“But How Will You Be a Productive Member of Society?”

Pretty much all I want to do when I’m not bikefishing is work on bikes and make things. I’ve been trying to find any excuse to keep myself occupied doing what I want to do without spending a lot of money or having too much stuff.

I’m struggling to have my cake and eat it too. I discovered that I can work on bikes and make things for other people, though.

I always try to convince my wife to let me build her a cool bike. I thought I finally found the perfect vintage mountain bike to turn into a sweet Mom ATB. I planned to powder coat it and set it up with a whole new drivetrain. Unfortunately, my wife told me she doesn’t want the bike.

One of my neighborhood friends was lucky enough to hear all my ramblings about my vintage road bike build for the Cheap Bike Build Off competition. He showed me his 1980s Centurion Le Mans and an early 2000s titanium road bike he scored at a garage sale for $100. Both bikes need major repairs, but I convinced him to let me help him revive them.

It took some manifesting, but I think I finally hit a breakthrough this past weekend. I had not one, but two, requests from friends at our neighborhood egg hunt to help them with bike-related projects.

One guy asked me to sew some bikepacking bags for him for an upcoming bikefishing tour we’re planning together. Having someone want me to make something is a dream come true.

Another guy told me that his in-laws are bringing their old bikes across country for him and his wife to use around the neighborhood with their kids. He asked if I could look them over and get them in good working condition.

I’m the neighborhood bike guy. That’s an awesome feeling.

Working on bikes and making things for other people is work. I may not be getting paid for it, but it is certainly work. And it’s meaningful work. I can finally use my skills to help my community.

Long ago, I lamented at work that I wished I could quit my soulless job and pursue my interests. A nearby coworker piped in, “But how will you be a productive member of society?”

Have you ever heard something so audaciously stupid?

Every single one of my jobs has kept me from being a productive member of society. Most jobs exist so that the company owner can buy another vacation home. I wish it weren’t that way, but it’s true.

Doing what I want to do actually makes me a productive member of society, though.

Many of us hate our jobs for good reason. I’m sure most of us have had conversations at some point in our lives about what we want to do after we retire. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, doing what we love is something we’re only allowed to fantasize about becoming a reality in our elder years.

And even retirement is a fantasy. Gone are the days of pensions. Even those who can afford to retire continue to work because they’re socially isolated and have no purpose in life.

I don’t think the question should be ‘What do you want to do?’ I think we should be asking ourselves, ‘What would a world that allows us to do what we want look like?’ I want to live in a world where everyone has what they need, and work is shared based on everyone’s ability.

How would you describe the world that allows you to do what you want?