The idea (or fantasy) is often better than reality....

[Dueller]

Another thread started by a youthful Pelican longing for a purple long hood reminded me of several of my past foibles where my idea of what it would be like to own, do, have something and when I made it a reality it wasn't nearly as fulfilling.

So what about it, folks? What are some instances of reality biting you in the arse?

A few of mine:

Buying a new motocross bike at the age of 30 thinking I could still ride like I was 16. Reality: Broke both arms on my first outing.

A used Alfa Spyder purchased to enjoy summer drives to the beach. Reality: a blown engine stranding me in the middle of nowhere halfway to my beach destination in 100 degree heat.

A threesome with two beautiful women. Reality: Initially a hoot but ending up in Fatal Attraction 2. And I don't mean a movie sequel

[Rick Lee]

When I was living in Germany, I often visited some friends near Halle, who lived right by an old Soviet air base. There were still some Russkies there and word on the street was that a full auto AK-47 could be had for somewhere in the $300 USD range. I was actually totally serious about scooping one up and mailing it back home in many pieces over several months. My dad disabused me of that notion pretty quickly when I asked if he would mind taking delivery for me.

[Tim Hancock]

Last year while picking up my daughter from high school gymnastics practice, my daughter commented to some of her teammates that I had claimed I could still do a roundoff/back hand spring/back tuck like I could when I was younger.

The girls along with the coach all started riding me over it so I just had to prove I could still do it.......Well, I did it, but my back hurt for over a month afterwards (of course I never admitted it )

This past summer, I read a magazine article about some older guys preparing to compete at the AMA amatuer national motocross championships and I started telling myself that now that I am 40, I should buy a new 450 and have at it again in the 40+ class (A week or two on the bike and I would be just as fast as I was back in the day ). Thankfully my wife shot my "fantasy" down before I could plop down the cash on a new bike!

At least once a month I find myself lusting for another German car in need of some TLC. I always seem to be able to come up with some kind reasoning/justification for the purchase, but once again, the wife "usually" is able to snap me out of my dream.

[Flatbutt1]

Being married to a good looking woman that couldn't be trusted.

[Dottore]

My first wife springs to mind right away.

[techweenie]

1966 Shelby GT350. Bought it believing the hype. It was a loud, crude car with marginal brakes that wouldn't corner worth a you-know-what. That was one of about 4 cars I bought over a period of years that was nice to look at but underwhelming to drive/own.

[Superman]

I'm 49 and just recently started accepting the hard-to-believe notion that perhaps I've lost a step since I was in my mid-twenties. I'm pretty fit, not overweight, etc., but when I jog from the office building to my vehicle, I get the feeling I could sustain an injury just doing that.

I do my best exercizing in a horizontal position, if you know what I mean.

[stomachmonkey]

Not going horseback riding with the wife but taking out a quad instead. Was in Aruba, I ride and own bikes and quads so no biggie cept I have no gear with me, they send me off w/out a helmet and tell me that the rear brakes are not hooked up, their guests have less trouble that way. Huhhh? weirdest thing I've ever heard but OK I can deal.

Fast forward to me forgetting about the brakes and ending up in the emergency room being bandaged head to toe.

I looked like a friggin mummy. If you've never been to Aruba the whole place is covered in some weird broken slate kind of rocks. I think I would have lost less skin going down on asphalt in shorts and a tee.

Kinda ruined that vaca.

[gprsh924]

I really wanted to rent quads when we went to Aruba. My parents decided not to let me (even though I've been riding them for 6 years). But our rental car was a manual Suzuki Samurai, which turned out to be pretty fun, especially out in the dirt and rocks on the Northern end of the island.

[Zeke]

The idea (or fantasy) is often better than reality...

A certain 356 comes to mind....

Actually, my '71S hot rod cafe racer was a distant 2nd. BTDT.

[bigchillcar]

5th ammendment here..lol.

[masraum]

Originally posted by Superman
I do my best exercizing in a horizontal position, if you know what I mean.

Sleeping??

[svandamme]

my pos 73Starga

[Jims5543]

Leasing a 2005 Audi and thinking all the problems with the 2001 would go away because it was new.

[adamred]

I'm thinking about getting a dog, I go from so excited to terrified...talk me in or out of it...

[bigchillcar]

adam, get a young puppy...who needs sleep?

[Zeke]

I know it says "idea" in the title, but just about every woman is a fantasy at one time or another, then you find out.....

[Dueller]

Every beautiful woman I see, I have to remind myself there's a guy somewhere that's tired of fokking her

[gassy]

Thinking I would actually use my $1600 treadmill.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by gassy
Thinking I would actually use my $1600 treadmill.

Ha! That's why I bought a $5000 cross trainer. I'd feel guilty if I didn't use it :-)