Right? Tools are just tools. In my experience, getting hung up on only using hand tools made me hate big projects. Like when I built a bookshelf, I used a table saw to rip the boards straight, but then I shaped the edges with a hand plane for a soft feel. The machine did the boring part fast, so I could spend hours getting the finish just right. It let me connect with the wood more, not less. Your mileage may vary, but for me, mixing methods keeps the joy in the work.

Yeah, hugom40, that clickable map thing would be so handy. Like @piperb93 said, having everything in one spot is a game changer. I tried something similar with my own list, and being able to see all the parks in Texas at once totally changed my road trip plans. Instead of flipping through pages, I could just zoom in and out, check driving times between spots. It made the whole process way less stressful, and I found a few hidden gems I would have missed otherwise.

Hearing about beating others to the good finds makes me LAUGH because I'm the guy who shows up late and misses EVERYTHING. My thrift plan is basically hoping no one else wanted the weird stuff I end up with. So I'm all for your slow and fair method, it sounds way less stressful.

Never thought about how those knitting skills could weave right into patching up home repairs.

Just make it sound cool and keep writing. Readers care more about the people in the ship than the math behind it.