(January 2011) — When is it, exactly, that something important to you becomes invaluable? We buy things, use them and ultimately come to notice that they are getting a little tired looking or frayed about the edges. Then comes the recognition that this useful, maybe even favorite, article is getting old. A decision is at hand: to buy another, newer model or to renew, repair and rejuvenate. Cost and affection vie with hope and excitement. Certainly repairing the old item is cheaper than buying a new one in almost any category. And a certain comfortable appreciation of the old shoe has its appeal. Then again, there is the allure of the newer model wrapped in the exciting notion that the latest iteration of your favorite piece of equipment would provide such an improvement over what you have now that almost any price is acceptable.
If we’re talking about vacuum cleaners, who among us would care? But I am talking about airplanes and cars, two things about which most of us care a great deal. I have had a chance recently to look with affection at two favorites of mine: a 13-year-old car and a 30-year-old airplane. In some ways, sorting through this decision tree as regards the car has altered my thinking about the airplane and other things too.
