I bought this very expensive, top of the line, Gortex rain jacket when I was travelling through the US in 2009.
A similar jacket would have been $800 (AUD) or more. When I found out that this one was about half that price, for ostensibly the same jacket, I almost kissed the woman serving me.
I bought it on the spot.
This jacket has seen me through more adventures than I count. Multi Day hikes with groups of school kids ultra marathons, alone and with friends, as well as a few overseas holidays.
I love it dearly.
But over the last year I started to become aware that it wasn't doing such a good job of keeping me dry.
I noticed that the internal seams were falling off the jacket itself and I started actively pulling them out and breaking them off.
Eventually it became obvious that it wasn't any good for the rain, but was still reasonable for the wind.i decided to keep it a few more months.
Meanwhile, knowing it wouldn't last forever, I had snagged this small riding jacket 2-3 years ago at a local garage sale.
It cost me the princely sum of $3 and I figured that more than made up for the fact that it has no hood and was a bit too small.
It's been the jacket I've reached for in rainy weather for a while now. But I knew I really should get something that fits me better and suits my needs (like a hood and pockets at the front).
I was in no rush, given that I don't currently do as many adventurous things as I used to just a few years ago (something I want to change). But one thing was very clear to me, just a couple of days ago, was that I wanted a colour other than red!
I had been walking through the bush and scared away so many wallabies and I was convinced it was my bright red jacket.
Low and behold, we walked into an op shop (second hand, recycled goods shop) and much to my surprise there was a rain jacket...
in my favourite colour...
in my size...
that looked brand new...
and it was on sale for half price!
So for $15, I walked away with this guy! Yay!!
Now all I have to do is muster up the courage to say goodbye to my long time, beloved jacket and let go of the too small but still okay riding jacket.
Words of encouragement in the comments are welcome!!! 😁