While we are on the subject when did fixing your own car become some kind of exotic hobby ? In my day, you could walk down the street on Saturday and see a guy painting his house, another guy working on his boat, someone else fixing his car, the next guy planting a garden etc. When did this kind of thing become unusual?

For me, I first noticed it about 15 years ago. I had to clear out a lot of old VW's and English sports cars I had accumulated, all projects. It astonished me that I could not sell a car for $500 that needed $1000 worth of work, when the finished car was worth $4000 to $5000. I actually had guys offer to buy a car for $5000 rather than $500 if I would do the repairs.

Times have changed. It seems the average guy today knows only 3 things. He knows whatever it is he does for a living, just barely well enough to get by. He knows everything about professional sport that you can learn by watching TV. And he knows how to play video games.