What Started as a Job

By Liz Sullivan

Finally! It may have taken 24 years, but now I have it. ‘It’ is the job I moved to Maine for. In 1994, I moved from New York City to Portland, ME. My reasoning? Well as the sign on the turnpike says, “Maine, the way life should be”. I liked my job in NY. It was in my field of study but it was formal. Pantyhose were still a thing that women wore and, well, that just wasn’t me.

Arriving in Portland, knowing no one, turned out to be great. I made good friends, met my now husband, was able to pay bills, go to the beach, dress casually (no pantyhose wearing, EVER) and live my life. Fast forward 24 years, I’m now married to said husband, have two children and have lived in Appleton since 1999.

Over those years, I‘ve held 5 other jobs since being in Maine. I now have the one I believe is the job I moved here for in 1994. I’m the Administrative Associate here at the ‘Shop. My obsessive personality thrives as the office guru. I’m organized, detail-oriented and all those good things. I enjoy talking with people and giving tours. Often, I am someone’s first encounter with the ‘Shop, whether it be in person, via email or by phone, all things that come naturally to me.   

It’s possible that I drove past The Apprenticeshop 2,184 times before setting foot in this magical place in June of 2019. I would wonder “How do they possibly get a boat out of that building?” I didn’t realize it was three floors with plenty of room for building boats and, yes, doorways with ample room to allow boats to fit through. I also thought it was ‘nice’ that they teach people to build wooden boats, and ‘wouldn’t it be great to have the time and money to learn something like that?’ All I can say is, I was wrong about The Apprenticeshop. It is so much more than a school for traditional wooden boatbuilding and seamanship!

The ‘Shop takes apprentices who are right out of high school, as well as ones who are in their 70’s. The reasons people, or “humans”, as my colleague refers to those who walk on two legs, come to the ‘Shop vary as much as all the boats that exist in the world do. Classic wooden boats are steeped in history. They are incredible pieces of design, some simple and some incredibly intricate. Being an apprentice, learning the craft of building boats out of wood, learning the ways of the ocean, how to travel on it safely with either your own energy or the wind to guide you, is something that is becoming a thing of the past. This is what you learn at the ‘Shop. Some apprentices go on to be professional boatbuilders, some just come to develop their woodworking skills. Regardless, they all leave the ‘Shop more confident, empowered and more than likely realize that they were and will always be a part of something meaningful. 

Unlike the apprentices, who come to learn about boatbuilding, I came for a job. The job, as I explained earlier, is a natural fit. I’m proud to be a part of the Apprenticeshop. I value what we teach, how we teach it and why we teach the way we do. We create a community of learning, self-reliance, camaraderie, and acceptance. These are all attributes I have sought. But I honestly did not realize how much I was seeking them.

For me, working has primarily been a means to an end, not something that I woke up feeling happy or lucky to do. Although I grew up in a relatively conservative family - traditional if you will, - I‘ve always been drawn to those who are more free thinking, less structured, and are willing to embrace the unknown. I have found a community of these people at The ‘Shop.

I would not call myself creative but I am very inquisitive. I like to learn and when I care about something I want to fully embrace it. I had no idea I would find myself wanting to understand the ins and outs of boatbuilding. But, I have. I ask a lot of questions, like: What is that tool for? Why is that type of wood better to use? What is that part called?”

I also didn’t expect to want to try some of the techniques we teach. I learned what and how to bung. In fact, I now have my very own chisel and mallet that my Secret Santa made for me. I cannot tell you how excited I was to receive those gifts! I participated in boat work week, during which apprentices and staff pause normal activities to work on our fleet boats so they are ready for the season. I didn’t know, for example, that wooden boats need to be sanded and painted each year. During this week, I learned how to sand and scrape by working on Oh Monah. I experienced the learning by doing method firsthand. Climbing up on the bow of the boat, working with my hands and seeing the end result felt incredible. Not to mention, I’m learning to sail and drive the motor boats. 

The Apprenticeshop creates a community where people form friendships for life and come together both for fun and to help one another when needed. Do you need help moving, or painting, or do you need to borrow a car or get a lift somewhere? Sure, we can help! Truly, I rarely hear the word ‘no’ when at work. It is always, ‘we can do that, we can make that work.’ It’s simply amazing. All opinions are respected, all walks of life are welcome, mistakes will be made - that is bound to happen - but we all care about each other and are good to each other and continue to learn. Human Potential and Learning by Doing are two of our Values and I experience them daily.  I may have come to the Apprenticeshop for a job, but I have gotten so much more.