As a kid, I had an enthusiasm switch that prompted me to help my parent(s) with exotic tasks like replacing a screen/window I busted or fixing a cabinet door that won't stay closed. Still, mine must've been on a dimmer. It slowly turned to the lowest setting by college graduation. In my late teens, I slipped out of the "manly maintenance duties" mindset. Somewhere over that period, I could not be bothered with the yard maintenance chores in general. Combine this with the fact that I grew up in rental homes and lived in apartments until well into adulthood, and I might as well be a clueless adult when it comes to home repairs.
Enter marriage. I crossed the wedded threshold into the limitless depths of house maintenance. When a pipe under the sink leaks or water pools in the basement, there’s no landlord I can nag to fix the issue. That’d be me. However, I never built a network of consultants on this topic, so I’ve struggled like a fish flopping in shallow water when a house fix arises.
Some acquaintances have suggested that I search YouTube for a comprehensive solution. In the interest of transparency, I have an "almost there" track record with this hands-on work. Despite following each step, my circumstance will have a unique twist that will cause me to research that tangent, too. By the time I'm done, it would've been cheaper to get someone with experience.
My wife found a handyman who could tackle the imposing issues with proper foresight. This happened after a grace period passed where she assumed that I would seal the deal …or the leak… or whatever was the problem. Funny enough, finding a handyperson is like applying for access to top-secret clearance information. I tried to get a name from several different people through casual conversation. These acquaintances were sympathetic to my plight but did not release any contact info to me. Good handypersons are guarded, prized resources. Due to that fact, my sister-in-law was gracious enough to share the one she employs.
That dude has saved my bacon plenty of times. When I'm tempted to dive into an involved home improvement task, I'm glad the handyman can fit it into his schedule. He'll update me during the job with a status explaining that he realized he has to go to get a doohickey he needs to finish the job. This confirms my decision to use his experienced services.
For the record, I'm no slouch in the job realm. My excellent career affords me the luxury of hiring an expert for my home upkeep. I work hard to develop and maintain complex IT applications. Those problem-solving skills don't translate well to home renovations or maintenance. Contrary to society's gender role contrivances, I'm not hung up on leaving my "Home Improvement" genes dormant. I grunt enough trying to resolve bugs in computer code. The transition to a Jetsons-style smart home that will diagnose and fix its issues might be the paradise I'm desiring. Bugs in the home code may sober me up, but that's a familiar lane. With the proper cybersecurity in place, I'm looking forward to that era!
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of Joel A. Johnson's work on Medium.