Periodically I examine my workshop and my projects to refocus my thinking and establish short and long term goals. I ask myself, “What am I trying to accomplish?” Then, “What do I need or have to do to get to that result?” 

I think (hope) most people do this self evaluation from time to time. For me it gives me some purpose and direction to help in decision making. I am not going to teach a philosophy of life, just mention it works for me.

I want to enjoy making and creating things that didn't exist before I started. That’s my primary, “A”, number 1, main goal. Using the things I create is my “B”, number 2, secondary goal. Everything else comes after these two main objectives. The key word above is enjoy.

For me my personal workshop is the best location for achieving those desires. A personal or hobby workshop is an enjoyable place if I focus and understand why I have one. It is a place to work at my own pace, for my own purpose, on projects I choose.

As I approach retirement (someday) I have permitted myself to consider how I might make some added income from things I do in my shop.  But what I see is a possible change of form -- from enjoyment to a requirement. As I see it, the key to keeping my shop work enjoyable is to do what I love for those who love what I do. If I get paid for some of that, then all the better, but getting paid is not the driving force.  The real driver is having fun.

I added a version of that philosophy statement to the heading of my Dimensional Art Org blog. Take a look.

I have managed many large multi-million dollar construction projects in my working career. But in the privacy and available space of my own workshop, I have scaled my work down to much smaller creations. I actually become introverted into my own thoughts and enjoy the total control of being the master creator of precision small devices. Large size doesn't prove a thing to me. I love making things that are within the limits of my tooling and within a comfortable budget. Miniatures and models are a great way to relax.

From time to time I still get “Machine Lust.” I have written about it before, more than 10 years ago. My focus time reassures me I am right where I want to be…