An anecdote about contractors, since that's Osterhout's example: In my book, The Big Bucks I used some of my actual history with Jerry, my contractor, as the b

An anecdote about contractors, since that's Osterhout's example: In my book, The Big Bucks I used some of my actual history with Jerry, my contractor, as the basis for Walt. I say "some" since Jerry was already married, and he never did an Eichler in Palo Alto. Plus we started in 1992, whereas in the book it was 1983. Jerry did about ten jobs on my house after that. I'm not giving a plot spoiler on what happens with Walt /s I just found his traits endearing. He was just like an engineer in so many ways, and he'd even vacuum up rooms he hadn't been in. But basically it was consideration and respect for each other. A lot of homeowners treat contractors like lower-class servants. I gave him a copy of the book and he loved it: he finished it in two days, and then gave it to a contractor friend, who also loved it.