An indicator

I asked a photographer about a waterproof camera I was contemplating for a purchase. “Didn’t you just buy one?” “That was a couple years ago. It kind of crapped out.” “Already? How?” “I was kayaking last week.” “Those things are waterproof and shockproof.” “Well, there was a lot of water and even more shock.” “This isn’t the first time I heard that from you.” He’s right. I bought the first generation of this model about eight years ago. I went over a waterfalls, getting separated from my kayak in the process, and the camera developed malfunctions. Its successor took a number of hits before it succumbed. I had the third one along when I was the crash dummy in rescue drills among rock breakers in a surf zone. The most recent was a whitewater casualty. “You know, when you trash four cameras in eight years, you might want to re-examine your life plan.” Yes, that would be an indicator of sorts.