Do you live next to a jackpot and not even know it? You might. Back in 1972 when he was about 18, Bob, now a gifted carpenter, introduced himself to Hans, who lived across the street. In his late 80′s, Hans was a semi-retired master wood lathe turner. So skilled was he that his former employer continued to send him work. They had been so good to him that he couldn’t say he didn’t want the work.

When Bob finally crossed the street and met the old guy, Hans offered all of his equipment, including a 10-foot lathe-big enough to produce columns-to the young kid, providing he would haul all of it away. That way, he could legitimately turn down the work and finally retire. He offered to come across the street to teach the young kid what he knew. It was a good arrangement for both men and Bob lined up his friends to haul the equipment that weekend.

What happened? Hans dropped dead from a heart attack the next day. His brother from Wisconsin took all of the tools and equipment, leaving nary a screwdriver for the aspiring carpenter.

This is a true story of an opportunity missed on several levels. Bob came tantalizingly close to getting a treasure trove of a master craftsman’s tools and equipment for free. Perhaps the deeper loss is that the men didn’t know each other, or their mutual interest, at a time when each could have benefitted from it. Hans went to his grave with roughly 60 years of experience that he didn’t pass along to an eager student. Most craftsmen would be honored to pass their knowledge on to a new generation.

New Community Vision’s mission is to organize gatherings, community-by-community, month-in and month-out. As you meet your neighbors, you will be astonished at the breadth and depth of resources that exist within your town and possibly on your block. Pooling resources could make a huge difference in your life.

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