this picture is my screensaver. it is my zen rock garden. i like to space out and stare at it.

it’s also the workbench layout utilized at UBI and similar to what you see in most bike shops. you could also use a tool chest with marked drawers, a table with outlined spots for tools, etc. when you have more than one person working in a shared space and using the same tools, it’s imperative that tools stay organized, that everything has a home. we’re going to try the work table model for now. mostly for the reason that it’s mobile, and we can take/use the same configuration when we’re doing events like the free bike tune-ups around town. with any new system, we it may or may not find it to be the best system for us. we need to try it on for size and see if it fits. that’s been the approach this summer: try it, see if it works for us. some things have really clicked, like the neighborhood outreach programs (free tune-ups). some things are taking longer to figure out, like the configuration of our bike storage and work space.

i know that we’re creating a beautiful thing. i know that we’ll look back at this time and say, “wow, we did a some really amazing work!” the part i have a harder time visualizing is the process and the beauty within it. the uber workbench is a thing to behold; it gives me the chills. but,so is our less-than-perfect workshop. note to self: be present,enjoy the learning process, the growth, and the subsequent growing pains.