title: python: change a property getter after the fact
body: <p>Is it possible to change the getter for a python property after it has been created?</p>
  
  <pre><code>class A:
      _lookup_str = 'hi'
      @property
      def thing():
          value = some_dictionary[_lookup_str]
          # overwrite self.thing so that it is just value, not a special getter
          return value
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The idea is that once I've looked it up once, I shouldn't have to look it up again (the dictionary will never change). I could do:</p>
  
  <pre><code>class A:
       _lookup_str = 'hi'
       _thing = None
       @property
       def thing():
           if not value:
               value = some_dictionary[_lookup_str]
           return value
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But even there, I'm testing a condition -- which is more work than if I could remove the getter altogether and replace it with a value.</p>