Joe, you do need a little fur baby - I love love love my Chihuahuas! I can put those two little guys on my lap and I immediately feel better! They take up no room, are a blast to watch playing with each other and the cats, and so much fun to watch running around the house! I also walk them every day so they can get out and get a little outside exercise. They offer so much love to their person/s!
I agree, you need to trade one of your Singers for an automatic Pfaff that does all the decorative stitches. Those machines use a normal 15x1 needle, most of them use a regular low shank foot, and they always just purr along happily sewing. Most of the vintage Pfaffs - the 130, 260, 230, 360 all take the same bobbin/bobbin case too!
Nancy