it's funny how even when it is a train wreck you still Know right where to find stuff? Clean it up and I'm lost again...
The photo below isn't of my shack. I found it on Google. But, I maintain multiple benches that are not this neat. Some are for electronics. Some are for mechanical and welding. Some are for meat and fish butchering. Benches like this were pretty much the norm for all of my 40+ year career in electronics. The photo is typical of my co-workers (and me) doing Analog/RF/Microwave R&D. Most of us were (still are!!!) ADHD, ADD, and OCD. Neatness and cleanliness was never part of our OCD issues. We weren't the ones washing our hands 29 times a day. We are/were the super-focused who had a goal. The debris around us didn't matter. We worked around it, and pushed some of it onto the floor. Many years ago, I remember walking into my work-place a number of times to see a brilliant friend. Being those days, he would be in an expensive three-piece suit -- but wearing cheap sneakers below his blue pin-striped suit pants. At 7:00 AM, he would be propped up against an outside wall near the entrance door. He looked like a Bowery bum. He would have a notebook and calculator, instead of a bottle in a brown paper bag. Oftentimes, he had been working for two or three days straight. At one point, our supervisor had to flush out a fire using his new suit jacket at this friend's desk, covered with 2-3 feet of papers and books, when this friend fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand. I'm not against cleanliness and neatness. As a manager, from the time I was in my 20s until I retired in my 60s, I always dedicated time at the end of each work day, at the end of every week, and monthly, for my employees to clean and reorganize. I just didn't always follow my own advice. Reaching 70 years of age a few days ago, I am still trying to achieve a way to organize my life. Life is great. I'm still ADHD and OCD, but it sure is fun. I tried multiple drugs to control some of my issues, but found that I was much happier and far more efficient by being disorganized. Thankfully, I married a wonderful lady 42 years ago who has put up with my crazy issues. Our two sons have done well. Both have doctorate degrees. Both are great parents. I'm not sure if these traits are good or bad, but they too have married well. If my grandkids turn out like me, things could be worse. Time to go work on multiple other projects.
I would rate my shack as decent, their are times it is good enough to take a photo to post, other times my work bench makes the whole place a mess.
" I wonder which of those two guys knew more about electronics..." I would bet the nice orderly modern setup. I have yet to meet a Ham with an excellent top notch shack that was also not very knowledgeable about electronics, RF, Antennas etc.
