My third phone died at the bottom of a creek because I trusted a cheap waterproof pouch. I still keep the cracked thing on my desk as a reminder to buy better gear. I grew up near the water but I only started taking a kayak out a few years ago. I realized I was spending too much time planning big trips I could never afford. Now I just put the boat on the roof of my car and drive to whatever small lake or quiet river is within a few hours of my house.
The Fifty Mile Radius I try to stay local. There are plenty of random ponds and state park inlets that nobody bothers to visit. I figure out the public access points and note where you can actually park without getting towed. I take all my notes on paper maps. They get wet and rip at the folds, but they never run out of battery.
Packing the Boat I am a chronic overpacker. I usually end up carrying three extra layers I do not need and a thermos of coffee that gets cold by noon. I buy most of my gear secondhand and patch it up when it breaks. I write down what works and what falls apart on the second trip. You will find a lot of complaining here about dry bags that leak and paddles that are too heavy.
I am still trying to find a decent hat that stays on in the wind.