Keep dreaming....The crime rate is insane.In NYC people are getting pushed onto the subway tracks almost daily,or being sucker punched by homeless crazies....Lucky I live in a gated community with security.At least my chess sets are safe...Ha!
Crime rate has gone up since pandemic but it's overall still safer than it was 20 years ago. However Subway crimes get a lot of headlines so it seems much worse than it actually is.
Nah! On this site the best investment is in Noj currency.
Speaking of Noj, I was looking through etsy to find the ideal chess board for the new Avant Garde Series chessmen in Burmese Blackwood and Tulipwood that I recently brought but then I came across this lucky guy haveing my dream noj set. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1271609746/luxury-chessboard-made-from-solid?click_key=17b13e2df14d40563b2c91edd271482cd901ba92%3A1271609746&click_sum=a69751de&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=birdseye+maple+chess+board&ref=sr_gallery-1-13&organic_search_click=1&sca=1
This board matches with my chessmen but costs about $700. Ahhh....gonna have to start saving up again. Maybe next year. No rush since it's a made to order board. Maybe I will have it in a different style. 
That's a beautiful board! I just bought a JLP board at half price.It was marked used/open box,but it came to me looking absolutely brand new.I just set it up today,with the Staunton Castle Ceska Klubovka pieces I bought during their Black Friday Sale.
Sheesh! I love Black Fridays.....Gives me a good excuse to buy without the wife getting too peeved. Well,maybe a little bit.
That's a beautiful board! I just bought a JLP board at half price.It was marked used/open box,but it came to me looking absolutely brand new.I just set it up today,with the Staunton Castle Ceska Klubovka pieces I bought during their Black Friday Sale.
Sheesh! I love Black Fridays.....Gives me a good excuse to buy without the wife getting too peeved. Well,maybe a little bit.
Nice. Smart of you to wait till Black Friday Sale. Anyways, I was just kidding about saving up for that board. I already have a beautiful chessboard that just so also happens to be a chess computer. Spending $700 on a non electronic board just seems a bit excessive. Probably worth it for people who have a lot of money to spend tho. But in my case, it's not worth it.
The wife has a point. How many sets do you need - otherwise you're just getting hot on buying - and not on your wife. Better be a chess pro first and generate an income with it. We need to kill our childish tendencies and get to the real work. It reminds me of these people who want to be intellectuals and feel that therefore need to own half a library. I know because I was one. Happy wife, happy life!
So how many bags do women need following your logic? Or shoes for that matter?
You know that happy wife happy life thingie? When one is happy and the other one is not that will not end well in the long term.
Before I forget... ---> 
Life is short. Sometimes too short. If you can responsibly afford it, go for it. Do what makes you happy. No judgements. I can't responsibly afford a 2023 Maserati, but that doesn't stop me from smiling when I see one on the road.
The wife has a point. How many sets do you need - otherwise you're just getting hot on buying - and not on your wife. Better be a chess pro first and generate an income with it. We need to kill our childish tendencies and get to the real work. It reminds me of these people who want to be intellectuals and feel that therefore need to own half a library. I know because I was one. Happy wife, happy life!
Actually nvm my earlier reply. I had it deleted. This is a sensitive topic that I am not going to discuss here because it's not chess related and I don't really have much interest in arguing on things that don't concern me.
Actually nvm my earlier reply. I had it deleted. This is a sensitive topic that I am not going to discuss here because it's not chess related and I don't really have much interest in arguing on things that don't concern me.
You are wise. Getting marital advice from a bunch of chess set collectors is comparable to getting chess advice from a marriage counsellor. (but it's fun to chirp in, ain't it)
I couldn't agree more! Finally someone makes a salient point....My hat's off to you.