Both myself and my dad work the same construction job as coworkers. Although, he’s definitely in charge as he has more experience. 35 years compared to 5 years.
I’m good at my job, but once I go home, the construction part of my brain completely shuts off. Meanwhile, he’s always looking for ways to improve the home and make it look nicer.
I understand this, but considering we only do a few DIY jobs a year, I’d much rather pay someone to do it. I don’t know anything about woodworking (our latest DIY), and I honestly don’t care to learn.
I see the way he gets exited about planning stuff, and treats it like a hobby, he always shows me Instagram videos on DIY stuff and he has compete amazement in his eyes.
Personally, I don’t want to work all day on multiple Saturdays in a row, but that’s just me, I’d rather just accept that I’ll keep less money and pay someone.
The reason I ask if it’s "wrong" is because a core part of being a man (apparently) is building stuff and being handy, while that’s definitely not the type of person I am.
It’s fair enough not to want to do your 9 to 5 as a hobby, but there will be times where if you have the skills to fix something broken it would be best to just do it.
Construction work and fixing a sink or patching a wall or refinishing a table are not the same.
It’s not wrong at all but it is a stereotypically male thing. I grew more interested in it as I got older but there are plenty of people who have no interest in it at all. I don’t imagine male CEO types giving a shit mostly it’s blue collar guys usually since they learn how to do some things and save money doing it themselves.
My wife is the handy person in the household. I have really no interest, I’ll hire a contractor.
I can do some plumbing though.
Some guys (and gals) DIY and some guys don’t. Sometimes it is cultural, sometimes it is out of necessity, and sometimes it is part of a “this is what it means to be responsible for my house” mentality.
Yep. I have exactly the same thing as a software guy.
Used to love messing around with code and trying things out. Now I’m over a decade into doing it Professionally, the absolute last thing I want to do at 5pm is yet more coding , honestly don’t blame you
Nothing wrong with it imo but the money you can save is what gets me interested in learning how to do more
This is how you sacrifice your time to save money. How a lot of us poorer people saved money. We learn to do things ourselves.
I really wanted to be a mechanic growing up, but then I realized that I also really enjoyed it as a hobby. I didn’t want to get burned out so I decided on a different pathway.
It’s fine to not want to do these things. But you should still learn to do them because there will be a time where someone will not be able to come out right away to save you.
During covid, many people were having a hard time getting mechanics to fix their cars. Shit got real expensive. during these times and just being able to do very simple tasks could save your bacon.
Live your life how you want, don’t worry about having to prove to someone that you are a man.
Sounds like the trades isn’t for you. Also seems odd that you’d rather pay someone to do stuff you are capable of doing yourself for a fraction of the price?
>Sounds like the trades isn’t for you.
100%, I hate it.
Now seeing this comment, your question is actually “is it “wrong” for me to not want to do something I hate?”
To him, his job is a passion. To you, it’s just a job. There is nothing wrong with either.
I personally prefer the diy approach because I’m meticulous and I know I’m gonna be happy with the results. Every contractor I hired was a disappointment.
Hello, fellow construction worker here. I don’t do any work outside of my own trade for myself. I support other tradesman and let experts in their fields cook. Just did a remodel on the basement and outside of the structured cabling I paid people to do the rest. I don’t need to buy $600 of tools to do a shitty job to satisfy my ego.
Your dad is lucky because he gets paid to do his hobby for a living