Rod in his home workshop.
A Portland, Maine nonprofit executive, world traveler, avid snow boarder, expert flyfisherman and family man does, in fact, need some time in his workshop to relax and clear his mind. Working with his hands keeps him happily occupied for hours, just as it does me. He schedules his precious shop time in advance and looks forward to firing up the table saw the same way he looks forward to a weekend road trip to the mountain to shred the slopes with his son. Rod Vogel happens to be my brother, and he has respectfully adopted his own love and passion for creating vintage-style signs.
The thought of growing Nutmegger Workshop into a two-location effort crossed our minds just once and we quickly realized we wouldn’t have our relaxing hobbies anymore. And at our age, the thought of sacrificing our hard-earned and modestly lucrative careers even just a little was quickly tossed aside in favor of the status quo. Perhaps when we’re both retired we’ll collaborate a bit to bring in some extra vacation money. In the meantime, our common interest keeps us communicating across the country, sharing shop techniques and texting photos of our latest projects. Here’s to more good times in your shop, my good brother!
As with me, it all began with making signs for display in his Cumberland, Maine home.
Working in his shop isn’t the only place he finds relaxation. That’s Rod in the canoe. Award-winning photo by John Darak.