LMAO! (Oh..... you might be surprised..... the Secrets we keep!!!!!!)
It's one of those things man: If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
"The List" of backlogged requirements is long and inclusive, but when you own a couple houses and have a Couple kids in College (thank God for smart kids with $cholarships!), FOUR cars (not including the Corvette which had to be sold to help pay for the Pool), you'll understand: There's no such thing as "Disposable" income. It ALL goes!
The List starts with a new big block Challenger, new windows for house #1, and addition for house #2, a new Reef Keeper & LED Lights for the tank, and ultimately ends-up with a new pair of Sunglasses and new Soccer Boots!
I never could bring myself to shell out $75, $100 or $125 for a decent Refractometer, when there were clearly other things on "the List". (That, and I just couldn't justify it, for what it is.)
So... I drop coin on real estate, home improvement, good Gin(!) and am working towards a permanent Tee time.
The whole Refractometer..."thing", just never really happened for me.
Even Richard laughed at me, because he looked at my good ol' swing-arm hydrometer and said: "They don't even make them that way anymore!! Yours is better"
If it's any consolidation for you, I DO have a laboratory quality hydrometer that I use to double check my old reliable Hydrometer, but I've had it since the Early 90's, and it's like MY trusty hammer, favorite shirt with a hole in it, or an old pair of shoes.
For twenty-five bucks though, I'll move into the new millennium. (Thank you Malissa!)
Your former and once devoted friend,
Mako Shark II
(even if I did sell the namesake Corvette)