I started getting a paycheck as an electrician at age 13. Now, at 65, I still have the same job as I had then.
I like to build stuff. Built my house, my garage, my sugar house, several buildings for others.
I like woodworking using traditional joinery the way they did 200 years ago. I cheat, use machine tools to rough it out. The hand plane only hides the marks left by machines. Furniture, cabinetry, I rarely use metal fasteners or glue. Joinery fascinates me.
I'm a welder. Began in early teens rebuilding Jeep bodies, progressed to auto body work & for a while rebuilt a few total wrecks.
Recent years, I've gotten into MIG & TIG welding. I've always been obsessed with wanting to weld aluminum & stainless, last 10 years or so I've played a lot with that.
Of course, welding is 10% of building with metals. It is more accurately, fabricating.
Four wheel drive vehicles have always been an obsession. Many Jeeps, and a 1956 Dodge Power Wagon with winches front & rear & a dump body I built & designed.
Interest in machines of all varieties has forced me to be a mechanic. I'm not the best, but I'm not the worst. Projects have ranged from lots of vehicles, to tractors, heavy machinery, and countless machine tools. Most of my shop machines are antiques.
I built wood splitters in a brief endeavor as a spare time thing.
Logging & land clearing are ongoing.
The great flood of 2011 Hurricane Irene left me a new opportunity: Rebuilding a building I had built.
Moving dirt & rocks is very therapeutic for me. I have had 5 backhoes, a dozer, single axle dump & trailers to haul.
I, & my son are involved in antique tractors & pulling competitions. My son organizes a local event Columbus weekend. I'm the logistics guy, hauling days on end. A couple years ago Mrs. B asked me after the pull: "How many of these tractors are yours?" I didn't have an answer!
I made maple syrup many years.
Made hard cider more years than that, kind of gave that up.
I haven't found time to build the timber framed cabin I started just before my father retired.
The sawmill I hoped to build hasn't happened, but I haven't given up.
Spend precious time camping with my extended family. I'm kind of spoiled, drag a travel trailer last twenty years.
Been together with one woman 44 years, raised two sons & several of other people's sons. Never had a daughter, but am blessed with several daughters in law.
First grandchild scheduled to arrive in January.