The Summer of Antennas has given way to the Autumn of Construction. As I put the finishing touches on our new front porch and deck and begin work to restore the back deck, sand and paint the various accessories, and ponder building target stands with the remaining lumber, I find myself examining my skill sets.

Each of us has a unique skills, some from our experiences and some from our nature. I, for example, am very good with computers, while I am a very poor carpenter. I am good at organizing and motivate myself well to complete tasks, especially if I am comfortable with them.

• I am a good cook.
• I am a safe pilot.
• I am a good communicator.
• I am a good writer.
• I am a good outdoorsman, but a mediocre athlete.
• I hold science in my mind fairly well, including medical science, and as a result I have always been a good patient advocate for my wife, who is in poor health.
• I am surprisingly bad with names, though I use that skill in my work every day.
• I understand electronics and electricity to a certain level.

  

I list these points as an affirmation that many of these items are skills that most people can learn, and I am, in fact, in the process of adding skills to my own list as Abby and I are on a huge home improvement tear. Among my new skills are…

• How to paint, including adding knowledge of which paints are best for what.
• How to square and level boards and beams.
• How to sand and refinish outdoor surfaces.

In the past three days I have worked outside for many hours at a time, and have had great fun. It’s been particularly rewarding to use items leftover from construction of the front deck to repair and rebuild the back deck. It’s also fun when Abby joins me, which she did yesterday to paint some her chairs and flowers.