How I spent my summer | 43 comments (43 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: How I spent my summer (4.00 / 2)

The trick, you see, is to embrace the fact that everything takes four times longer than expected and there will be surprises along the way.

I used to be annoyed by these realities as well. Now, I expect them. And of course, the world being as perverse as it is, once you become mentally prepared for the big distraction, it doesn't show up ;-)

I haven't done this sort of thing for maybe 25 years. Now that my S.O. knows about my skills, she dreams up new uses for them. Fortunately, projects seem to go a LOT smoother than I remember.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 12:21:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How I spent my summer (4.00 / 3)

The problem is partly that if you're not an expert, every job involves solving new problems for the first time.

I'd guess if you've been doing it for a while it gets to be more a case of 'This is probably going to happen, and then I'm going to solve it this other way.'

If it's all new, it's more of a challenge.

Also - tools. The professionals have the specialised tools, and they know which ones they need. If you're new to the game it's not obvious which tools are required, or even if they exist. (An obvious example being the tap spanner, which turns a horrendous under-the-sink job into something rather easier.)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 12:35:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: How I spent my summer (none / 1)

Ah yes--specialized tools.

I don't do plumbing. Not too proud--just too big to get under sinks, etc.
With the big box building stores, getting great tools is quite inexpensive. Specialized tools can be rented. But the BEST way to get the tools you need is to know a bunch of people who have plenty of tools they rarely use. Tool and skill sharing is how the middle of USA was settled. I grew up in a town where if your neighbor wasn't home, you just went into his shop and borrowed the tools you needed. Of course, there were a bunch of social constraints on this behavior, but generally speaking it worked VERY well.

"Remember the I35W bridge--who needs terrorists when there are Republicans"

by techno (reply@elegant-technology.com) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 01:03:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

How I spent my summer | 43 comments (43 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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