Is your shop just that?

[formariz 11,987]

For those of us that have dedicated spaces in our homes that are used as a work shop regardless of what kind of work we do in it, is that area just that? A work area? Comments have been made regarding that space here by people which makes me bring this up and think about it. Probably the comment that mostly makes me think about it is the one “ you have put a lot of yourself into this place”. Thinking about it it is absolutely true. Speaking only of the shop now, although it applies to the property in general  the possibility or necessity of moving or having to move which has surfaced several times through the years has really stressed me out . So it’s just a place some would say. It is not. 

 Even a bigger better, more convenient place would not substitute it. I have evolved and matured here in this 400 square foot shop space for 39 years now.Those attributes are clearly evidenced here by those who can recognize it specially those that know me. It is indeed part of me and probably cannot be duplicated elsewhere. There is a certain “ soul” to it that cannot just be started somewhere else.There would not be enough time and I would be trying to duplicate something that happened naturally as part of my life.Without it I just would not feel complete. I spend quite a lot of time in it. Even if I have nothing to do in it I find myself there and just sit and think. In there I am surrounded by generations of objects most of them personally handed down to me by family or others. There is always a voice or an image associated with most tools used. I felt that “soul” at a very young age in my grandfather’s place . Out of my control that place  was lost for ever. I know my children have that same feeling about this place where they were raised from birth , grew up, and learned most of the skills they have today. The grandchildren constantly sneak into the shop and love being here. They remind me of my very same feelings  and curiosity at their age in my grandfathers place. 

 Its a place I find myself in it during times of stress or grief. It calms me down and gives me solice. To leave it I feel like I would leave a large part of me behind . I would always be thinking about it. Perhaps I am nuts.  Am I alone feeling like this?

[JimSraj 430]

Oh, you are not at all alone in feeling like this. 

[wh500special 2,184]

Cas, you are a quite the romantic.

 

I have a small basement workshop for woodworking.  I’ve made a lot of stuff down there but I’ve never really developed an attachment to it. I think it will come in time.  
 

Part of that is probably because it is a landing zone for all the detritus of our household that needs to find a permanent home.  It’s the quick fix for hiding things when company comes over and the most convenient storage place for surplus groceries and supplies.  Having to relocate other people’s stuff each time I want to do

something reduces the desire to spend time there. 
 

yet once in a while I do just sit on a stool and dream and remember that this came from grandpa, this from my father in law, this from dad…

 

steve 

Edited July 2, 2022 by wh500special

[ebinmaine 67,589]

 

We currently have 2 shops split between the basement workshop and outdoor workshop.  Some tools duplicated in both spaces, some not.  

If all goes according to plan we'll be combining both areas to the new building soon but that too will be ... 2 shops. Upstairs and down. 

 

Louis Lamour has written about the struggles of a man without a "home". In his case he was referring to the constant movement of some humans be it the product of upbringing or current circumstances.  

I had that same set of struggles for a few years. 

I was born n raised in an area I missed and dislike greatly and equally. 

Over the last few years Southern Maine has become my home. ... But even as the economy grows and thereby the population, this area is eventually to be a former home as well.  

The BBT and I are VERY much quiet country loving folk. North is where that happens.  

 

I tell you all that to state this:

Your safe happy place is where you make it. 

Yes we have memories of certain people places things attached to a particular area.  

Those memories are just that no matter where we are physically. 

 

I am happiest and most relaxed in The Great Northern Maine Woods.  

I am happiest and most productive around my own acreage. 

 

 

You are who you are and have become not because of the place. 

You are who you are. No matter the place.  

 

 

[Heatingman 971]

I find work shops similar to houses. 

 

It’s not the space that gives the space a feeling. (Only nature and the most special buildings can do that for me - a magnificent church or historic building for example) 

 

It’s the time spent within and around it, and more then that whom that time was spent with. And what was happening in your life at that time. 

 

I recently bought a new place. Primarily to expand my workshop and outdoor space.

 

I owned this place for 2 years before moving in, because we wanted to update it. As a hard working pipefitter, I was fortunate enough to have just enough money combined with what I had saved to be able to maintain 2 mortgages while also paying for the remodeling as I went.

 

When my wife and I first got married we lived in the last home during the remodel of that house. It was a trying time to say the least, and living in it made the remodeling process that much more difficult and time consuming. 

 

The first thing I did here was move into my new shop, as it was the center of action for the remodel. Built new work benches (much of which was repurposed materials from the new house) and arranged all the hardware, built lumber and pipe storage systems, etc…

During that process and the subsequent remodeling and cabinet making, and so forth, I made a great deal of memories in the new place, with my young son whom would often help me with whatever the task of the day was. 
 

So by the time we moved in, I already had a connection to the shop and the property as a whole.

 

So I guess my point is that a new shop is just a new chapter in your life. Something to enjoy, rather than endure. 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2022 by Heatingman

[JoeM 7,874]

My shop is more like my den.

A place to escape.

A place to be creative,

A place to think,

A place to pray. 

it has provided solence.....yet filled with inanimate objects that just plain support the soul. 

 

time has a way to make change, but it can't change the soul.

 

 

 

 

[adsm08 2,067]

My shop has recently been co-opted for storage.

 

I have a full 2-car garage that is supposed to be my work shop. More recently it has become storage for the kids' toys, and I barely have room to get the tractor in.

[peter lena 8,634]

@formariz  agree and can relate , as we all get steadily older , you fefinetly look at and see things in a different light , THE IRONY OF AGING IS THAT YOU GET TO ENJOY IT , having my own reflections , pete  

[ebinmaine 67,589]

12 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

More recently it has become storage for the kids' toys, and I barely have room to get the tractor in.

You need a kid shed.. 

[rjg854 11,378]

It's taken 22 years to build what I have here.  A 2 story 24x28 garage/workshop for carpentry work for me, and a 2nd floor craft room for the wife. It also has a 3/4 bathroom and a kitchenette.  There's a garden shed for the little lady, and attached to that is a 18x20 tractor shed for the 's. The place is a 1/4 mile off the main highway, so it's nice and peaceful here. Most people don't even know it exists, except for the ones I tell.  I just finished putting in a kitchen and last year a bathroom. I would dread the thought of having to leave this place at this stage of life.  I call it, "GOD's half acre". In my mind right now, there's only one way I'm leaving here. In an urn 

[953 nut 55,297]

I have a wood shop and a stable for the  and both are far enough from the house that my wife isn't disturbed by the noise.

 

Our little piece of paradise is situated on seven acres of North Carolina mountain side with a creek running through it. When we bought it sixteen years ago it had a one bedroom two story house (now a rental), a shop building that had been converted into a guest house and a small horse barn with a dirt floor. 

 

At the time we knew the house would not fit our needs as we aged but we love the location. Prior to moving from Florida I had a workshop built to house my street rods and the wife's sport car; they have since been sold making room for more . In 2011 we began construction of our new house, one level living, curb-less showers and other consideration that should allow us to live here the rest of our lives. We subcontracted the foundation, framing, insulation, drywall and roofing but did the rest ourselves. My wife had never been around a construction project before so it was quite an adventure for her. She quickly learned that lots of work had to be done from scaffolding when you build on a mountain side. Much to my amazement she even went out on a few of the scaffolds while painting the siding.

 

Next the guest house became my wood working shop so I could cabinets for the new house. I've also done some furniture building, a lot of projects for the church and little things for my wife. It is a great retreat for just sitting and reflecting on life. I can pick up a piece of a project and do some hand sanding while I remines.

 

The  shop has an office, wife calls it my Man Cave, and some days I spend as much time solving the world's problems and  planning projects as I do working. I know the day will come when I can't get much work done, but knowing I can go out to either of the shops and give my wife some peace and quiet is good for both of us.

[ebinmaine 67,589]

Excellent thread. 

It's very interesting to read the variety of thought processes.   

[SPINJIM 1,981]

At 80 years of age,  we have been faced with a decision as to whether to move to a much smaller house in a 'continuing care facility'.   I've told my wife that I would take one or two of my tractors with me, but I would still lose my 36' x 36' pole barn workshop.  I've always been a hands-on person, and have remodeled or renovated five homes (and 30 Wheel Horses).  The workshop is part of what makes me 'ME'.  Giving up my workshop would be like giving up my right arm, or part of my soul.  I'd be completely bored and lost.  The day may come when we have to give up, but I'm fighting it 'tooth and nail'.

   Jim

Edited July 2, 2022 by SPINJIM

[pacer 3,173]

@SPINJIM Im in the almost identical situation -- I'm 82 and still in pretty decent health, but I'm only TOO aware that could change quickly. I've been here 50 yrs and as several others have said, I contracted out the main house construction and did the rest myself, including a 24x32 stick built shop  that over the years has got full insulation with sheet rock and heat & air. As @953 nut sez, its my 'man cave! I dont fish, golf, bar hop, etc, etc, I head to my shop!!

 

Now, my eldest is putting a bit of pressure on me to sell before my health goes (and move to Mich -- yikes!) And, he has a valid point! One minute I'm tempted and the next - several - I say I dont know if I could leave my shop, I could care less about the house having lost my little bride a couple years ago. but ....

 

Bout 10 yrs ago I sprung for a full sized Milling machine and a 13" metal lathe (YEA, love them things!) one of my buddies sez wasnt that a lot of money to put into tools?  - I promptly asked him 'what did you pay for that bass boat you bought couple years ago' That was the last of that conversation! I knew what he paid and it was was a bit more that double what my 'tools' cost

[8ntruck 7,016]

We have moved often enough since 1978 that our house has turned out to be the place we are living until we move again.  Now that we are retired, our house is now a long term deal - unless some unplanned upheaval happens that requires another move.

 

With that in mind, my shop space has always just been a space for me to work.  With the prospect of another move being much less likely, my shop space will become more specialised and permanent.

[adsm08 2,067]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

You need a kid shed.. 

We are working on that.

 

I have an 8X10 tool shed that houses the un-used Horse and implements, but it keeps blowing away. I want to upgrade to a 14x10, which will help some.

 

The big issue is that we all have bikes, the boy and I both have 2 that are in the garage because it's bike season, and we have four PowerWheels sized electric go carts that we bought the kids at Christmas, one for each, and two extras for when they have friends over, which take up almost as much floor space as my Bronco II would, but they can't really be kept in the shed because they need to be kept out of the moisture since the electronics aren't sealed, and they need access to electric for charging. When we get the bigger shed I'll put down a real floor, or at least some gravel.

Edited July 2, 2022 by adsm08

[squonk 41,150]

6 hours ago, rjg854 said:

there's only one way I'm leaving here. In an urn 

Can I toss some ashes onto your neighbor's property so you can Haunt him? 

[squonk 41,150]

About 40 years ago I was working at a large Chrysler dealer in Rochester N.Y. about 20 bays. They built a new dealership down the street (30 Bays) Guess who moved everything? WE DID!!!  I always say, you never know what you have until you move! My main task was moving the parts dept. We had a 1 ton Dodge window van to do it. And if anybody had driven a Dodge van, let's just say they don't steer the greatest. We laid the bins down with all the parts in them in the van @Pullstart style and that back end was sagging. I didn't dare go over 20 MPH on the double lane.

 

If you have a shop and thinking about moving start early. Get your new place bought before the old one is sold otherwise your gonna move everything twice.

[8ntruck 7,016]

2 hours ago, squonk said:

Can I toss some ashes onto your neighbor's property so you can Haunt him? 

I've told my kids that I want to be cremated, then they need to deposit some of my ashes in locations ranging from Copper Harbor to Daytona beach. I doubt that will happen, though.

 

My brother in law's wife owns and runs a funeral parlor.  She got kind of flustered when she heard that plan.

[Heatingman 971]

8 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

You need a kid shed.. 

That exactly what I did. The last step I did the week of the move was make a shed for all my sons bulky toys that I knew would drive me up a wall being in my shop. Bad enough my wifes car is in there. 
 

So as part of the move, my wife wanted a new bed. A metal one this time, and I know if I built it, it would have been so heavy, it never would have left the shop. So I bought one instead. 
 

The previous bed I made 15 or so years ago from cedar and pine. So I dismantled that bed, took all the parts and reworked them into a shed. Only new parts I bought were the roof shingles, and 2 sheets of 4x8 siding.

 

 

[rjg854 11,378]

2 hours ago, squonk said:

Can I toss some ashes onto your neighbor's property so you can Haunt him? 

If you would, please 

[953 nut 55,297]

10 hours ago, SPINJIM said:

faced with a decision as to whether to move to a much smaller house in a 'continuing care facility'.

With the fees those places charge I figure we can have someone cut the grass, pick up our groceries, take us to appointments and have money to spare.

 

We are blessed to be debt free and live in a county that has a very good senior citizen program that encourages independent living. They have wheel chair accusable vans to take you shopping or to appointments and the cost is quite reasonable. When my wife was recuperating from her broken ankle and unable to get into our SUV they picked her up at the door, took us to the doctor's office (about fifteen miles away) and brought us home for $ 20.00. They have meals on wheels, volunteers that will take turns giving people that want it a phone call to do a wellness check and lots of social events every week. They also have visiting nurses that will check on you every couple of weeks if desired, fees for this are very reasonable. In short they are doing everything a continuing care facility would do and you are at home.

 

@pacer and @SPINJIM have a couple of years on us but at 77 my wife and I have made it clear to our daughter-in-law that we are not at all interested in moving back to Florida and going into an assisted living facility so she can be near to us.   

[ebinmaine 67,589]

3 hours ago, Heatingman said:

So I dismantled that bed, took all the parts and reworked them into a shed

Excellent!!

 

"Use what ya have" 

[SPINJIM 1,981]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

12 hours ago, SPINJIM said:

faced with a decision as to whether to move to a much smaller house in a 'continuing care facility'.

With the fees those places charge I figure we can have someone cut the grass, pick up our groceries, take us to appointments and have money to spare.

 

I agree.  They want half a million up front, plus almost $3000 per month, and when you die they keep it all, and your children get nothing.   I expect to die 'in the harness'.   Don't want some nursing home keeping me only half alive and half conscious.   That said,  I also have to consider my wife who will probably outlive me.  Tough decisions.   All I can do is pray about it, and keep on fighting.

   Jim

[Marv 924]

 

Formariz, I am with you and all the others on the sentimentality issue. I have lived here for fifty years. When we bought the house that is all there was. I started by building a shed/work space. I remodeled and added onto the house, built a 24 X 24 wood working shop which is heated and air conditioned. I also built a 28 x 60 garage / workshop. It was a labor of love and work space. So I am strongly attached to all this. Now at 85 I am faced with some looming  serious health issues. Currently, I am doing just fine but I know the time will come when that is no longer the case. I still work / play in my shops. I frequently sit there and just enjoy being there. I am trying to decide when to do do what I know I will have to do one day. I have a lot of emotion tied up here. Our children grew up here and now the love of my life is in a nursing home never to return. Please don't think I am complaining, I am not. God has been good to us all these years.

Marv