product researching/reviewing hours, I tend to make lists, tinker with my classic motorcycle, do some car camping, hit up the bowling lanes, bbq something, do some yoga, and try to get some time in my kayaks. I’m not into professional sports unless I’m at the actual game…and still I’m only in it for the highlights, roar of the crowd, and delicious stadium grub, rarely remembering key plays or who’s even winning a few minutes later. I’m usually in jeans and/or flip flops though I own my own tux. I don’t get bored easily and usually have several projects running at the same time. I’m really good at organizing, playing with dogs, being patient, only eating a few spoonfuls of Ben & Jerry’s at a time but absolutely finishing the whole frozen pizza or bag of popcorn on my own, parallel parking, showing up a few minutes late, and spilling food on my new shirt.
Professionally, I’m self employed as a freelance team building facilitator & recreation guide, for several companies in the DC/Baltimore area, & also as a sales & ops manager for a private yacht charter company on the Potomac River. I’m either on a boat or outside, which I enjoy immensely. I also have an entrepreneurial spirit, and would like to invent (and get rich from) the next Snuggie…and/or TheCoolConsumer.
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