MK, and everyone: BBS cannot keep the guitar unless it will earn him at least as much as he'll lose in social assistance: The State views it as an asset that must be liquidated and spent before the State will offer to kick in anything. BBS says there aren't enough gigs within affordable driving distance, and he should know. I would suggest that a new teacher in a depressed economy will need time he doesn't have to build up a clientele. Not that he couldn't choose to start down that path, if only the State would provide him with food stamps + utility payments AND let him keep his guitar. But it's against their rules. It's a nasty, nasty rock vs hard place he's between.