It is easy – organize his tools. Here is how it went:

Bill says in passing: I am planning to organize my tools before we leave and make a small set to carry inside the cabin with us.

Michelle thinks she will help and while Bill is out of town she gathers all the tools on the boat and sorts them by type. We are talking EVERY single tool including the ones in the tool box which had always looked so disorganized to her. She is so proud of herself.

Bill arrives home and Michelle excitedly shows him what she has done and tells him that now he can put together a main set and a smaller set of tools. There is a pause of silence. Michelle is still standing there beaming when suddenly she sees a little quiver in the corner of Bill’s mouth. Uh oh, this can’t be good.

Bill never raises his voice, but in a soft voice says, “Is this also the tools from my tool box?” Michelle makes a small nod. “And did you mix the metric wrenches with the US wrenches?” Michelle makes an even smaller nod.

Bill’s voice quivers, “It took me years to get my tool box set up with exactly the right set of tools so that I can take it anywhere and know that I have one of everything.”

Oops, this is very bad. Michelle quietly slinks away while Bill mumbles to himself and tries to make sense of the organized tools in front of him.

Moral of the story: There is only one tool of a man’s that you can mess with. Leave the others alone!