Hi everyone, I've mostly been a lurker, but I've posted a couple projects I've never finished. A byproduct of my circumstances. Ever since I was 15 I've had a workshop. I had a workshop in my dorm room (much to the displeasure of my roommate). I had a workshop when I rented a room from strangers (I rented half the garage). I had a workshop when I lived in a mobile home (small one in the shed). I had a workshop when I lived in a triplex (built a small shed in the small yard). I had a workshop of course when we graduated and rented a house. Then, I decided to pay my dues and work away from my wife and family for the Forest Service for a summer. Then grad school, then more work, and a 6 month stint without a workshop has turned into 3 years.
I know that you guys are among the few that understand what having a workshop means. I suspect some of you are like me. We don't want to be alone necessarily, but left alone. The workshop is where we can escape, and make magic happen. I've tried over the last 3 years to substitute. I built a vise mount that goes in the hitch of my truck. But then I have to drive out into the woods and set up/pack up every time I want to work on bows. And maybe its a western thing but out here the woods are pretty crowded. Always people out and about and disturbing your solitude. Can't blame them, but it seems the people with no problem with crowding are completely oblivious that some people have a low tolerance for crowding.
Over the last 3 years, all the "friends" I thought I had seemed to disappear. I was working as a full time knife maker and was just getting into bow building. I was always trying to give good deals and help out "bros". But as soon as all that stopped, suddenly we weren't "bros" anymore. I even had one guy who I'd given numerous knives away to basically ($50 for a handmade knife that I normally would charge >$300), and for no reason I could understand suddenly he thought I was the boogey man. Blocked me and spread all kinds of lies about me. I just don't understand. But on a milder note, I just felt left behind. All my knife making buddies moved on and I was left behind. Similar with bow building, I see all these cool builds and wish I could come on and participate. It's just been too hard to try and have that creative energy with neighbors or other people watching. Its just not relaxing.
Ok, enough with the whining. After some very stressful violent shifts in my career path, we're ready to settle down (let me count, I've moved 9-13 times in the last 8 years, depending on what qualifies as a "move"). We've got two weeks left before out house closes. We bought a nice country style house in Chino Valley, AZ. At first I was hesitant because people in Prescott look down on people in neighboring Chino, but maybe I don't like people in Prescott. Old retired people from California (no offense) with more money and time than sense. Chino is small, rural, and out of the way. We're on two acres, and our neighbors have horses and goats. There's a two car garage that will be an amazing workshop! I can't wait to build knives, bows, and setup my ceramics studio!
Thanks for letting me put all that on paper so to speak. It's been a long 3 years and I'm ready to come out and play with everyone.
