I took the long arm plunge after I went back to work. I retired in 2007 and went back to work full time last year. I decided that it was one of the reasons I wanted to work - to pay for things other then necessities! I make QFK quilts - most of the time as many as 4 to 6 a month. I know I never could make that many if I didn't have the long arm so that takes of any guilt I may have had!