Help building...does that make me bad?

[Gypsy Clipper]

I seem to see a bit of a trend towards euphemisms which I find hilarious.
I also love people trying to tell me to try it I might like it. Trust me. I am 51 years old and I grew up with a Dad that had to always be doing something then I married that same kind of person. I have long ago discovered that I have no interest in building anything. I will go get absolutely any tool and I even know what they are all called. I had been carrying around a skill saw,a jig saw and a bag of tools and I finally tossed them out in our burn pit. I used to work for Emerson Electric and they made motors for craftsman and they also made Skil/Bosch and Rigid tools. We could buy all of the tools we could handle on payments out of our check. My ex-husband had a 60x200 shop for working on anything. We built our own house by ourselves on weekends while driving a truck through the whole country. Trust me when I say it will be a cold day in hell before I buy another tool.

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[duckwonder]

I'm so relieved I am not alone in the build out department.  If I had the skills and time, that would definitely be the way to go, but I do not.  That was the main factor in my decision to get an RV van instead of a Chevy.  Also don't have the money to hire so much out.  So I guess I'm finding a balance learning some small things myself and watching some incredible people do the bigger stuff.  If I'd known at the time that I really would not be able to use the onboard systems of an RV van while boondocking, I may have done something different, but I didn't know.  Have to work with what I have.  I feel really guilty asking for help with stuff, but if I don't ask, I'll never get anywhere.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

I ask all the time. I have met some awesome people very willing to help. I am a grateful employer/recipient and I work hard to make sure anyone that helps me out doesn't go away feeling taken advantage of. Its not that I can't do any of it. It's that I am willing to let someone more qualified to do it. I don't want to sit in my home and stare at my ****** workmanship 24/7.

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[GypsySpirit]

You'll be amazed at what you can do and so proud of your accomplishments. My trailer isn't the prettiest, but I did it (with help from my friends). And now that I'm repairing it, I'm learning so much. Am very appreciative of all the knowledge found here in these forums, but when it comes time for solar, I'm definitely asking for help. Electrical stuff scares the hell out of me.

 

[sephson]

Of course I understand this, but explain for others what "damage" might happen. And liked I said, I already know, but for the others...

Put in the simplest terms, used improperly, power tools can maim, cripple or kill a person.

That said, with proper safety precautions, such as wearing safety glasses and earplugs, always taking the proper time when using them, and simply handling the tools with due care, these risks are minimized, though never eliminated entirely.

I ask all the time. I have met some awesome people very willing to help. I am a grateful employer/recipient and I work hard to make sure anyone that helps me out doesn't go away feeling taken advantage of. Its not that I can't do any of it. It's that I am willing to let someone more qualified to do it. I don't want to sit in my home and stare at my ****** workmanship 24/7.

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There's nothing wrong with that. If you have the means and desire to hire other people to do the work for you, great! You'll get what you want and I'm sure they'll appreciate the work.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

That seems to work so much better than me running the risk of drilling a hole in my hand or putting an eye out with a nail gun. I know I am fully capable of doing anything. I hauled bombs,nuclear waste and washing machine motors across the lower 48 and Canada for 2,000,000 accident free miles. But seriously I know I am not good with power tools.

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[waldenbound]

Ok, if you don't honestly don't want to do the work and can hire help, then you can kick back with a cocktail in one hand while pointing with the other, "A little higher, over to the left a bit, no I think that color is too dark, lighten it up."

No shame in that, it's not a contest on who has the best workmanship. It's getting on the road that's the real prize!

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

Now your talking my language! Obviously you have met my Mom...

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[JustACarSoFar]

everyone who doesn't know Jamie Dimon has a build out every year at Lake Havasu AZ.  it's coming up.  plenty of help.  here's his you tube channel,


https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=enigmatic+nomadics

highdesertranger

Yep, I was told about this 'build' in Lake Havasu from other members going,.. seems to be later October. You'd get great ideas Gyspy!
(I am excellent with tool use but like GypsyClipper no longer have them and aint buyin em! 

..oh no.. I said somthin that WABBIT will interpret as a euphemism..  

 

[rvpopeye]

I'd consider a Semi a pretty big power tool !

 

[Txjaybird]

I consider myself lucky that I am one of those women that learned how to use and still has power tools.  Due to health reasons  I am no longer able to use them as handily as I once could.  I haven't given up completely on myself & I ask for help when I need it.  I have learned & know my limitations in different areas & I leave the electric saws to others and limit my use of drills and sanders.

I think we all have our strengths and weaknesses in various areas.  Everyone has something they are interested in or are good at.  To me this is what keeps life from being boring, the differences in the people I meet.  I don't do bored well   :s :huh:

There is nothing wrong with knowing when we need help or in asking for that help. 

TJB

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

I built an entire farm with my ex-husband and remodeled two houses. I burned my last Skil saw and jig saw that I have been carrying around in this van for two years. It was definitely cathartic. I'm not buying a bus to have something else to work on. Kind of the point of retirement from what I can see. I'm just grooming dogs because I live how happy it makes them and me feel. Also I am planning on heading up to Jamie's build. Was considering seeing if anyone was game to put a deck on the top of the bus.

 

[CityWoman]

I know that, when I am ready, I will budget for paying people to work on my build. I'm fairly handy and enjoy DIY, but don't know enough about building stuff and am quite afraid of power tools despite all the years of watching women use them masterfully on HGTV. So, I'm definitely going to design and supervise others when the time comes. There is nothing wrong with that!

I plan on putting together a good team and telling them, "Okay, I want this here and that there." And when they give me their expert opinions about what we'll need or whether my idea needs tweaking, I'll listen and we'll figure out what to do. I'll do my share of work, but leave the stuff I don't want to do for the people who know how and I will pay them to do it. I'm experienced as a producer/manager so I will use my talent for assembling a team that rocks.

What I do intend to invest in is classes in basic auto mechanics because I don't know anything about car care, and want to lessen the chances of being stranded and vulnerable on the side of a road somewhere. Fortunately there is a school near me that specializes in teaching auto mechanics to women, run by a woman.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

That is such a good idea! Investing in a good solid vehicle is also key.
One thing though to keep in mind that if you do find yourself broke down on the road call 911 immediately. Even if you can repair your vehicle yourself sitting along side the interstate highway for a woman is asking for trouble. I have never had an officer come to my rescue and give me **** for calling. I have had Texas state troopers take me to buy gas cans and pay for them including the cost of gas. Also anytime you see someone broke down on the road(even if you feel you can help) call 911 to report the breakdown and keep driving. There are so many roadside assistance vehicles now that it just doesn't make sense to put yourself in a questionable situation.
Also don't try to repair your own vehicle. Unless it is a simple fix. There are so many electronic parts you run the risk of shorting things out. When you pay a shop to do the work you are getting piece of mind that if it isn't done right you have some recourse.
These brilliant,handy mechanics and builders here do most of this work because they can. At some point you have to pick your battles. Being able to do everything(or trying to) is tiring. Life is too short unless you enjoy grease under your nails or the smell of sawdust. I do not.

 

[CityWoman]

No, I'm not saying I will want to do all car repairs myself, but I should be able to do some basic maintence **** and know enough to assess a problem, know what questions to ask, and tell whether some jerkwad is trying to rip me off just because I'm a female and he automatically assumes I know nothing.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

That is a perfectly good reason! I think being knowledgeable enough to avoid being taken advantage of is a great reason.
One of the easiest ways to avoid getting screwed is to keep your vehicle in the best possible shape via regular maintenance and never,ever ignore a noise that seems out of the ordinary. Good vehicles just don't all of a sudden die. Also...I know this one seems so simple but keep your fuel tank full. The number of stranded motorists I have seen because of something so simple as running out of gas amazes the crap out of me.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

And try not to drive at night. That's when a lot of the creeps hit the road trolling for unsuspecting victims.