Sometimes having skills, sucks..

[VINMAN]

Ever get to the point where you wish you didn't have any knowledge or skill? Being the "go to guy". Such as auto repair, home improvement knowledge, and that sort of thing? Where its to when everyone calls you for advice or help to do something? Where you commit yourself to major projects, because you can do it yourself rather than, get someone to do it for you, and you get so wrapped up in it, and you get all stressed?
Lately I've been feeling that way and it is starting to get to me. I'm losing ambition to do anything anymore, and that is not like me. Last week, literally in the middle of painting a wall in my house, I just stopped and said F#!& it, screamed at my wife to call someone to finish it, and walked out.

I'm starting to wish I was your typical clueless, "don't know which end of a hammer to hold" yuppie that just pays everyone to do it for them, and nobody bothers.

[Baz]

It's called "burn out".

Don't feel bad.....I get it about this time every year,

[VaSteve]

All the time. Even the little stuff lately. Its been a busy month and I had a bunch of yard work to do. Trimming the hedges was the big part...I have a few that need a ladder. I was working with my too short hedge trimmer and still managed to slice my good extension cord in half. Grr... F it, I'm gonna have someone do this.

[RANDY P]

welcome to my world.

I spent my last vacation doing a trans flush, repairing AC, suspension work-

ALL OFF PHONE CALLS.

rjp

[Bugsinrugs]

Your burned out.....until you see the price that someone else is going to charge you. Then, you just suck it up.

[Rick V]

Yup, hit me about a year ago and with the stress of the wife losing her job it has just gotten worse. I just don't give a crap anymore

[dw1]

+1

I'm like that at work. That's why I had to work all day both Saturday & Sunday this week. Because "...we can trust you to get things done..." So I have get assigned - not asked - to work all weekend to do others' work for them. And the boss left over the weekend for vacation.

Btw, this is after a typical M-F week of 12 to 14 hour days, and I'm salaried so I don't get overtime pay.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Yup, hit me about a year ago and with the stress of the wife losing her job it has just gotten worse. I just don't give a crap anymore

Lets put it this way, yesterday I called someone to come and take my 944 free of charge , because I didn't feel like putting in a new fuel injector...

[fastfredracing]

Yep, and I also find myself ducking people, because I know if I pick up the phone, or if they catch me ,they are going to want something. I've been going seven days a week for the last 8 years, I just want some time to myself . I've got enough personal projects to last me the next 5 years.
We have two unfinished rental houses, and I have ZERO drive to go down there and throw tools and money at them. I've been urging my partner to sell them off.

[dan88911]

Yeah I can relate..retired now 3yrs. (38 yrs. in the trades) and I often just do not feel like getting into the projects and minor home repairs. Usually I got to pump myself up to do that stuff, however once I start I will to see it thought. But I have no problem with running/ jogging lifting weights,cycling and tinkering with the car.

[crustychief]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Lets put it this way, yesterday I called someone to come and take my 944 free of charge , because I didn't feel like putting in a new fuel injector...

I had hit bottom about three weeks ago. I actually took my truck to a shop to have a coil pack put in it because I didn't want to deal with it. It cost 300. dollars but I didn't have to mess with it. Mrs Crusty got worried because I have never taken a car of mine to a shop for anything ever.
Take a break and do something fun / different and when asked if you can do something you don't want to mess with just say so. It is very liberating!

[rwest]

You need to learn how to say NO!! I got sick of being taken advantage of by "friends" years ago. I had a roofing project of my own and tried to call in a favor from a guy I helped a ton of times, after several unreturned calls, I left a message that I really needed help getting the shingle dumpster loaded before Monday and if he didn't show up, we were done, guy didn't show, but about a year later called all apologetic and wanted to be friends again and surprise, he needed a favor- nope.

Now, I barter up front and let them do something unskilled for me in exchange for my help- I had one guy rake my yard because winter was coming fast and I helped him with a bathroom remodel. After awhile, you only help people that pay you back. I have about three different guys who we trade help with. Other people I just tell them that I would love to help, but I'm up to my eyeballs with my own stuff.

Buy a new tool, you'll feel better.

[afterburn 549]

No, Small word hard to say, learn it, learn it well

[VINMAN]

It's not just doing favors for other people. It's my own things.

.

[Gogar]

I know how to paint, and I'm pretty good at it.

But if I can pay 2 guys $20/hr each to paint,

And do my regular freelance job for $60/hr, and be VERY good at it.

I net $20/hr and the crap got painted twice as fast I have some sanity and I generated a micro-economy of sorts.

Sometimes it's worth it, even when you know you could do something yourself.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by VINMAN

It's not just doing favors for other people. It's my own things.

.

Vinman it's called "life getting in the way of living". I'm tired of it as well and advised my son to get a condo or just keep renting. 30 years in my home and I'm still working onit. So tired.

[RANDY P]

Ya gotta learn to distance yourself from long projects...Anything more than an afternoon these days, gets $$$ thrown at it.. My appetite for liability has gone way down. Call me if want your stereo replaced, call Bobby (my buddy) if you want an engine pulled. Engine pulls ain't cool....

We all just have a knack for getting un - ****ed when we mess with stuff, that's why we get calls. Time for the next generation to tinker and learn, we're out to pasture.

[Bill Douglas]

Having skills and a trailer

[Chocaholic]

It's got to be related to age, stress and priorities. I agree with Vin. My own chores have just become a frustrating annoyance.

Went out to trim hedges yesterday. Got fed up...took out the chain saw and buzzed them down to ground level. Gone. The entire side of the house (that no one sees but me) is completely shrub and maintenance free.

Would have never done that a few years ago. But...weekends just got a little easier!

[Nostril Cheese]

I make quite a good bit of money working on RVs right before Burning Man.