This isn't so much about who got me started as who got me started _safely_. Several years ago, work-addled, hobbyless, slave to a 24x7 beeper, I decided to save myself and retire early. But I knew it would be insanity to retire without first finding something positive to fill the void that tyrannical beeper would leave. So I took up the clarinet. Well, it didn't take too long to discover my lack of talent in that arena. OK, something different... Hmmm, I know, I'll buy a kayak! So I trotted down to the local kayak store and announced my intentions. It was an especially warm March in Maryland and I was dying to get out on the water. Soft breezes, sun-spangled ripples, (and, oh yeah, 50-degree water), I couldn't wait! But wait I did. For 6 weeks. The folks at the kayak store gently and politely let me know that they did not want to sell a kayak to someone of my ignorance in March! They convinced me I should try before buying, and yet they refused to let me demo any of their boats because the water was dangerously cold. They suggested I wait until __May__ for the local "demo days". This was the first inkling I had that kayaking is not as safe as playing scales on the clarinet, and it was a lesson I'll never forget. Now, is this any way to treat customers? You bet! I'll be forever grateful to the folks at that shop for tipping me off to the dangers of paddling in cold water, even at the risk of losing a sale. I did eventually buy my first kayak from them. And they will always be my first stop when I need gear. Or another kayak. (Although maybe 6 is enough....? Nah!) Ann *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Apr 23 2003 - 17:20:03 PDT
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