I was born in 1956.....graduated HS and started running heavy equipment (Operating Engineers), but decided that wasn't a career move. Started a career, got married, looked at houses and was amazed at the $$$ for what we were getting. SO, I decided to build my own house, figuring I could get twice, or triple the house, for the same amount of $$$. Found some property, designed and drew the blue prints up, and started building. Remember, I was working 40-50 hrs/week AND building a house on my weekends. Decided to save $$$ by building the garage first and setting it up like a studio....we lived in that 3+ yrs while I finished the 1st floor. We moved into the house (1st floor) while I finished the 2nd floor. 2150 sq. ft, split level....I did everything but the sheetrock/texturing and the cabinets. Got it totally finished 7 yrs later. The reason for this story? AFTER I finished the house, several guys I worked with commented on how nice it was to 'have money' to afford something like what I was living in, conveniently forgetting I BUILT it! Told them to go fuck themselves. They said I was an asshole! No one decided to do it my way.....they just wanted to bellyache, bitch, moan, whine, complain about NOT having what I had.
My point.....