greatbear | Questions answered pt. 1

bigreddee asked:

You've written a lot about being a "tinkerer" and someone who is fairly adept at working on a lot of different things. What is your favorite kind of project to take on?

That's actually a toughie. I guess my favorites are ones that make life a little bit (or a lot) more enjoyable, or find everyday use, or ones that I feel a lot of satisfaction in. It could be something as simple as putting up a new light fixture, or something as involved as the deck or even building the house itself. I like stuff that gets me thinking and designing, and really putting in some effort.

Note that these projects/tinkering/tasks are not just things I do for myself, but for others too. Putting aside things like car repairs and modifications I do for others, I have been involved with construction and renovation on friends' homes, for example. Seeing the extra room, garage or deck or redone interior or exterior and seeing how much they enjoy it gives me a big feeling of accomplishment. Being able to do these things allows me a sense of pride, and more importantly a big feeling of independence. A coworker was recently lamenting the need for a new water heater, to the tune of something like 1300 dollars. This was for the heater itself, the installation, and some minor upgrade of some such to the plumbing. This is something I could have done myself (and, ironically, something I should do soon since my own water heater is now 20 years old) in a few hours time. This would also be something I would do for myself at about a third of the cost, with guaranteed better workmanship and even a higher quality heater. The savings alone is substantial, and contributes to financial well-being, and, of course, more fun projects and acquisitions of tools and gear. :D

There are also those countless other little (and not-so-little) things I do just because I enjoy doing them. My hobbies are outrageous in number it seems. I've always been the sort to explore and tinker, build and learn. So it is with the electronics and computers, crazy car mods, wood/metalworking and whatnot. I've said that if ever I am somehow not able to do all these things, then my life is severely diminished. I can't just sit around watching television. If I am laid up with some sort of injury, I get stir crazy and absolutely have to do something. Maybe it's a form of OCD, but it's a disorder that has served me well for as long as I could remember.