Amazing competence
I love being around people who radiate competence. It's part of the reason I love watching blacksmiths work-- everything they do looks like massive levels of competence to me. People making something with their hands, while using good tools, are a pleasure to watch. And useful things are as beautiful to me as any work of art.
But blacksmiths, though among my favorites, aren't the only ones. I love watching skilled leatherworkers, and cabinetmakers, and glassblowers, and just anyone who makes something. I love watching an optician measuring for glasses, and then fitting them to the person. And cake decorators, jewelry makers, primitive survival practitioners, and... There are just so many examples; the longer I think, the more I can come up with.
Beyond the physical, people who can think clearly and explain their thinking, and even make me see it through their eyes, have the same effect on me. I am awed.
I am impressed by competence. I really enjoy exposure to people who are truly competent in something good and useful. I know I am in the presence of greatness, no matter what they may think of themselves.
"Basic" human competence. (Which may be less "basic" and more rare than it ought to be.)
You people amaze me when you are really good at something- and I love it. Keep it up.
I hope I am competent in something, or that I eventually get there. I'll keep working at it, and I hope I never stop, no matter what.
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Too bad competent people can't get paid to do any of the things you named anymore. I am a master at three of the things you've named, and there are no jobs for me. I get to stand aside and watch third world, slap dash, incompetents shove garbage out the door that I would never let pass. The expectation of quality is lower now than ever before in my life, and there is no sign of the degeneration stopping.
Hmmm. I don't know. I would rather buy old steel and wood stuff at a yard sale or junk shop than buy a new plastic item at PlastiCrap World. Even if the old thing costs a bit more- I can't afford a lot, but if I can afford the better-made alternative, I'll buy it. Sounds like you need to find your market (and, no, I don't have an answer to how to do that).
At this point I'm no stranger to finding new careers. I'll figure it out.
I would also rather have old, well built products, even if I have to replace wiring. America made some excellent products in the 50's through the 70's, and if you want lower tech, even older than that. I like small town antique shops. The city shops get expensive. I don't think I've ever seen anything made of plastic that wasn't crap, unless you're talking Bakelite.