Ever read Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus? A lot of wisdom in there, at the cost of a lot of over-generalization..Short version, (1) Every man needs a “man cave”, which can be a den, workshop, car, etc….any place where he can escape from the relentless socialization of family life, and relax while he does Stuff. And (2) A women invades a man’s man cave at her own risk. As loving a couple as they might be, she is not welcome except on sufferance, and if she persists he’ll only (resentfully) find another one she doesn’t know about..The guy, for his part, needs to recognize that his lady can take this as a sign of personal rejection — which it isn’t; a guy needs not to “be with” her all the time, that’s all..Well, I did say it was overgeneralized. :) It’s actually built on the other generalization that women tend to be extroverts and are happier when they’re in the company of others, and men tend to be introverts who are happier when they’re left pretty much alone. For sure we all know individual men and women who break the generalization, but the real insight is this: extroverts and introverts of any gender can get along just fine, but only if they respect and accommodate each other’s values and needs…even if each is morally certain the other is effin’ nuts. :)
Sorry about that. I always enjoyed workshop. Sadly, many schools districts do not offer it anymore – you have to go to community college to get those 7th grade skills.
Susan Newman sounds like my kind of woman. Wish I’d known you back in the early ’60’s Susan. In my case when I expressed my interest in mechanics I was told by a counselor, “you don’t seem t understand young man, you don’t have to work with your hands. If you like mechanical things you can become an engineer”. I didn’t want to be an engineer, I wanted to work with tools.
Everything I know about construction work of any kind I learned from my husband, who’s worked in that field almost his entire life doing this, that and the other until he finally achieved his dream of owning his own General Contracting business. My dad couldn’t do the simplest of things, from changing the oil in his car to changing a washer in a leaky faucet to hammering a nail without hammering his thumb or other fingers in the process. But even if he had known how to do “manly things” like that, being a girl I definitely wouldn’t have been interested in learning that kind of stuff back then anyhow. Now, however, I find that I truly enjoy helping my husband do all kinds of things around the house — inside and out — to greatly improve its looks, its value and just our overall enjoyment of it while we’re living here until we’re ready to retire and move further south to our “forever home” someday (which, I’m sure, will mean all new home improvement projects of some kind all over again!).
It would be awesome to have a refuge! As a woman, there is pretty much nowhere I can go (including, at times, the bathroom) where I can get away from everywhere, be alone and decorate like I want (early medieval w/swords on the wall!)
lindonc over 12 years ago
I’ll take work shop any time. It is my man cave!
bluskies over 12 years ago
And you don’t have to worry about running out of TP!
bluskies over 12 years ago
Talk about a wistful (or wishful) esxpression-
bbadenov over 12 years ago
The driving range and golf course work for me!
tripwire45 over 12 years ago
You can’t stay in there forever.
psychlady over 12 years ago
He’s teaching Michael a couple of important lessons here!
js305 over 12 years ago
In the last 30 years I have built 3 workshops. I now have 2 1/2 storage buildings…I’m determined to keep the last half…
tedunn5453 over 12 years ago
One man’s workshop, another man’s “man cave”…
flagfly over 12 years ago
I hope his wife has a like refuge, perhaps in the basement. “I’m down here…waiting for the clothes to dry”.
jimcos over 12 years ago
Personally, I enjoy a nice motorcycle ride. Can’t even answer the phone on one of them!
PShaw0423 over 12 years ago
Ever read Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus? A lot of wisdom in there, at the cost of a lot of over-generalization..Short version, (1) Every man needs a “man cave”, which can be a den, workshop, car, etc….any place where he can escape from the relentless socialization of family life, and relax while he does Stuff. And (2) A women invades a man’s man cave at her own risk. As loving a couple as they might be, she is not welcome except on sufferance, and if she persists he’ll only (resentfully) find another one she doesn’t know about..The guy, for his part, needs to recognize that his lady can take this as a sign of personal rejection — which it isn’t; a guy needs not to “be with” her all the time, that’s all..Well, I did say it was overgeneralized. :) It’s actually built on the other generalization that women tend to be extroverts and are happier when they’re in the company of others, and men tend to be introverts who are happier when they’re left pretty much alone. For sure we all know individual men and women who break the generalization, but the real insight is this: extroverts and introverts of any gender can get along just fine, but only if they respect and accommodate each other’s values and needs…even if each is morally certain the other is effin’ nuts. :)
Allan CB Premium Member over 12 years ago
This was long before “Man Caves” became popular … this was the 80’s … when Men were supposed to take over the Garage as a workshop.
route66paul over 12 years ago
Sorry about that. I always enjoyed workshop. Sadly, many schools districts do not offer it anymore – you have to go to community college to get those 7th grade skills.
coffeeturtle over 12 years ago
Unless you’re anything like Tim Allen. Then you also need a bunker. :-)
ronpolimeni over 12 years ago
Susan Newman sounds like my kind of woman. Wish I’d known you back in the early ’60’s Susan. In my case when I expressed my interest in mechanics I was told by a counselor, “you don’t seem t understand young man, you don’t have to work with your hands. If you like mechanical things you can become an engineer”. I didn’t want to be an engineer, I wanted to work with tools.
Gretchen's Mom over 12 years ago
Everything I know about construction work of any kind I learned from my husband, who’s worked in that field almost his entire life doing this, that and the other until he finally achieved his dream of owning his own General Contracting business. My dad couldn’t do the simplest of things, from changing the oil in his car to changing a washer in a leaky faucet to hammering a nail without hammering his thumb or other fingers in the process. But even if he had known how to do “manly things” like that, being a girl I definitely wouldn’t have been interested in learning that kind of stuff back then anyhow. Now, however, I find that I truly enjoy helping my husband do all kinds of things around the house — inside and out — to greatly improve its looks, its value and just our overall enjoyment of it while we’re living here until we’re ready to retire and move further south to our “forever home” someday (which, I’m sure, will mean all new home improvement projects of some kind all over again!).
;-)
iced tea over 12 years ago
Michael: Your dad’s trying to teach you important skills. You’ll remember this moment when you’re grown with your own son.
masnadies over 12 years ago
It would be awesome to have a refuge! As a woman, there is pretty much nowhere I can go (including, at times, the bathroom) where I can get away from everywhere, be alone and decorate like I want (early medieval w/swords on the wall!)