Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlatan
I am impressed with the number of items each of us can check off on these lists. We are a very capable group of people.
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It may be that those who can't check off that many, feel a bit intimidated about responding... I probably would... so there is some self-selection bias in those who are responding to the thread.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Carlatan
I have been thinking about this list and think there are a few items missing... what would you add?
1. Clean and gut a fish.
2. Change a bike tire.
3. Shingle a roof.
4. Use a compass
5. Read a topographical map.
6. Paddle a canoe/kayak (properly... no lily dipping!).
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Funny, I can do pretty much all of the above (though I don't like gutting fish, I can fillet one pretty well--and have helped my dad shingle our roof a few times when I was youger), but can't do the bike tire. Go figure! I assume it's really not that difficult, so I would be able to do it in an emergency if I had a pump and a spare tube, I think.
As I mentioned above, I think cleaning a bathroom (thoroughly) and picking up after oneself are ESSENTIAL skills for both genders, especially when sharing a household with others.
I would also add relationship-specific skills which are all-too-often NOT taught by too many parents (and for which many people need to go to counseling to sort out), such as:
1. Fighting fairly
2. Not acting/speaking in a passive-aggressive manner, or attacking verbally
3. Not crawling into a cave when conflict arises
4. Expressing your sexual and emotional needs
5. Being comfortable with your body
6. Listening
7. Negotiating an equitable division of labor in a household
8. Feeding a relationship with the little things that make it worthwhile
9. Engaging with spouse and children on a daily basis
10. Managing money as a unit
11. Not becoming a workaholic OR a lazy slacker