The moment I realized my garage was basically a museum of unfinished projects

Last month I was clearing out my garage to park my car for winter, you know, the thing you're actually supposed to do with a garage. I found a half-built birdhouse from 3 years ago, a telescope I bought on a whim in 2021, and three different knitting needles sets I swore I'd learn to use. It hit me that I wasn't picking up hobbies, I was just collecting the supplies for them. The birdhouse still had the receipt stuffed in the bag, so I know I spent $45 on wood and stain that never got touched. I started thinking about why I never finish these things, and I think it's because the starting part feels exciting but the middle is just boring work. Has anyone else realized they have a graveyard of hobby gear in their house, or is it just my garage that looks like a craft store exploded?

3 comments

3 Comments

knight.uma16d ago

Honestly, I see it a little different. Starting something new is fun because you're learning then, but the middle is where you actually figure out if you like the hobby or not. Maybe part of it is that garage projects don't have a deadline or any real consequence if they sit unfinished. A $45 birdhouse that never got built is still just $45, not a huge loss in the grand scheme of things. Calling it a graveyard of hobbies sounds harsh when really it's just a record of stuff you tried. Nobody gets it right every time.

wesley63916d ago

Call it a hobby museum @knight.uma, just don't expect a guided tour.

blair_torres7016d ago

Set a one year rule on the unfinished stuff. If you haven't touched it in a year, sell it or toss it. I do that with my woodworking scraps and half started projects. @knight.uma is right that the middle is where you figure it out, but after a full year you already know if you're ever going back to it. Keeps the garage from turning into a storage unit for broken intentions. The $45 birdhouse is a good example. Either finish it or free up the space for the next thing you actually want to do.

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