Back in the before times, when we used to non-nonchalantly pack into un-ventilated spaces with strangers and touch each others hands, the most common question used to be “What do you do?” It’s a boring question, but it’s an opener, and it serves its purpose. Asking “Why?” as a follow-up is much more interesting. How is it that you ended up where you are? So, why do I build playhouses?
Office work - BOOOO!!!!
At the most basic level, there are white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs, so let’s start there. Believe it or not, I tried working in an office once, in downtown Seattle, no less.. I lasted a little over a year - writing email, managing files, chasing down paperwork, sitting at my desk, wistfully staring out the window. Some people, it turns out, just aren’t meant to spend their working lives inside, hunched over a computer. It’s as simple as that. So, I quit.
Working with your hands - YAYYY!
I’m a creative person, always have been, and creative people need to create things (emails don’t count). And if you enjoy eating on a regular basis, then that likely means making something people are willing to buy on a regular basis. I will say though, that I didn’t go into carpentry to become a carpenter. I just want to learn the skills to build my own house. However, after working in the industry for a few years, I found I enjoyed it. I was outside, being physically active, and problem-solving. But, even though I was creating tangible things I could point to at the end of the end of the day, they were the creative visions of some architect, not my own.
Building Small
Build anything big enough, and there ends up being a lot of cooks in the kitchen: bank loan officers, clients, architects, realtors, permitting officials, subcontractors, general contractors, city utility workers, blah blah blah. It’s not for me. Personally, I’m not much for committees. Or waiting. Or red tape. I like being the sole designer and builder, without oversight, and that really pushed me in the direction of building small. I might have an electrician wire a playhouse now and then, but other than that, you don’t need a team to build a little playhouse. Added bonus: in most places, the UBC (Uniform Building Code) exempts small structures from building permits, including playhouses.
Perfectionism
I’m a perfectionist - not in all aspects of my life, thank god - but with carpentry, the standard I hold myself to is pretty darn high. When you build small, everything is close - there are no 20’ ceilings that can hide drywall imperfections. There’s really no room for mistakes. Literally, there is ONLY one room! So, I’m well suited to the close quarters. Oh, and speaking of close quarters, I’m short, which comes in handy.
Dadhood
This journey toward becoming a playhouse builder would have never happened if it wasn’t for my kids. Their playhouse was the first, and it’s still in our backyard. I’ve learned A TON since then, and I look forward to them growing up just as much as I look forward to seeing how Magical Playhouses grows into the future.