If I Had a Hammer

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “If I Had a Hammer.”

I don’t usually do these daily prompt posts, but today’s topic is something I can definitely write about. And I’ve been wanting to write more anyway, so here goes.

If you could learn a trade — say carpentry, electrical work, roofing, landscaping, plumbing, flooring, drywall — you name it — what skill(s) would you love to have in your back pocket?

The short answer is: carpentry.

The longer I work in the tech/design industry, the more I want to get away from the computer and work with my hands. This is probably why I take up physical hobbies like photography, playing guitar, and, most recently, homebrewing.

In addition to longing for manual work, the type of carpentry or woodworking I want to learn is more of the creative type. Not building houses, but designing and building pieces that could be viewed also as artwork. Things that stretch my creative muscles. Making beautiful furniture or reconditioning and rehabbing old items.

One of my favorite pieces of decor in our house is a beautiful wood sculpture by my wife’s great-great-grandfather, Henri Moretti. He gifted it to us for our wedding and it’s a gorgeous piece of artwork. I wouldn’t even know where to start if someone put a big block of wood in front of me, and he created this elegant sculpture out of it.

Learning to work with wood would also give me the tools and knowledge to be more handy around the house, and I could parlay that skillset into other things like general contracting. Sure, I can do simple things like fix door hinges, install a doorknob, and build Ikea furniture. But I would love to be able to do bigger things.

We wouldn’t need to call a professional for things like finishing our basement into a livable space. We wouldn’t need to buy pre-made things like bookshelves, fences, or banisters. I could build that shed I’ve been asking for since we moved in.

Wanting to know how to work with wood is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Perhaps I’ll take some action and actually learn a little soon.