Ugh that is the WORST kind of mistake. It feels like half the problems in the world are from someone just barely not doing their job right. Like they were SO CLOSE but that last little bit of effort was too much. I'd be tempted to just shim the whole thing with some ripped plywood strips and call it a lesson in frustration.

Totally had that happen on some old marble tiles. Vinegar ate right through the finish when muriatic barely fizzed. It's sneaky strong on porous stuff.

My first year in the field taught me that lesson the hard way.

Paying rent on an empty apartment seems wild to me. That's nearly five grand a year just for a closet. For that money, you could ship a box of books and a coat anywhere, or get a nice storage unit and still have cash left for a hotel when you visit. Stability is one thing, but that price tag for a part-time home base feels like a luxury, not a smart money move.

You saying "after big storms" made me realize I was doing it wrong. I used to only look on calm days, but the rough water must push more stuff up. Now I check the weather report before I go.