fat bikes are nice, but get a fresh inner tube or two

That sounds dreamy! My cousin just got a beautiful touring bike with fat tires and I am officially jealous!

I have bikes, and they are fantastic transportation. For the same amount of work as walking, you can easily go 10 times farther. Add cargo to the mix, and easily go 20 times farther.

On a related topic, in my 40's, I am considering getting into dirt bikes for the first time in my life. I see them as as a useful tool to have in a crap hit the fan situation. I figure, in some cases, a bike will not cut it where a dirt bike will. For example, very hilly and rough dirt roads, a dirt bike will handle that like it is not there, while a mountain bike will give me an unwanted extreme workout.

I need to get a bicycle trailer like BacPacJac has.

Just found: http://www.bikesatwork.com/
These look like serious cargo trailers for bicycles. The standard trailer has 300# payload. Check the tire upgrade option.

any trailer - including a kid tower - is good for up to 34kg or 75 pounds

A dual sport is the ultimate in poke around anywhere, anytime transportation. But, don't forget the risk factor inherent in a both the "fast and light" approach necessitated by the limited cargo capacity, and the hazards inherent to motorcycles (you are the crumple zone).

Mine was great. $25 at a garage sale and it was perfect towing for the little kid or two along with some gear or groceries. And then the big kid figured out that he could put it on his bike and then tried to tow all the kids in the neighbourhood with it - all at once. Now the bearings are shot and it sounds like something out of a horror movie. He's saving his pennies to get it fixed or replaced. Life lessons. Aren't they great?!