Things every person should know
Here's my list of things you should be able to do to get by in life. (I'm ignoring things that are overly easy like tying one's shoes)
House
- Fix a faucet
- Change the innards of a toilet
- Swap an electrical outlet
- Fix a garbage disposal
Safety
- Tie real square knot
- Throw a proper punch
- Build a fire
- Shoot a gun
Automotive
- Drive a manual transmission car
- How to check (and fill) the oil in your car
- Check and air up your tires
- Mount your spare tire/wheel
- Drive in slick conditions
Practical
- Ride a bike
- Grow a garden
- Change a diaper
- Dealing with children
- Do your own taxes
- Tie a tie
- Have proper manners at the table
- Sew
- Care and feeding of animals
Personal
- Kiss
- Seduce/be seduced
- Confidently talk the desired gender
- Cook a four course meal
- Tipping
- Punctuality
- Mix a cocktail from scratch (no pre-made mix)
- Make some type of art
There's my recipe for success. Some are simple and mundane, some are deeper. Some, like fixing a garbage disposal are on there since people seem to be intimidated by it, but it's almost painfully easy to do.I guess the equation goes something like this:
Score = Ease * Perceived difficultly * Frequency * Payoff (or cost)
The garbage disposal would save an expensive call to a plumber, as would the faucet and toilet. The electrical socket is also ease when you get over the heebee-jeebees that people have around electrons.Why know how to shoot a gun? Even if you don't have one and have no intention of every getting one you might as some point find yourself holding one. Knowing how to use one safely could save you or someone you love. If you get creeped out by guns then you should especially figure out how they work. Guns, when handled properly, are safe. Based on the equation, the payoff is huge: you might not die.I think this'll be good fodder for some future posts.So, looking to the wisdom of the masses, what do you think? What did I miss? What do I have that's not on yours?BTW: I can't say I know all of them... but I'm trying.Updates added from Dan's suggestions.