The Journey is the Reward

The problem with creating your own things is that there are very few surprises with the finished product. And without those quirks, twists, and surprises, one is always ready for the next big thrill after completion

Now, not everything has to be self-made. The impetus, of course, is that nothing else available is fit for the task. This might be because of location, time involvement, cost, etc. But, I'm not going to shoot my own movie because I can't find one I like. It must be hell on a director to have one in the can. Lots of excitement watching it all come together; pride in the finished product, but the satisfaction is one entirely different from that of a cinema go-er. At least from my perspective, it would seem the discovery and intrigue of whatever it is that I'm seeking would outweigh the DIY route. But the DIY route ensures the job is done right, and can put the end goal within reach without moving to Maine, or spending years putting together someone else's failed project.

There are car guys out there that will pour 10's of thousands of dollars into a restoration and once complete, they sell the car for a loss after only a short time. For them, it's a loss of interest. They're ready for the next project. Odd as it may seem, there are those that sell the car off incomplete and never even ride in it…because of that same loss of interest. I believe the term for that is "quitter".

All else aside...how does one evaluate this kind of situation? And where does the satisfaction lie?