Since early hominids discovered that setting up shop in a cave will keep your cooking fire dry and your backside out of a saber-tooth cat’s mouth, man has been searching for his own space. For just about as long, he has been sharing that space with woman. One way to preserve domestic bliss that has traveled down through the generations to modern Homo sapiens is the institution of the man cave. Although it’s seldom an actual cave now (although that would be cool) many men agree with their spouses that a certain area of the home will be designated exclusively for typically masculine pursuits. (Save your e-mails, ladies. This advice applies equally to you if you need a place in your home to smoke cigars, drink scotch, scratch openly, and reload ammunition while hubby does macrame and watches Oprah.) As I am the absolute master of my domain here at Armchair Central, I have chosen the garage for my lair. That the Sporting Wife also chose this location for me is mere happenstance. The lack of air conditioning is no deterrent to me, no sir. I like to confine my manly pursuits to the late evening hours when it has cooled to a bracing 85 degrees in there.
In one corner, wedged behind my garage refrigerator, I have an old desk. It’s the first desk I bought for myself when I was in private practice. Actually, it’s an old secretary’s desk with the return on the side. It’s not much to look at, but it’s solid walnut save the Plastiwood top, and it’s as heavy as the hinges of hell. I worked behind that desk for nine years; now it’s where I play. I have a padded vise for gunsmithing work, a fletching jig for making arrows, and presses for shotshell and metallic cartridge reloading. Reloading components, gun cleaning supplies, and tools are close at hand, and I file duplicate copies of all my hunting and fishing licenses in the center drawer. I don’t get out there as much as I’d like, but I enjoy knowing that my things are there, semi-organized and waiting.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Theresa // Dec 10, 2008 at 11:41 am
Finally, I get to see what the inside of the infamous garage/man cave looks like. Let me say that I clearly understand why Wendy has chosen this location for you. George Carlin would be proud of all your ‘stuff’.
2 armchairoutfitter // Dec 10, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Wendy and I have noted that in reloading and other “man crafts” as she calls them, more than half of the job is finding and setting up all of the equipment. The desk allows me to be closer to “instant deployment.”
3 ccloud32 // Dec 17, 2008 at 10:55 am
You say man cave but please note the ‘girlie’ lamp on the desk that somewhat resembles a heart I believe. I am forced to file a grievance with the MCA (Man Cave Association) in order to have this object removed from what should be an all male domain.
4 armchairoutfitter // Dec 17, 2008 at 11:16 am
Did I miss a memo? I thought you were allowed one girlie lamp for every remote controlled monster truck. I didn’t exceed the ratio. Good thing I didn’t mention the lotion in the drawer. My hands chafe from contact with bore solvent . . . and I’ve said too much.
5 ccloud32 // Dec 17, 2008 at 1:27 pm
And is that a scented candle in the fore front???? In a Man Cave??? Well thats just more than I think I can handle . Excuse me, I need to go gather my thoughts in a nice bubble bath…..
6 armchairoutfitter // Dec 17, 2008 at 2:07 pm
The candle (strawberry) is for smoking the cartridge cases so that one can see where the resizing die is touching, Thank You Very Much!
7 ccloud32 // Dec 17, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Well did we have to go with strawberry? I mean isn’t there like a musk or at minimum pine tree scent out there for you to use. In fact why go scented at all? How about some nice butane torch action! Me make fire!
8 armchairoutfitter // Dec 17, 2008 at 8:49 pm
The Tink’s #69 candle, perhaps? Why hasn’t someone thought of that already?
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