I bought a longarm when I retired, a lot of my friends took a cruise. I thought about it long and hard as it was a chunk of money, well I have had it now for about 11 years and made at least 60 quilts on it. I have over this time had one quilt sent out to a professional (Judy Nieymer pattern) This was gifted to my nephew to hang on his wall, and I just don't have the talent for that. I figure that longarm by now has actually almost paid for itself by what I have saved, and I am very happy that the longarm is probably the one and only thing related to my stitching habit that has actually paid for itself! Tee Hee!