LOL

You are right

One ineteresting species of "predators", I have noticed , is low-paid workers doing gardening or cleaning jobs around the area. I have no idea if they were to blame too for disappearing ducks, but I have seen some of them grabbing migrating birds which landed near the pond.

hmmm
I may ask them for some training in (Urban Survival)

DW commandeered BOTH of my leatherman waves for her crafting kits. Might be a good place to look for yours as well.

LOL

Maybe

You know, losing the MT has confirmed a principle of ( keep the best for last ) that I have been sticking to for years. I have several MT's and have always used the ones I liked the least while my favorite MT's are hidden in a drawer.

The logic is that our market will not keep the "best" ones for long. They do disappear after a few months. So, it doesn't make sense to consume the good ones while the "bad" ones are stored safely. "BAD" does not mean necessarily low quality or easy to break for example, but could mean anything from having tools that I do not need, to being too large for my hand (as in the one I lost) or other features that make me less satisfied using that particular MT.

I was disturbed to lose this one, but was a bit relieved that it wasn't one of the favorite MT's.

Now, one of my favorite MT's sits in the center console
I am hoping that nothing happens to it.

After watching a few dozen videos of bushcraft, I came to like it a lot. By my nature, I love being alone , doing my own things in quiet natural places. Problem is : how do you do (BUSH)crafting, when you are surrounded by sparse vegetation and oceans of sand ? LOL

Maybe I should be carrying a small folding shovel, instead of a knife, and make sand castles instead of wooden spoons.

LOL

Perhaps we have different criteria for "best" but all of my favorite models of multitool have been on the market for some years and still are.

Definitely

My "like" and "dislike" are mostly based on design: like how big/small, or which tools are included and which I would consider as "dead weight".

One of my favorite pocket knives is a cheap folder ( about U.S.$ 6) made in Pakistan. It doesn't hold an edge but doesn't have to. Most of my work (90%) can be done by a dull knife, and if sometimes a sharper knife was needed I have the options of (a) the second blade which is rarely used and (b) other knives in my bag or car.

This knife I use every single day and like it so much, I bought two more.

So, it depends what you do and what you need.

Yup, and critically, for me, how well those tools work.

At risk of threadjacking here. Will start new one.

Some of these models work quite well, considering they are inexpensive and made in China

Today's 2¢ is about "private time".

I have managed to find a way to "cheat" ( morally and legally off course ) and have my own few-hour escape from home and work. A workday of the week is not included in my work contract, so at work they assume I am at home and vice versa. I can spend those few hours enjoying myself or doing what I want/like to do until it is time to pick up my daughter from school.

Last few weeks, the weather was good and I made most of it relaxing on the beach or some parks here and there with some coffee and snacks.

Weather is changing now to higher temps. And I am wondering how to manage this weekly "great escape" from now on. I thought of all possibilities but couldn't find the prefect answer.

Going to a hotel is too expensive considering I don't need bed, shower, or the 24 hours. It is only about 4 hours on one day of the week. OTOH, I need the A/C and a hotel room is perfect for that.

A cafe is another good option. AC & toilet are available, but taking the EDC bag and a laptop ( for watching movies ..etc.) I don't think a cafe is safe enough. Once I go to the toilet, I may have to pack everything.

Well, I will think of something. It is really great to be away from it all for a few hours now and then. It helps you to unwind and come back totally fresh.

Form a small group at the café to look out for each other on your meet ups. Many retired people do this, just look around whilst you are there.

Have a quiver of 'roosts' available, going back to the same café base week after week gets boring.

Have you considered a library?