The Bay Area’s embarrassment of riches only enables the commitment-phobes among us. But a few local vendors understand, so they’re making it easier for us to try out new hobbies and passions without getting locked in.

You’re dying for a pal to cuddle with and take to the park, but with your out-and-about lifestyle, full-time dog ownership just isn’t possible. Enter FlexPetz, a doggie rental agency opening in San Francisco next summer. Because of the Bay Area’s wide-open spaces, the service offers mostly medium to large breeds, such as labradors and labradoodles. Sign up now, because there’s a long wait list, and potential pet renters must be prescreened. flexpetz.com

Pay an average monthly fee of $10 to join City CarShare, plus about $5 per hour and 40 cents a mile, and drive whatever you want, wherever you want: a Mini to Marin, an Element to Tahoe, or a Prius all around town. Comparable rental cars go for up to three times the cost, and the logistics can be a nightmare. With 150 Bay Area locations (more than 100 in San Francisco alone), City CarShare makes doing your bit to fight global warming a breeze. 415-995-8588, citycarshare.org

Maybe you don’t have the cash to invest in real art—or maybe you just don’t know what you like yet. In either case, SFMOMA’s Artists Gallery rental program is for you. Most works are by local artists, and they range from photographs to oil paintings to sculptures. If you just have to have it at the end of your trial period (two months minimum), a portion of the rental price goes toward your purchase. Fort Mason Ctr., Bldg. A, 415-441-4777, sfmoma.org/museumstore/artists_overview.html

People have been oohing and aahing over these showy three-petal flowers for centuries, but orchids can be very high-maintenance, says Bruce Rogers, who runs an in-home orchid care service. Whether you’re looking for the heavenly scent of the Lady of the Night to fill your room, or a showstopper for an event, Rogers can make it happen. “I make sure that the place looks fabulous,” he says. Beauty does not come cheap, however: Flowers for a single event start at $500; monthly service costs $1,000. 415-235-4819, brucerogersorchids@yahoo.com

Hosting the perfect party—just once—is the goal. Handwritten place cards, gorgeous goody bags, and thoughtful thank-yous may be easy for Martha Stewart, but without a quick stint in the slammer, there’s no way regular folks can set it all up. “Just leave it to me,” says Lauren Levine, proprietor of Envy Concierge Service, who thinks nothing of rounding up matching rain ponchos for a picnic, among a wide variety of personal assistant duties. 415-948-4737, envysf.com