Canon AND Nikon

Ok, my first thread start, I think, so apologies if it has been done before, and even more apologies if it has been done to death. I did try and search for a similar thread but to no avail.
Oh, and apologies if I am asking this in the wrong section.
I am being very apologetic today.

Anyway, my question. Is it really such a bad idea to shoot with Canon AND Nikon.
Let me explain my reasoning behind my thoughts. I reckon it may be a good idea to get a 2nd camera sometime soon, I mainly shoot street and models, with a little bit of landscape (but for reasons that will become apparent the landscape part of it doesn't really affect my question). In both street and model, but street especially it is a nightmare to have to change lenses. I shoot most of my street stuff with the 70-200, but now and then it is nice to be able to get a wider view of the street scene.
I am pretty impressed with the Nikon specs and pricing, and the way they seem to be heading, ie. more photographic than video. I actually used to shoot a lot of still photography in the 1980's, mainly bands and fashion, but stopped photography in favour of video, pop promo's and that kind of thing. My video career didn't really get anywhere and I fell back on my graphic design training (I was more Fine Art than Suit and Tie Graphic Design) and got in to DTP (a word, or rather acronym you don't hear very often these days). About a year ago I bought my first digital camera, a Canon 550D (I used to shoot with a couple of Canons, an AE-1 Programme and an A1, oh and a Leica M3), so I stuck with Canon as I had always liked them, and I couldn't afford a Leica.
Now, I am about to purchase a UWA lens, possibly the Canon 10-22. Or should I buy a Nikon, either the D7000 or save a bit for the D800?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, one last apology. Sorry for waffling!!!

I don't see it as a "bad" idea, it comes down to choosing the right tool for the job. I use two bodies myself, both Canons though, because they have very different abilities and where one is weak the other shines, and vice versa.

If you have a use where the best tool would be a Nikon body and have other uses where a particular Canon would be stronger, then it makes sense to use both, provided you can live with the potential drawbacks.

The first problem is lack of swappability with lenses, this is less of an issue if you want one setup for birding (high pixel density and long lens) and the other for portraits (low pixel density, probably FF, and a shorter lens). For myself, I like having all my lenses available for either body, because one is a cropper and the other FF, so the body / lens choice can have different affects.

The other issue, if using the two cameras simultaneously, is that the ergonomics are quite different, so you have to think more about which camera you are using and where the buttons are, whereas two from the same stable can be used a bit more instinctively.

Overall though, i see no great problem with having a Nikon outfit and a Canon one, there are quite a few people who have gone that way.

If you are good with understanding and relating to 2 different languages and cultures .. go for it !
You will be Photo Bi-Literal ..

If you have the money to go with Nikon too, go for it. Both camera systems are valid but you won't get interchangeability with lenses unless you use a nikon lens to canon body adapter. You can't use Canon lenses on a Nikon body however. Canon lenses are also typically higher quality and cheaper than the Nikon lenses. Nikon however has some really awesome wide angle, macro, and general purpose lenses. The D800 is pretty awesome with its high MP but DR is slightly below the 5DMkIII from Canon in specific ranges. Overall, there's no issue with using both systems, it's just a difference in preference and interoperability of lenses. If you purchase Nikon lenses, you can use them with your Canon camera. I'm still lusting after the Leica M9-P so I'm hoping that will be my next system.

If it works for you, go for it... Both systems are excellent.

However, I'd have trouble switching back and forth between two distinct systems that have quite different control layouts and some differences in functionality... and I wouldn't want to buy lenses and other accessories twice.

More practical for me is using a pair of Canon crop sensor cameras complemented with a Canon FF camera... that makes for a highly versatile kit for me.

Both are reasonable, but you rob yourself of the ability to fully flesh out one system by draining resources to support another. Go all in with one brand or another.

leverage your equipment and stack it .... you know like having a deep bench.

At the moment I'm shooting with D3S and D700 ( plus full range of pro lenses) as well as the 5D MkIII. I must admit that I'm not getting the best out of either system because of the constant adaptation needed going from one set of controls/menus/lenses to another.

"The fact is that relatively few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it."
Edward Weston