My objectives here are 1) less typing to set up a $dbh and 2) get practice with Moose. Just about 100% of the time my scripts are for my own purposes. So I have this role set up with defaults that I will probably use 99% of the time. I can always change them later if I need to. So now I can write one liner like this:

use LaborData::Data::SchemaLoader;
my $loader = LaborData::Data::SchemaLoader->new;
$loader->make_schema('lm2_data');
[download]

LaborData::Data::SchemaLoader contains DBIx make_schema method and my DB package which automatically loads a database handler. And so now I never have to look up the code again for loading a schema for DBIx when I want to do it on a different database.

But you are right. It's doubtful I would ever need to have my object switch the db connection.

This didn't smell good to me either. That's why, I suppose, I asked this question. I like your suggestion of a configuration file. That does seem like the proper, more extensible way of doing things. I'm sure there's a module for that. But I got enough on my plate already. :)

Thanks for the feedback.