Well, here's a guy that doesn't play a "bass", but plays an instrument that has a bass register, strings, fretboard, pickups...just no "body". And it has those "skinny strings", too. AND. It has two courses, one in 4ths, one in 5ths. I play the Stick every day (almost). The basses are in storage, for now, because I have no room for them, but they were hanging on the wall just a year ago. I play my own music, and I still want to record - myself, and with other like-minded dudes. Just having back issues now that drain the energy (and ambition) outa me, but...
If I didn't play music I would be in a padded cell or dead.