It’s
something I’ve pondered before. I may have pondered it out loud.
And I may have pondered it in writing. But the thought is occurring
to me again.
I
may have had some tools before moving into my own place. Can’t
recall. But I definitely remember purchasing some when I got my
first apartment. Toolbox, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, and some
of the usual assorted stuff. Probably a tape measure. Basic items.
Probably a cordless drill with assorted bits.
It
wasn’t until my wife and I moved into a house that I found a need
for a circular saw. Same idea for a lawn mower. Added other stuff
as we’ve gone along.
Over
the years, we’ve built up a pretty decent collection. Haven’t
been left alone to attack plumbing yet, so no torch or solder
around (but full admission and truth be told that’s probably a
very good thing).
Buying
stuff like tools can be a strange situation. It tends to fall
into two categories for what I would call the average person.
And by average, I just mean no pressing need like a professional
requirement. The first is stuff like that hammer, where you kind
of assume you’ll be using one eventually and pick one up. The
second would be more like a chainsaw, where you pretty much need
to have trees or a fireplace or it wouldn’t cross your mind that
you’re even missing one.
Why
would any of that be strange?
Well,
I suppose it’s because at times what may seem obvious and necessary
to you may involve something I’ll never think about. Or, situations
change, and what matters on one day doesn’t seem to matter much
at all on another.
In
our current house, when we moved in, I figured a push lawn mower
would be fine. We actually had two, having really beaten one up
over the years by the presence of some rocks and an amazing inability
to grow grass. I thought we were all set.
We
moved in late in the fall and went through a fun winter season.
The first time I went outside to mow the lawn it literally took
me ten days. I had decided to collect the grass because of the
way the yard was left to us, figuring it could use something of
a bit of clearing and cleaning. Then, multiple days of rain swept
in and called off activities a couple of times. And, really, the
length of time actually makes a bit more sense than it appears
as you read it. Still, yeah, ten days.
Yes,
before I finished mowing it, it did need to be mowed again.
We
bought a ride on mower.
The
previous houses had always had a lot of trees. A chainsaw made
perfect sense to have around. Since moving in here, the only time
I actually used the chainsaw was when Terry had some thoughts
about table centerpieces using birch logs. Absolutely nothing
involving the house or yard has needed it taken out.
So
right there on the surface, old concept is true, necessity creates
the rules. But necessity isn’t always what it’s cracked up to
be. To this date, I’ve never figured out how to use a stud finder.
And that laser level we bought has always seemed a bit wonky from
the moment we removed the packaging. (Nothing has fallen. I wither
found the studs or did something else right. (Or luck. Never discount
luck.))
At
times, it’s almost like we’re living with Goldilocks. That nightlight
is too bright. The other nightlight stays on all the time. This
nightlight, finally, seems just right. Swap out and replace the
nightlight thought with extension cords, jigsaws, shovels and
anything else as needed until the three bears doing the work with
you are making sense.
My
guess is a lot of the tools you bought when a project came along
requiring something specialized. Not many people have routers
until they begin woodworking, and having a sprinkler in your apartment
nudges against madness.
Still,
I usually find it fun to think about the stuff people consider
normal and practical and perhaps even essential as opposed to
optional.
Every
year, the home improvement stores go into holiday mode much as
every other store does. During those days, I like to wander the
aisles of specials and bargains. Boys both own their own homes
now, so I try to find a few things that you can never really have
too many of.
Of
course, they both have big yards and like to goof off by trying
things like axe throwing. The point is understood, you can never
have too many cheap hatchets around. And, axe throwing, yet another
reason to head out and purchase some tools.