digitalmaster wrote:

"Leon" wrote in message
...

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message
ups.com...
It has always concerned me when the young amoung us are not taugh basic
skills such as how to change a tire, how to use a saw, how to...well
you get the idea...there are basic skills that one needs to deal with
the world we live in. Well this article shows what that lack of
training, due to whatever reason, means as they get older.

When I drive through a neighborhood, it is a rare garage that has
anything like a workshop within it anymore....a reflection of the lack
of interest or knowledge of the homeowner to work with their hands?

Do your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, the generation who
is succeeding us, have the basic skills that are needed in the world
today?

TMT

Blame the home builder. The last 4 homes that I have lived in have had
garages only big enough for cars. When I was a kid I recall most every
"Man of the house" was able to change a tire, make minor repairs and build
items from wood. This neighborhood was built just after WWII and every
garage in the neighborhood had at least 1 additional room attached for a
work shop, storage, and in my case the garage had 2 extra storage rooms
and a maid's quarters. All this detached from the main 1,200 sq. ft. 2
bedroom 1 bath house. I do not recall any of these extra garage rooms not
having some kind of work area or work shop.

don't blame the home builder...blame the home buyer.Builders build what
sells.If workshops were a priority for most people most homes would have
them.

When I bought this house eight years ago, I couldn't even find a
realtor who even knew what a workshop was. One listing claimed to have a
workshop, so I got directions and went to see it. The "Workshop" was two
feet of 1" * 12" particle board over the dryer in the laundry room. I
went back to the realtor's office and read him the riot act in front of
everyone there, including other people looking for homes. I asked him if
he had been married so long that he had forgot what it was like to have
the space to do what he wanted, when he wanted. Finally, he asked, "Just
what the hell are you looking for?" I smiled and told him that I wanted
a house suitable for a single many with hobbies. A 150 square foot
house, and a 3000 square foot shop. he told me that i would NEVER find
it in Florida, because no one wanted a workshop. He was wrong. I found
a home with a 30' * 40" garage, a 18' * 28' storage building, a 12' *
12' "Workshop", a 12' * 12' laundry building, a 12' * 24" one bedroom
cottage, and a three bedroom home with a large family room and a small
library.

All for under 40K, and it should be paid off in a few more years. ;-)


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida