Loading ...In The Beginning
Welcome to The Mantuary, your refuge from all things woman and sanctuary for all things Man. As The Founding Father, I created The Mantuary shortly after I got married and bought our first home. Before I had even unpacked my Weber grill, there wasn’t a single room in the house that wasn’t being infused with femininity. My BBQ cookbooks were now sitting under her Danielle Steele novels, my trusted pairs of BDU shorts were folded nicely alongside her silk camisoles, and there was no longer room in “our” fridge for a case of “my” beer. It wasn’t long before those things that defined me as a man were headed toward mass extinction.
I came to the realization that something had to give in order for me to keep my sanity and remain a happily married Man. I needed to find a place where a Man is judged by the amount of holes in his pants, where the lights don’t have to be turned on when you’re working, and beer flows freely from a tap. My Mantuary took root in the part of the house that my wife naturally avoided. We had a 3rd garage bay that was used for storage at the time. It was unpainted. It had concrete floors. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Whether you’ve decided to embark on a full-blown remodeling project or you’re simply looking for a place to set up a workbench, remember, it’s all about location.
I’ve had my Mantuary for many years now, and I’ve come to realize that I’m not alone. The phenomenon is definitely starting to catch on. If you haven’t already established your Mantuary there’s no better time than now. Throw up some peg board, hang some tools, find an old recliner, store a case of beer and…
Be A Man.
- The Founding Father
Of course, all the “mancave” hoorah on DIY Network and in the press seems to neglect one of the main purposes of a mantuary. A man’s privacy.
You crack me up Man Founding Father! Thanks for the comments….I will be back to your site!
great site, I was told about it by a buddy who is Adam of PA your monthly winners father in law. I am up here in canada and will definitely be back to the site….
Stavros
Thanks Stavros.
This site is in its infancy and I’m excited to tell you there are some GREAT things to come. Stay tuned, keep the comments coming and spread the good word of The Mantuary.
Perhaps you can submit the first International Mantuary of the Month! …what does a Mantuary look like up north? Im picturing Strange Brew pictures on the wall with a big moose head above the door?
-The Founding Father
I have a question. Somewhere else on this great site you’ve created (I will be back) you state that a Mantuary is NOT a mancave. What’s the difference?
Again, great site.
Blake
To Blake:
Anyone I’ve come across that calls their space a “Man Cave” has inevitably allowed a feminine influence to chip away at the very fabric of what they should be able to claim as their own. Whether it’s the exec’s on HGTV telling you what to put in your space for the sake of “ratings” or the hen occasionally using your “Man Cave/Entertainment Room” for an all girl’s night get together consisting of a Southern Home Fleecing party followed by a Lifetime movie marathon…it’s a sad fact that all too many “Man Caves” are tarnished by the influence of a woman.
The Mantuary is a pure, 100% testosterone infused area that has absolutely NO influence other than that of the Man of the house. It can be as simple as a workbench in a drafty garage or as elaborate as a $30,000 home theater, but if you’ve actually got a $30,000 home theater, she better have one worth $50,000 if you ever expect to be able to truly claim yours as your own.
To sum it all up, a true Mantuary exudes so much testosterone that a wife would sooner stay out altogether than even bother with the hassle of setting foot in one. On the contrary, women don’t respect “Man Caves” - they “give you your space” and then flood your DVR with Oprah re-runs as they chuckle to themselves at the irony of it all.
I elaborate more in my comparison of The Mantaury vs. Man Caves here:
http://www.themantuary.com/2008/10/16/the-mantuary-vs-man-caves/
…and welcome any additional comments/questions you may have.
Be A Man.
-The Founding Father
I was sent the link to the site, been very entertaining.
Have a “Husband Land” “Leave your Estrogen at the door” and the BBQ Pits are only 40 feet away, but your standards are high.
jminion
Just a coupla observations…
1. I am sooo lucky that my wife is also my best friend. We goad each other to achieve more. Poke fun at each other. Share laughter, tears and frolics.
2. I’ll never catch her dusting or rearranging my tools. But I don’t mind if she sweeps the garage now and then.
3. She jumps in when anything needs to be done and gives me space when I need it.
4. I love sharing things with her. I’ll never get her to learn to drive my Harley, but I love it when she rides with me. I buy her leathers and gear and look for ways to make her riding experiences with me more enjoyable.
5. Manliness is something we carry inside and is that which is never ceded to women or even other men. My home has my stamp all over it and I gladly share it with my wife, family and friends. They can’t walk onto my property without the certain knowledge that they are on my turf and allowed there at my will. I actively participate in the selection of all things pertaining to my little corner of the world. And although my say is not trumped by feminine wiles, I’d be a fool not to listen to her council.
6. If a guy’s significant other is intrusive, possessive, clinging, nosey, manipulative, etc., then none of the above applies and he will certainly need to carve out his place. On the other hand, the thing that botheres me is that the gal “wins”. If the guy has ceded all but a few square feet, who is the dominant one in that relationship? I am not advocating class warfare within a relationship, but the moment the guy backs off he triggers a process of erosion in the relationship. The male presence is a constant reminder in the wholeness of the relationship.
Ok! who let thier wife post a reply. Austin your the kind of guy who thinks strippers really like you! Great site! Why hasn’t it been updated?
Bitnoyas-
I thought you might be interested in some of the half-assed excuses I came up with as to why the site has not been updated:
1) Its been real shitty in the market and I’ve been spending all my free time focusing on my portfolio.
2) I herniated some disks in my back.
3) I’ve been in a depressed state of mind because the drive shaft on my original lawn mower broke this summer.
4) My H.I.V. kicked back up and mid-afternoon naps have taken priority.
That said, Bitnoyas, I take you as a real Man who’s looking for answers, not excuses.
So here ya go:
1) The market’s bounced.
2) I’ve got plenty of Vicatin now for the back.
3) While I certainly miss the 18″ Craftsman, I’m recovering quite nicely with my new 60″ SCAG walk behind lawn mower
4) I never really did have H.I.V.
And so… thanks for the much needed kick in the pants. Barring any more bouts of being a lazy ass, I pledge to do a better job posting in the future. Thanks for the motivation and yeah, Austin… that was some lame ass crap you threw up there.
Be A Man.
-The Founding Father
PETE AUSTIN….your either gay…or NOT STRAIGHT!