I really appreciated the discussion on affective learning and good decisions and realized that I do have the second flight manual that I do not violate.  Here they are in a brain dump:

Carl’s inviolatable rules of flying:

800’ minimums reported/forecast for an instrument approach.

Autopilot operational for any IFR flight.

WxWorx operational for forecast and reported thunderstorms, front penetrations and low ceilings on METAR and TAF for continuous updates.

Go around, divert or go back.  ( I have gone 100s of miles out of my way to avoid weather.)

Avoid painted rain where possible because that is where the ice is probably lurking.

Know your escape at all times:  if penetrating suspected ice, know where warm air/no ice is and how to get to it.

Ask for course deviations before you need them.

Maximum cross wind component of 20 kts.

Maximum gust 10kts greater than wind speed.

Wheels on the ground at 4 hours and 00 minutes, not 4 hours and 01 minutes with 5 hours and 15 minutes fuel on board.

No stall or slow flight practice except with a factory instructor at 10,000’ AGL.

Straight ahead power off, dirty stalls only, and then only to insipient onset.

No speed below 140kts except in the pattern.

Pattern speeds:  120 downwind, 110 base, 105 final—buy more brake pads/tires as needed.

Wheels down 10 miles out and they stay down, even on a go around.

Fly annually with a factory instructor.

Carl’s other inviolable rules:

All ADs and SBs complied with

100 hours between engine compression tests.

All parts replaced on schedule.

Oil Analysis at each oil change.

If anything changes in the airplane, figure out why and fix it before you fly again. 

120 kts is the glide speed and pull the prop if it will.

If flying through rain and then climbing to freezing temperatures, keep moving the controls as one climbs so that nothing freezes.

Minimum Equipment List:

Everything works.  If not, fix it.

If not at my home airport, then carefully evaluate the consequences.  The only exceptions to date:  Strobe light burned out limited the plane to daytime flights only until replaced.  Door seal pump started leaking.  Flew 200 miles at FL120 in VFR to return to my home airport. 

Add to my list, challenge the “chicken factor” (I am a chicken), comment or whatever.

Carl Cadwell, N25CL, 825 hours IVP