Men of a certain age

[DJofSD]

Years ago most men knew how to do repairs around the house. Plumbing repairs, electicial and carpentry. It seemed like a call to specialist only happened if you didn't have the right tool or was a major repair. But even then if you had buddies that were capable they might have that tool and most often they'd help out with the major repair. Heck, it was my experience while growing up that in my families circle of friends and relatives, doing a major addition to the house was common place. I can't even begin to count the number of different repairs and add-ons I got involved in. Kids, as it turns out, are cheap labor (ya, ya, OK, I guess my dad did pay for my care and feeding.)

And, so too, basic maintenance of the family car. Tune ups, simple repairs such as new generators, etc., seemed to be done at home in the drive way. Again, if you knew the right guy or had a relative in the business, getting the tool for a job you might not have been able to do otherwise, would allow you to save some bucks. That is as long as you got the correct replacement part when you got a lift to the dealership or auto repair store (damn, Pep Boys is still around.)

Then the home PC became another area where the guy with some knowledge and a minimal set of tools could do his own thing. And, again, friends and family would help with either the guidance and insight, if not the outright repair if it was not your expertise.

But then along came the tablet PC and the smart phone. I expect that given enough time for most people having either a desktop or even a laptop will become a distant memory.

And, who repairs small appliances any more? When was the last time you saw some one working on their own car, let alone chaning the oil?

So what's the next area for the home repair? Anything left?

[Bettowin]

I get a kick out of people who call the "Irrigation Specialist" when a sprinkler head goes berserk. I did it the first time because I was leaving on vacation in an hour and wouldn't be home. Got charged $60 for the labor and somewhere around $20 for the part.

It takes about 5 minutes to dig one up and another 5 minutes to take the old one off and put the new one on. Takes longer to set the damn thing:) They cost between $3 and $10 depending on the type.

I keep a couple of each type on hand for emergencies and have replaced the neighbor lady's a few times. Makes no sense to call someone for this repair.

[Greyfox]

Not quite along these lines, but similar, in a shopping center close to my house is a Shoe Maker.
As I'm at this shopping center every day I casually know him.
He's had his shop there for over 30 years.
Over that time, I've never seen anyone going into or out of his store.
Yet he pays his rent on the space every month.
I've always wondered how he makes a nickel, as I don't know anyone who has their shoes repaired any more.

With respect to the home, more and more "stuff" as George Carlin would say, is in it. A lot of that "stuff" is starting to be computerized, as is your car.
For example, we had our furnace ducts cleaned last week.
The guy who did them said that we're lucky to have an older furnace.
"The new ones are all computerized and if something goes wrong in them you're looking at $1500 or more for a replacement board."
The furnace is the biggest appliance in most homes.
I wouldn't even think of trying to fix the one we have let alone a new one with a computer.

As for my own Mr. "Fixit" talents - they are very minimal. :blush:
If something goes wrong in our house that demands more than a duct tape repair, I let my wife handle it. Duct tape I can do.
She grew up on a farm and can repair a lot of things that I, a product of the concrete jungle, can't.
Maybe our repair talents have gone down the tube as we've moved from an agrarian society to an urban one??

[boxcar]

Not quite along these lines, but similar, in a shopping center close to my house is a Shoe Maker.
As I'm at this shopping center every day I casually know him.
He's had his shop there for over 30 years.
Over that time, I've never seen anyone going into or out of his store.
Yet he pays his rent on the space every month.
I've always wondered how he makes a nickel, as I don't know anyone who has their shoes repaired any more.

With respect to the home, more and more "stuff" as George Carlin would say, is in it. A lot of that "stuff" is starting to be computerized, as is your car.
For example, we had our furnace ducts cleaned last week.
The guy who did them said that we're lucky to have an older furnace.
"The new ones are all computerized and if something goes wrong in them you're looking at $1500 or more for a replacement board."
The furnace is the biggest appliance in most homes.
I wouldn't even think of trying to fix the one we have let alone a new one with a computer.

As for my own Mr. "Fixit" talents - they are very minimal. :blush:
If something goes wrong in our house that demands more than a duct tape repair, I let my wife handle it. Duct tape I can do.
She grew up on a farm and can repair a lot of things that I, a product of the concrete jungle, can't.
Maybe our repair talents have gone down the tube as we've moved from an agrarian society to an urban one??

Your wife and mine would hit it off great -- just by comparing notes on their respective mechanically-challenged hubbies. :lol: :lol:

Boxcar

[Ocala Mike]

Well, I'm of that certain age, but I can tell you that I was never very handy. I'm glad to see the modern world is catching up to me, finally.

Very expensive to not be able to fix anything, though. Went to the mall to get a new battery for my watch, and they charged me $15 to put it in.

[Dave Schwartz]

At my house, Beth is the "Facilities Manager."

She is the one with the Mikita drill. I am not allowed to touch it (and am happy with that).

Seriously, there is nothing like a hot woman that can handle a drill.

(We also have a handy man on speed dial and a killer home warranty program.)

[Tom]

I'm a Duct Tape Man.


Me too, if I can't fix it, duc it!

[Robert Goren]

I grew up on a farm. Everything we had was held together with bailing wire. No Duct tape back then. I still use a wire to fix some things. My world growing up was filled with shade tree mechanics although now that I look back on it, most of the time they spent their time just staring at the engine.