if you do solid wood furniture Happiness is, QS english sycamore (think fiddle back -actually a maple) at $4/bf (ok so it was in a minimum quantity of 200bf but ...)
if you make a lot of jigs and patterns Happiness is, as much Finnish Birch Ply, mainly 3/4", "cut offs"
- 10-14" wide by 3-5 feet long, and 2'x2' squares, as you want to load in your vehicle - for free AND club members who help you load it up.
if you're a turner Happiness is, first bandsaw mill cut offs of walnut and other orchard tree with occassional burls - for free
if you're a tool phreak Happiness is picking up a #45 with all the cutters AND a #78 complete for $150 at the Austin City Annual Garage Sale
If you're Space Challenged Happiness is getting a place with a 600 sf detached "garage"
If you like kids in the shop Happiness is kids coming over "to use the GIANT VACUUM CLEANER" and making most of the dust, chips and shavings disappear, along with spiders, spider webs and an occassional fly - right out of the air. (I bought a Half Sized Broom which the younger kids find fun to use. Tom Sawyer - great idea.
If you're a Shellac Fanatic Happiness is getting a 10 pound order of dewaxed shellac flakes in assorted flavors - all dewaxed of course, then going thru the ritual of grind to powder, pour in a canning jar full of alcohol, stirring, looking, stirring some more, waiting a while, looking again, shaking the jar, . . .
If you're a neander Happiness is hand cutting your first "light tight" dovetailed drawer or box.
If you're a Normite Happiness is a perfect cope and stick raised panel door - that fits perfectly.
If you're a Scary Sharp (tm) Keen Edger Happiness is "P" grade 1 micron diamond paper
There's more but I have to leave some for others.
charlie b