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The Man-cave or The Study - What is Your Preference?
Charles
Master
in Tobacco Talk
The study has always been the man's domain and a place for private contemplation or entertaining friends in a traditional manly environment. However, the man cave has become more or the modern style and used as a games room or a place for entertaining friends while watching a sports event.
Each have their advantages and disadvantages.
A case can be made for either. What is your preference? Just curious.
I am an old soul that lives in the traditional past so my preference is of course the study. I like a place where I can read, plan, or work on something while enjoying a good smoke and a dram or two.
What is your preference? Just curious.
Each have their advantages and disadvantages.
A case can be made for either. What is your preference? Just curious.
I am an old soul that lives in the traditional past so my preference is of course the study. I like a place where I can read, plan, or work on something while enjoying a good smoke and a dram or two.
What is your preference? Just curious.
Comments
When I'm up there working, it's my office.
When I'm up there having a pipe, cigar, playin poker, etc... It's the Mancave or Cave.
Anything sounds better than ... the garage. But I tend to like @CACooper suggestion of an Inner Sanctum, sound a bit spookier, where you might dismember a hitchhiker between bowls. Actually 'Man Cave' is a modern a phrase and I'm more of an old soul born in the wrong era. My taste leans towards the Victorian era so terms like 'the study' or 'sitting room' would probably roll off my tongue more so than 'Man Cave'. In my mind I picture a gentleman's quarters like featured in Sherlock Holmes films. A desk, a few chairs, a fireplace, and a book case full of ... here's where my taste force me from Victorian England to modern day USA) ... a bookcase full of DVD movies and a 60" flat screen TV mounted someplace on a wall.
I remember watching one of those make-over shows where they surprise someone with a room make-over and in this instance they transformed a room into an old English pub. That's my idea of the perfect place to smoke my pipe.
My other love is video games, but as a personal rule I never smoke and play a game (board games being the exception). I'd rather keep them in a furnished basement, away from my pipes.
However, if I had a choice, I would rather have a man cave than a study. Somehow I feel a man cave can be more multi-purpose...
I'm not entitled to a man cave, because I submit to SWMBO, but I sure would like a study again......
As I've probably posted before, my mancave is really more of an afterthought than a master plan. Having worked from home, for over 2 decades now, I've needed a home office. While we were in the middle of building a 1200 sq ft addition to our house, back in 07, one of the things being added was my home office (I had taken over the formal dining room when we first moved there in 04).
I happened to be watching an episode of "The Man Cave Show" on diy, while we were in the framing stage of our addition, when they were building a hermetically sealed mancave in the basement of a Chicago home to allow a guy to smoke his cigars year round. This got my imagination running, next thing you know I'm getting with the contractor and we were installing a high velocity ventilation system, poker table and chairs, and a mini fridge.
As you can see by the pictures, none of my shelves or cabinets are built in. Most all are craigslist finds. As I've also posted previously, most of the furnishings in my home office / mancave are craigslist finds as well.
My false idea of Heaven is that I get to create pipe smoke as heavenly incense to our Creator while waste deep in a stream of hungry trout. If I'm really dreaming Sidney Bechet is playing in the background.
About 10 years ago or so, I quit the "corporate" world in favor of pursuing my career as an individual. It has resulted unfortunately in a much leaner financial situation, but I would probably be dead or at least in prison for murder of my partners....(.that is another story) by now, but that is another story.
Anyway, my reason for this post is just to comment on your speaking of "sartorial splendor". If I do not have to go meet a client, or attend a "function" requiring me to so so, I wear shorts and sweatshirts all year long. Everyone who knows me expects (or at least accepts) it. Due to the fact we live at "the shore", even while in the "corporate world" we would dress relaxed during decent weather and seasons as a large majority of our clientele" would visit our firm in shorts, docksiders, polo shirts, etc.
I had to wear 'squared away" uniforms in the military, and had to "dress the part" for almost 30 years of my career.
Dial back almost 10 years ago, my wife had a yard sale. I got rid of so many slacks, dress shirts, jackets, ties, etc. I have to confess that I was a "clothes freak" to a degree, but looking back do not miss those at this point. When I get up in the morning my biggest concern is what color shorts to wear, and which tee shirt and/ or sweatshirt to put on.
However, having been there, I respect and admire a "sharp dressed man". I propose an attire competition with our Londy who wears some of the nicest jackets I have seen. His color and pattern coordination is very nice.
In case of a tie, I will select the winner based on your tobacco choices.
Anyway, having been in the Navy for 6 years and in management and consulting for the last 30, I have acquired quite the wardrobe of suits, shirts, ties and shoes. Not to mention slacks and golf shirts.
About 4 years ago I accepted a position as C.O.O. for a local software developer. It is owned by friends of mine and the emphasis on casual wardrobe was made quite clear when I accepted the position. No suits were to be worn, period! Consequently we were a golf shorts and golf shirt affair for most of the year and wearing jeans and socks only when the weather necessitated it. ;-)
I've recently accepted a position as regional manager with an international manufacturing concern. Again the emphasis is on a "Dress Casual" (slacks and golf shirts) philosophy, with suits to be worn only at Trade Shows and Board Meetings.
I don't mind wearing a suit and tie, but I also appreciate being able to dress a bit more casually as it makes travel a bit easier, especially on the wardrobe.