My MacBook Pro will turn 15 in 2027. I bought it new. Since then I've replaced the battery, installed more RAM and upgraded the original hard drive to an SSD. And by that I mean that I personally opened the machine, removed old parts and installed new ones, not that I took it to the beyond flippantly-named "Genius Bar" and paid to have those things done.
Me and my neighbor for 5 years, before I moved back to Cleveland last fall, would sit and talk many evenings about how various pieces of hardware, technology and household items of all types we had purchased throughout our lives had let us down, failed at critical times and otherwise disappointed us. We also spent many evenings working on repairs to things like flashlights, vacuum cleaners, air fryers and -critically- cars. I grew to realize through our talks and our projects that I had slowly lost the drive- and then in many ways, the abilities- to take an item that wasn't functioning properly and try to repair it on my own. Like you said, this isn't about cars, but they do make an excellent jumping-on point. Before me and Matt started working together on fixing -instead of paying for repairs or worse, buying new ones- I had only ever, and even then only sometimes, been "able" to change the oil on my car. In fact I even had (what I thought was) a funny little anecdote I'd tell when talking about car repairs where I'd say "as far as I know, underneath the hood there is just a team of hamsters running on wheels- I got no idea what goes on in there!" For some reason, that seemed okay to me. Matt taught me that it didnt have to be thst way, and I didnt need to go to "car repair school" either. I made a promise to myself that going forward, whatwver the issue was that arose on my Toyota Camry, I would at least ATTEMPT to repair it on my own, not just throw up my hands and take it to a mechanic. That allowed me, using YouTube and a couple neighbors in my own building, to install a new windshield wiper pump, a hoos latch, do brake repairs and replace the rear wheel bearings (which was a really tough one, but I learned it and did it over the course of a week!) Each time I learned something new about my car, about a tool, and about myself. Everything I learned would be a resource I could use for the rest of my life.
Almost 10 years ago now I went to a "pop-up" repair-fair, a community event organized by some friends of friends. The idea was a few people would staff it who had certain bits of knowledge, but anyone could bring a toaster, or a vacuum or whatever and someone would attempt to help them fix it, the idea was that in payment YOU would then try to help someone ELSE fix their item. The concept obviously doesnt work out perfectly every time, but the idea itself is, I think, almost perfect in what it tries to convey and instill.
Too many kids-AND adults- these days get a single scratch on their phone and decry it as destroyed, go get a new one, and the worst part, THROW OUT THE OLD ONE! There is no sense of care, or desire to maintain. A truck picks up your blue bin once a week and people have been convinced they're "doing their part," a completely false premise, in my opinion, which is a discussion for another day. But it highlights the fact that its no longer just something that we should be doing. Maintaining and repairing will again become crucial aspects of keeping society running properly likely within ours or our children's lifetimes as resources become more scarce and are hoarded by fewer and fewer oligarchs.
Learning to repair gave me tons of new tools and ideas, good times and good conversations but there's more to it. A sense of ability and confidence that extends far beyond a workbench or tool box. Thanks for shedding light on this incredibly important idea Unc!
Awesome share Bob. I can't believe I didn't mention YouTube in that piece... the source of endless fix-it knowledge. And that pop-up repair fair is a brilliant idea. I've heard of those before but haven't seen one up close. I totally share your journey of moving from never opening a hood to changing out and calibrating a carburetor. The key for me tho is the dude I pointed to at the end of the piece, in the PS. He's essentially transformed me into thinking I can maintain this Rover. Good dude. So epic to see your name pop up here btw. Just stoked to see fam in the mix.
I have a kitchen knife made from pre-WWII French steel. It was built to last...and that steel holds an edge better than new Japanese blue-steel knives. I love it....and I love having something I use almost every day that is older than me.
Building something (or someone) that endures and perseveres is a type of art.
I think it's true for people too. We're often too quick to replace where we could invest, develop, or restore. Great leaders don’t just recognize talent - they help it become more valuable over time. The people I admire most have played that role in my life. You - Chris Nichols - Shawn Parr - etc. I aspire to be that Rover....still running...still loved...still adding value.
Great post Jim, and not about cars at all. That said, while my 20+ year old Honda Element doesn't have quite the style of a 60s LR, it's following in the same boxy utilitarian footsteps, and I can still recognise ( and fix ) most of what I see under the hood. I'm planning to keep it going for as long as I can still find parts ( usually at a salvage yard ), and I hope some kid in 2066 will be mind-writing in his daily hologram post about how he's still keeping an old Honda Element on the road, now that all vehicle fuel comes from zero-carbon algae oil :)
Love this Michael, clearly you live this life better than I do… love you’re seeing the Honda Element as worth investing yourself in. And let’s get to that algae oil future as fast as humanly possible pls. 👊
Thanks Jim, but I'm living as imperfectly as everyone else :) Also worth remembering that fixing things ( surfboards, cars, that flat tire on your Mt. Bike ) can be fun and a great excuse to hang out with friends or family. It's not time lost from living your best life; it's time well spent and a likely boost to your overall mental heath as well.
Thanks Jim! There is increasingly a need for simple, durable, fixable--instead of disposable. Keep driving your rig. Reminded me of my first surf trip to Indonesia. We we in a Toyota Land Cruiser (probably late 70s vintage) and got stuck out in the middle of no where. Turns out the fuel filter was clogged. We were able to field service it with nothing more than a butter knife.
A butter knife. That made my day Lyle. Sounds like an epic trip, kinda makes me think this trip which I'm wrangling a few friends with 60s Land Rovers to go on with me. Check it out as it combines two amazing things... vintage 4WD and Baja. https://www.slowbaja.com/
My MacBook Pro will turn 15 in 2027. I bought it new. Since then I've replaced the battery, installed more RAM and upgraded the original hard drive to an SSD. And by that I mean that I personally opened the machine, removed old parts and installed new ones, not that I took it to the beyond flippantly-named "Genius Bar" and paid to have those things done.
Me and my neighbor for 5 years, before I moved back to Cleveland last fall, would sit and talk many evenings about how various pieces of hardware, technology and household items of all types we had purchased throughout our lives had let us down, failed at critical times and otherwise disappointed us. We also spent many evenings working on repairs to things like flashlights, vacuum cleaners, air fryers and -critically- cars. I grew to realize through our talks and our projects that I had slowly lost the drive- and then in many ways, the abilities- to take an item that wasn't functioning properly and try to repair it on my own. Like you said, this isn't about cars, but they do make an excellent jumping-on point. Before me and Matt started working together on fixing -instead of paying for repairs or worse, buying new ones- I had only ever, and even then only sometimes, been "able" to change the oil on my car. In fact I even had (what I thought was) a funny little anecdote I'd tell when talking about car repairs where I'd say "as far as I know, underneath the hood there is just a team of hamsters running on wheels- I got no idea what goes on in there!" For some reason, that seemed okay to me. Matt taught me that it didnt have to be thst way, and I didnt need to go to "car repair school" either. I made a promise to myself that going forward, whatwver the issue was that arose on my Toyota Camry, I would at least ATTEMPT to repair it on my own, not just throw up my hands and take it to a mechanic. That allowed me, using YouTube and a couple neighbors in my own building, to install a new windshield wiper pump, a hoos latch, do brake repairs and replace the rear wheel bearings (which was a really tough one, but I learned it and did it over the course of a week!) Each time I learned something new about my car, about a tool, and about myself. Everything I learned would be a resource I could use for the rest of my life.
Almost 10 years ago now I went to a "pop-up" repair-fair, a community event organized by some friends of friends. The idea was a few people would staff it who had certain bits of knowledge, but anyone could bring a toaster, or a vacuum or whatever and someone would attempt to help them fix it, the idea was that in payment YOU would then try to help someone ELSE fix their item. The concept obviously doesnt work out perfectly every time, but the idea itself is, I think, almost perfect in what it tries to convey and instill.
Too many kids-AND adults- these days get a single scratch on their phone and decry it as destroyed, go get a new one, and the worst part, THROW OUT THE OLD ONE! There is no sense of care, or desire to maintain. A truck picks up your blue bin once a week and people have been convinced they're "doing their part," a completely false premise, in my opinion, which is a discussion for another day. But it highlights the fact that its no longer just something that we should be doing. Maintaining and repairing will again become crucial aspects of keeping society running properly likely within ours or our children's lifetimes as resources become more scarce and are hoarded by fewer and fewer oligarchs.
Learning to repair gave me tons of new tools and ideas, good times and good conversations but there's more to it. A sense of ability and confidence that extends far beyond a workbench or tool box. Thanks for shedding light on this incredibly important idea Unc!
Awesome share Bob. I can't believe I didn't mention YouTube in that piece... the source of endless fix-it knowledge. And that pop-up repair fair is a brilliant idea. I've heard of those before but haven't seen one up close. I totally share your journey of moving from never opening a hood to changing out and calibrating a carburetor. The key for me tho is the dude I pointed to at the end of the piece, in the PS. He's essentially transformed me into thinking I can maintain this Rover. Good dude. So epic to see your name pop up here btw. Just stoked to see fam in the mix.
I love this.
I have a kitchen knife made from pre-WWII French steel. It was built to last...and that steel holds an edge better than new Japanese blue-steel knives. I love it....and I love having something I use almost every day that is older than me.
Building something (or someone) that endures and perseveres is a type of art.
I think it's true for people too. We're often too quick to replace where we could invest, develop, or restore. Great leaders don’t just recognize talent - they help it become more valuable over time. The people I admire most have played that role in my life. You - Chris Nichols - Shawn Parr - etc. I aspire to be that Rover....still running...still loved...still adding value.
Well said Ted. Maybe that, seeing myself as the Land Rover, was just under the surface of this piece the whole time. I didn’t see that… I do now.
Great post Jim, and not about cars at all. That said, while my 20+ year old Honda Element doesn't have quite the style of a 60s LR, it's following in the same boxy utilitarian footsteps, and I can still recognise ( and fix ) most of what I see under the hood. I'm planning to keep it going for as long as I can still find parts ( usually at a salvage yard ), and I hope some kid in 2066 will be mind-writing in his daily hologram post about how he's still keeping an old Honda Element on the road, now that all vehicle fuel comes from zero-carbon algae oil :)
Love this Michael, clearly you live this life better than I do… love you’re seeing the Honda Element as worth investing yourself in. And let’s get to that algae oil future as fast as humanly possible pls. 👊
Thanks Jim, but I'm living as imperfectly as everyone else :) Also worth remembering that fixing things ( surfboards, cars, that flat tire on your Mt. Bike ) can be fun and a great excuse to hang out with friends or family. It's not time lost from living your best life; it's time well spent and a likely boost to your overall mental heath as well.
Thanks Jim! There is increasingly a need for simple, durable, fixable--instead of disposable. Keep driving your rig. Reminded me of my first surf trip to Indonesia. We we in a Toyota Land Cruiser (probably late 70s vintage) and got stuck out in the middle of no where. Turns out the fuel filter was clogged. We were able to field service it with nothing more than a butter knife.
A butter knife. That made my day Lyle. Sounds like an epic trip, kinda makes me think this trip which I'm wrangling a few friends with 60s Land Rovers to go on with me. Check it out as it combines two amazing things... vintage 4WD and Baja. https://www.slowbaja.com/
Shout out! 25 years and counting
!!! Amazing
Is that really you in the orange jumpsuit? I love that so much.
Yes it is. The slip-on Vans are the tell. :)
Yep, def clocked you by the Vans.