I ran across http://techshop.ws/ a few months back, and thought it was a pretty cool sounding place that I'll never have the time for. Perhaps it might be something you'd find interesting.

Hi WeirdAl,

I completly understand your feeling, as i've got the same story than you:

- my father that build himself a lot of thing (eg: the half part of our house) always impressed me,

- the respect of woodwork and even more woodworker

- the appealing for carpentry, woodwork that needs a lot of geometry skills,

- finally, what to do if i'm fed up with computers.

That's why, I began 2 months ago a project of little rotate-able desk that will sit besides the sofa, in order to put on our laptop computers : quite not simple but really fun at doing.

So go on what you want to do, you'll never regret it. Good luck.

Don't know about any techshops in the area (though techshop.ws does seem pretty cool), but the College of the Redwoods apparently has a very good fine woodworking program. If you ever want to take courses, maybe check that out.

I took a 2-week workshop at the Centre for Fine Woodworking while I was in New Zealand, and it was awesome. I majored in engineering at school, but that was the first time I felt like I could actually make anything. If I wasn't floating around and had a place I could keep for awhile, I'd consider buying some handtools and taking it up as a hobby. :)