I guess I am a moss-backed traditionalist. I have a great fondness for the bowline. The thing is to learn the asicknot thoroughly so you can tie it with your eyes shut, behind your back. Then start on the variants - the one i prefer is bowline on a bight, very useful for rigging, as in lifting a mammoth tusk - something I know we all do frequently.

I have read somewhere that there are fifty bowline variants. I know far fewer than that, the best of which is the double loop bowline - reputed even more secure than the basic knot.

Learn a few knots well and you will be fit to be tied.