This summer, I've had the opportunity to work alongside my father in helping him build a house, which is far outside my comfort zone (I mean, who would trust me with building their home). This being my first full project with dad (I've helped him put in doors and other small projects in the past), this has been a huge learning experience.
Now, I'm going to be doing a lot of satirical complaining in these 10 points, but there's something fulfilling about playing a part in building a home for a family. However small my contributions may be, they will have a place to call their own because of us, and that's pretty cool.
Anyway, enough sap. Here are a few things I've taken from my experiences in the labor force...
1. You are at the mercy of the weather.
And, let me tell you, whoever said, "Karma is a b*tch," clearly never met "weather." Until you work in the labor force without a roof over your head and have to be exposed to whatever weather patterns are currently sweeping through your area, I never want to hear you complain about how hot it is or about how the rain ruined your plans. Trust me; you have it easy.
2. Sawdust is sand's evil twin.
Beyond having the uncanny ability to somehow fly over your protective eyewear/sunglasses and directly into your eyes, sawdust also mirrors sand in that it gets everywhere--your ears, your nose, your socks and places to remain unnamed. You can paint your own picture.
3. Power tools are loud.
Yeah, we probably all knew that, but try putting yourself in a confined area or an area that has good acoustics and running a compressor or various saws at the same time and tell me your ears aren't ringing at the end.
4. Burning stuff is oddly therapeutic (and can take up a lot of time).
As many of you would expect, building a house warrants a lot of wood scraps, which are useless to our cause. Now, I'll be the first person to admit I'm not a pyromaniac in the slightest, but burning that waste was equal parts therapeutic and time consuming. If you plan accordingly, you can make it last an entire workday (if you're reading this, dad, it's too late).
5. You better hope nature doesn't call while you're in nature.
...I don't think I need to explain that one.
6. You don't need a gym membership.
Most of the materials that come to the site are quite heavy, so if you ever have a sudden urge to make gains, just find your nearest pile of plywood, 6x6's, etc. and go to work.
7. Alarm clocks are the worst.
Speaking on behalf of someone who complained vehemently about having 8 a.m.'s last year, I will never complain about an early class again. When my alarm goes off around 5 every morning, I have to choke back tears. Life is rough, man.
8. The shower is a beautiful invention.
I apologize in advance to any environmentalists who read this article because my favorite part of the day is that 30-minute shower when I get home every day. Hate me if you want, but my body needs it.
9. My father deserves to come home and relax.
I complain a lot about the work I do daily. However, my dad does far more than I do, so imagine how he feels at the end of a long work week. Give that man a six-pack, the television remote and an ottoman. He deserves it.
10. This isn't the life for me.
I think I'll stick to the books.
