Chris, I do have a Hasselblad system, the majority of which was a gift to me from a friend at Christmas Time, several years ago, and I've been able to add bits and pieces over the years, with mostly stimulus and my wife's help, she works in a grocery.
I am otherwise without income, being an Atomic Vet from the Enewetok Clean-up in the late 1970's, and in 1989, I became unable to work a regular job, because of illnesses, including very bad authritus from the bad Psoriasis that started on the atoll.
I've never received welfare, disability from SS or the VA, just medication for the constant pain and symptoms of several diseases that assignment has left me with.
The Government just recently recognized us vets as atomic veterans and I hope to finally get compensation for all the forty-five years of pain and social isolation.
I was able to "work" as an artists for a few years, with help from my family in a cubical studio in an art league, but that depended on what energies I could raise up to go in and work.
I also earned part of my studio fee from desk sitting the League for part of the week.
I tell you this no to solicit feelings from you or others, but to avoid responding with more anger or negative feelings by saying something like "Haters gotta hate" or worse.
Telling others I can afford thousands of dollars worth of kit is a flat out untruth, and much of what I've bought here and elsewhere over the long years of my photographic life has been through payment arrangements.
Go ahead and gift whomever you like with your resources and keep the hammer in the shed
I am no bothered by such things, and I encourage everyone here to do the same, as they see fit.
However, do no go telling tales about me and my situation, that Hasselblad kit and any analog Leica camera are apples to oranges and used differently.
Godspeed and Regards, relax and just hit "ignore" on this thread, you'll be happier for it, hopefully
