Yeah, Matt, I hear ya. I got so bad for me, that I started not bringing the items people were screwing up. And if I did bring it, I would keep it hidden until I needed it. I felt stingy about it, but they were mine, and they were tools that I intended to have for a lifetime. Which is pathetic...not to mention the fact that I bought these items intending too use them extensively out in the field or campsite. Also, like you, I always was the one that was willing to help in any way I could.<br><br>I recall a float trip about two years back, there was a group of my friends that were going to get back to camp before us, so I lent them my Windmill Lighter, some Sparklite tinder, my Busse Combat 9, and my Maglite...intending for them to start dinner and make us a nice campfire, etc. When I got back, the Windmill was lost in the mud somewhere, they used all the tinder for ONE small fire that was out by the time I got there. My precious Busse, for some reason, was driven in the rock/dirt patch where the cars were parked. And my Maglite was used to drive tent stakes in the ground. My friends had no clue that they were using a $250 knife to chop wood, practice their ninja skills, and see how far they can pry it into a rock/mud driveway. It's pretty funny now that I think about it, but I was pissed at the time. Most everyone was drunk, so I decided to keep my woes to myself.<br><br>From then on, I kept dedicated "stuff" for my camping trips. And if someone wanted to borrow something...I would make sure that I was there watching and helping. Want to borrow my Busse?...here's a Becker C/U7. Want to borrow my Tektite Expedition LED Flashlight?...here's the Maglite you screwed up two years ago. Windmill lighter?...here's a Bic and some newspaper.<br><br>My friends aren't the prepared type, I guess you could say. But it's cool, as long as everything gets done and everyone comes back in one piece, they can use whatever they want of mine...except the Busse, the Tektite, the Coleman Stove, the Amber Bock, the Captain Morgan, the good steaks, the Lender's Premium Bagels, the colby cheese, and the...........<br><br>Seriously though, my friends know for a fact that I will always lend a helping hand whenever possible, and give them the tools and knowledge to do it themselves if they want. I'm sure yours feel the same way. As a matter of fact, I was the one who had to wise up and realize that if they knew how much I valued my stuff, they wouldn't have acted so carelessly with them in the first place.<br><br><br>John McIntire