I wonder if your neighbors are capable of doing simple repairs in their own home or on their motorized equipment and vehicles, or anywhere else for that matter. Or do they have to call a repairman for everything in their lives? You see, people who find joy in working and tinkering on their hobby stuff are often problem solvers and all that time building and maintaining their duck boats (insert hobby here) increases their abilities to repair and maintain other items.
Just last night my son and I replaced the impeller on his outboard. The only reason I knew how to do this is because I've spent a lifetime tinkering, building, and repairing duck boats and all things related to them. What would a marine mechanic charge for that job? I don't know. But for sure that money is still in my son's wallet! What your neighbors fail to see is the education one can get when they work on their stuff and over a lifetime a hobby or hobbies can result in a lot of opportunity to learn and gain experience. They fail to see just maybe you spend time working on your duck boat is because you built it and it gives you satisfaction to be around. Your neighbor probably can't relate because they've never created anything with their own two hands. If they had I don't think they would make those critical statements.
You don't have to convince your neighbor of anything. Some folks will never get it. That's why there are golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball and ways for them to spend their time, and I suspect never a word from you about it.
