I would’ve wanted to be a freelance builder, crafter, designer and engineer. Here’s why I know I can’t, it’s because I am terrible with just knowing things. An experienced craftsman knows their tools by heart, can pick one up that they absolutely need for the job at hand. They know their workshop, inside and out. They can calculate measurements with barely thinking. They just have it together.
That’s not me. You can show me 3 different types of a philips screwdriver and for every one, I’d be like “erm…uh, still philips to me!” when there is subtle differences between them. I can barely measure things to save my life. I am just stunted to learn so many of these things, but I’m only capable of doing small projects at the very least.
People like Adam Savage really have inspired me, having seen the things he can do and how passionate he is about what he does. I love that. I wish I could be that. But I’m not.
If it helps you at all, I believe in learning on the job.
I didn’t know much about money or finance so I got a job as a teller, moved up until I felt I knew what I was doing.
In a similar vein as you, I knew nothing of tools and working with your hands, so I became a mechanic, then a maintenance worker.
And now I’m looking for an IT job. I never went to college but since highschool I’ve never stopped learning. And BTW I sucked at both fields when I started, but 2 years in you’ll figure it out. 5 years in you might be ready for your dream career, or moving on like me.
To answer the question though I’d love to go to Mars! I think I’d be the kind of person who’d be good at being among the first. But I don’t think I’d be able to permanently say goodbye to the creature comforts of Earth. Especially pets.