My reaction:

I started this thread with my new purchase of C-150M N45291. Thanks for all of the nice responses I have received. The "shine sells" was the most cynical response. Perhaps it does and the implication there is that while it may look pretty, "rot lingers". Well not in this case .

The plane is in for a comprehensive annual after being bought from an AP/IA owner who did the annual on pre-buy. Was that a mistake? Probably, but perhaps not this time. I think I might have lucked out. An annual by an AP/owner is probably not the right thing to do. Many of these APs just don't understand a C-150 or if they do, just don't understand enough. They might work on bigger or more diverse aircraft and just don't have the eye for the misquito.

Anyway, to bring you up to date. The airplane has not received any really major squawks, with a few days to go, but I do believe the prop will come up as there is no credible history on it. That's a shame since it looks so good, but I will bite that bullet.

The maintenance shop let me visit her this weekend and I spent two days checking her out. They had taken off the coverings to the landing gear and I sanded off the gear and primed it, while listening to tunes on the radio. It was a great feeling...she just has this smell.

This is my first airplane. I have been a private pilot for over 35 years renting all kinds of stuff. The plane is mine and I can take it anywhere I want and for as long as I want and no one else will have the opportunity to relieve themselves in her without me seeing it (UGH). I have waited a long time for this and no one will take this away from me.

For the new buyers, this is a great rush, but you don't want the rush to lead to disappointment. If you have a pre-buy annual or inspection, do it at your local FBO so you can daily watch the progress. It is very important.

For the other members, I must say that this experience with the Forum reminds me of hanging out on CB radio in the early '70s when you would discuss something and others would trail off on to something else totally unrelated like they were in another world. It's cool, it's aging, what can we do about it? Not much, I think. Take your aspirin each day. Pretty funny.