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A short blog post I tripped over this morning. I must say I agree with this and share his views. I just finished building our house not too long ago and almost every guy I know would ask, "Where are you going to put the Man Cave?" My reply was "I'm just fine watching stuff on the TV (of which we only have one 32")" I was looking forward to building my study. I smoke a pipe and think in my study. I work from home so it is also where I spend most of my time while in the house.

We also built our house to get outside. Roam our 14 acres of woods, streams and pond all year round. Our Man Cave is the outdoors I guess.

16 comments

  • Razorback

    Razorback 8 years, 6 months ago

    I completely agree with his description of the modern-day football fan. I have never understood fantasy sports. I have told my friends for years that if they invested as much time learning to pick stocks as they do learning to pick teams, they could retire early (as I plan to do). I love football, but I am a fan, not a fanatic.

    My "man cave" is my music room. I have drums, guitars, records, rare rock photos, etc. that adorn the room. If I can't be outside (we have 7.5 acres), I like to retreat there to enjoy music. We are currently remodeling and I will soon have my home office which will be much like a study. I am certain I will enjoy that room as well. Neither room will has a TV.

    Reply

  • elancaster65

    elancaster65 8 years, 6 months ago

    When bought our latest house I designate one room to be mine. I call it my office but it really is my study. The running joke was I wanted a "man cave" but really it's full of books...and pictures of airplanes...and my martial arts weapons. But mainly books. (And the obligatory pictures of the wife and kids!)

    It was never meant to be a cave. The door is propped open with souvenir brick from somewhere. You're greeted by a life-sized cut-out of Captain James T. Kirk complete with Santa hat around Christmas time. There are the aforementioned pics of planes on the walls. Some maps. Certificates of achievement.

    And a book case. Not the only bookcase in the house. We have 6 book cases. All full. All read and re-read.

    Sports? Downstairs in the Living Room with the bigger TV. No TV in the Man Study.

    Food and beverage? Usually in the Man Study with a coaster made by my sister just for me, the Dallas Cowboys fan. Something to drink while I read my book(s).

    What's portrayed as the modern version of man is one who is either the aforementioned Jack Links/Slim Jim/Bud Light Lime swilling farting man or the uber-hipster who only drinks coffee from Civet poop filtered through artisanal waters from the slopes of Mount Nicaragua. There seems to be no middle ground. (Except here on The Gentlemint of course!)

    I like the Cowboys. I follow the Rangers. I know who Justin Spieth is as well as Fuzzy Zeller and Lee Trevino. I can also be lost in Half Price Books for over 2 hours thinking about how any lottery money would be well spent there.

    But if you are the kind of who loves Bud Light Lime and a good Slim Jim with your belly painted purple and a cheese wedge on your head...congrats. You're a man too. Not just the only kind of man on the planet.

    Reply

    • Chet_Manly
    • Cobrapilot
    • Nickolas

      Nickolas 8 years, 6 months ago

      Very well said!

      Always was curious about your handle. I have a signed painting of the Lancaster raid on Peenemunde by Robert Tayler. It is signed by the artist six of the crew members that flew the mission. I also have signed autographs by Col Tibbits of the Enola Gay and Memphis Belle. Bobby Jones is a favorite of mine and have a random picture of him sitting on the ground next to a caddy. It represents the down to earth individual who I read about and admire. And last are the photographs (my hobby) that I am most proud of.

      Reply

      • elancaster65

        elancaster65 8 years, 6 months ago

        Hi Nickolas,

        Last name is Lancaster. As a pilot, I've been enamored with the Lancaster bomber. As a Lockheed brat, I'm enamored with Lockheed aircraft! It's cool you have a signed pic. What the RAF did with that plane is the stuff of legend. There are a 4 Lancasters' flying these days. My goal is to see one up close and personal.

        I grew up with Golf as my Dad plays religiously. So I'm familiar with Bobby Jones, etal.

        And photography is a hobby as well.

        Gee...The Gentlemint seems to attract well rounded individuals!

        Reply

  • Chet_Manly

    Chet_Manly 8 years, 6 months ago

    I can agree with the sentiments in the article above and comments here. Once we stop being AF nomads, I will have a man-cave area with two parts: half filled with books and half filled with barbells and heavy iron implements. A man has to forge his mind and his body and his soul will be forged in the process. I've currently made do with a garage gym and steadily increasing bookcases (let me tell you how fun it is to move every couple years with that stuff!) but these are places where I want my kids to spend time with me. I don't want to escape from the wife and kids, I want to LEAD them...and once the kids are older, a quality burbon will become ever present. So glad I'm not alone this idea.

    Personally, I'd love to hear others weigh in on their atypical approaches to this topic.

    Reply

  • glen

    glen 8 years, 6 months ago

    Fantastic discussion. I don't have a man cave, but an office which I share with my 4-year old. Her "desk" (see: Fisher Price) sits next to mine where she can color and sing. While I do enjoy solitude, I don't need another space specifically for an activity that doesn't better me or keep me from my family. While I do follow and watch more sporting events than I probably should, I don't have an area dedicated to it.

    I really liked @Nickolas' sentiment about having a Man Cave outdoors... excellent.

    Reply

  • njohnson

    njohnson 8 years, 6 months ago

    I love this article and the comments that followed. It's things and discussions like this that make me proud to be part of the Gentlemint community. Where else can I run into like-minded individuals like I do on here? I've spent the past few years wondering if my man cave and lack of the typical things seen in other places made me strange. I'm glad to see I'm not, but that I just had the wrong word to describe my sanctum sanctorum. It's not a man cave; it's a study.

    Reply

  • AskMrVideo 8 years, 6 months ago

    I went from a 5000 sq ft home on a lake (that I never got out on) complete with man cave with built in custom bar and a 27' power boat. Then, to a 2 bedroom condo 2 miles from the Gulf and I get out on it 3 days a week with my 30 year old catamaran 16'. . I gotta say, simpler is sooo much better. In every freakin way.

    Reply

  • SuperdanTX

    SuperdanTX 8 years, 6 months ago

    All awesome comments on the subject. My "man cave" was over run by my 3 boys and wife wanting to be there too many years ago. So we expanded a new area, the "fam cave". Over the last 10 years I've had the privilege of watching my sons grow up. I love my privacy, and study, and play time. But now my boys are men, and are leaving to start their own lives. I will always cherish our time together in this space.

    Reply