I try to think things through as far as I can project them but in hindsight realize that there comes a point of diminishing returns. Your experience along the journey will change your perceptions and the reality then will not match the best of your projections. Your interests will change as will your physical condition. What you anticipated as fulfilling may become a drudgery aspect. A person cannot escape from their essential subjectivity no matter how objective they try to be. I have found myself looking in that mirror more than a few times.
For those reasons I rather agree with LJ. I would suggest not waiting for the perfect plan to jump deeply into but start small with something very plain vanilla and easily acquired and easily passed on.
Amassing the knowledge of the basic natural moves of the honey bee, and the skill at assessing what went wrong when apparent contradictions happen, is the first necessity. That is transferable to any style of hive or focus on honey production, queen or nuc production, or the powerful challenge of doing any or all of these things under the treatment free umbrella.
Dont become the poster boy for
Analysis Paralysis!
Jump in and start enjoying the journey and let the destination be what it may!
Some wise fellow was quoted as saying " Perfection is the enemy of good enough"
But I am not in analysis paralysis. I have actually come up with several changes to the previous attempts. I decided not to try and stay with a single hive and avoid swarms. Instead I am going to split as early and as often as practical/possible. Thus the need to make more equipment. I decided to stick with 8FDs because I already have the most of them. I am still debating how to do the splits, most of the ideas I have involve nucs of one size or another, but in keeping with the theme, I am sticking with Langstroth deep. so regardless of size, I just need that many more frames. And I know the long sides that I need, and can later decide on the fronts and backs depending on whether I want to match the smaller size with some specific larger size. The idea of 3FD nucs, 2 of which will match the size of my 8FD's would possibly allow me to pair them over/under an 8F box. Or make a split box. Again, none of which matter other than that I need more frames. I have also decided that I will actively try to catch some swarms. So I have a stack of parts cut out and jigs made to create 3 of them. I have also spoken with several of the people I know to see where I can legally place traps next year. In keeping with 8FD I have gotten the wood and cut out the parts for 3 of them so far. That is enough for a second stack. I need another set at least so I will get more wood and cut them out, and it will require more tops and bottom boards. I have a few more things to decide in order to make them. When I decide I will get the wood and make them. I need to do a little each weekend, because I only have so much shop time. And, oh, yeah it is raining yet again... I am so glad I don't have bees this year
If that isn't enough. I have also decided on some mite testing different from what I was using before. I have also eliminated one of the products I was using for mites, and will be using a different one in its place. Not only is it still raining, but it is unlikely to be under 90° for another week at least. I am working out and have changed my mind on a feeding technique. And I have made the contacts necessary and got the details for purchasing my sugar syrup by the bucket. I still have to figure out how much I will need, at least ball park because it will be a PITA to get there so I don't want to make that trip more often than I need to. And for all this, I need to come up with storage plan that won't p#$s off my wife.
As for bees, I have not found a local nuc provider though I have several recommendation for queen providers. It would have been nicer if our association wasn't quarantined out of having meetings, and if they actually interacted a little more on the internet. But I don't really know of another way to find out much about the local folk and I really don't want to drive several hours to pick up bees. However, most people want you to order by November so they can deliver whenever they please, hopefully by about half way through flow.
There is more, but no one is going to read any of what I just wrote anyway, or care. Point is, that I have made many decisions along the way, and have acted on those decisions. I am doing the things necessary within the time-frame I have. I am not certain what rushing to get bees at any expense at the wrong time of the year for the highest cost possible with the least opportunity of success is the right decision. In another week I am going on vacation. I have no one else to do any care on my bees, so even if I could find a really expensive nuc of bees, that will require 100% hands on care, dropping them in right now would also not be the best time for success.
Anyway, none of this matters, and I am pretty sure it is literally off topic. I think I am liking 1 3/8" for several of the on-topic reasons. I would have loved discuss some of the ins and outs of frame size. All of the sizes and numbers leading to some of the design decisions of hives and why they work is an interesting topic to me. Unfortunately, I am spending yet another thread laying out my plans, and justifying my decisions.
Thanks for all the answers.