I Can Do That
Throughout my adult life I have found the need to be resourceful when it comes to household projects and maintenance. As we all know, there are not always the financial resources to hire someone every time something needs to be done.
In the years I lived by myself I came to appreciate that I inherited my father's aptitude for learning how to do things. As a teenager I remember watching as he changed the oil and filter in the car. I'm not so sure I could do this today with all the changes that have taken place with automobiles. However, there are many tasks that I have learned to do in the years since watching that first oil change.
Hanging blinds, shades and curtains, patching holes in sheetrock, sanding floors, putting up wallpaper, painting, hanging pictures and so much more. All these things were learned out of necessity, but once mastered gave me a sense of pride in a job well done.
I have become quite adept at taking the kitchen faucet apart to replace cartridges or to clean gaskets and tighten things up. Personally, I don't think a $300 faucet should leak after a year of use, but things are not made the way they used to be.
The most recent project was repairing our canvas boat cover. The shock cords had become weather worn, and a few were disintegrating. He was going to pay to have them replaced but I knew that I could figure out how to do this. After finding the correct parts at the marina, a little struggle at removing the old ones without damaging the canvas, and the new shock covers and cords were in place. Who needs to hire someone?
It's fun and challenging to figure out how to repair something or do a new project for the first time. If we can do it ourselves without doing more damage than good, and not getting hurt, then I say go for it.
I am wise enough to know my limitations, and there are times when my desire to conquer something is not there. Some projects are better left to the professionals; they can do them in much less time and already have the expertise. Plus, it's nice to sit back and let someone else do it for me.
In the years I lived by myself I came to appreciate that I inherited my father's aptitude for learning how to do things. As a teenager I remember watching as he changed the oil and filter in the car. I'm not so sure I could do this today with all the changes that have taken place with automobiles. However, there are many tasks that I have learned to do in the years since watching that first oil change.
Hanging blinds, shades and curtains, patching holes in sheetrock, sanding floors, putting up wallpaper, painting, hanging pictures and so much more. All these things were learned out of necessity, but once mastered gave me a sense of pride in a job well done.
I have become quite adept at taking the kitchen faucet apart to replace cartridges or to clean gaskets and tighten things up. Personally, I don't think a $300 faucet should leak after a year of use, but things are not made the way they used to be.
The most recent project was repairing our canvas boat cover. The shock cords had become weather worn, and a few were disintegrating. He was going to pay to have them replaced but I knew that I could figure out how to do this. After finding the correct parts at the marina, a little struggle at removing the old ones without damaging the canvas, and the new shock covers and cords were in place. Who needs to hire someone?
It's fun and challenging to figure out how to repair something or do a new project for the first time. If we can do it ourselves without doing more damage than good, and not getting hurt, then I say go for it.
I am wise enough to know my limitations, and there are times when my desire to conquer something is not there. Some projects are better left to the professionals; they can do them in much less time and already have the expertise. Plus, it's nice to sit back and let someone else do it for me.
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