It's not just the work, it's the people.

Over the year's you hear so many interesting stories from people you work with. Funny, crazy, extraordinary, educational and sometimes sad.
They inform your work, your attitude,  the choices you make.
I remember one guy I worked with saying
" my mom used to say, choices have consequences"
Pretending surprise I replied " They do ? ".
He was cool. We all had a chuckle.
" You never stop learning in this trade son. I'm 65 and still learning things about Organs".
Very true. Some guys appreciate genuine advice, others think your being patronising when you try to help. 
You pick up a tool and it carries all those memories. You put on your apron and your back in the groove. It's an imprinted habit.
This is something that perhaps the hobby guy's won't fully understand because their motivation is different. 
I remember a young black guy I worked with.
This was in Tacoma WA. Nice guy, we helped each other, watched each other's back's. I leant him some of my tools because he was young and wasn't getting paid much. He did good work, he worked hard. That was the first time I experienced racism on the shop floor though and it took me by surprise. Other guys gave me threatening looks because of it, including the foreman. In the UK such antagonism did not exist. I grew up with black friends and school mates. 
The first time someone sneared at me in that workshop and called me nigger lover I laughed. I thought people only said that in movies. 
Then they stole one of my tools and put it in his tool bag to make it look like he stole from me. I will never forget the hurt look on his face. 
The other good guy in that shop was, like me, biding his time until a better job came through. He had an excellent home shop in his garage. " You need a tool chest Maurice so you can lock up your shit. They aren't secure in that bag." 
He gave me the ply, refused payment and because he was a very experienced Cabinet maker he had that chest made within three hours on his unisaw. I still have it and use it. 35 years later. Top bloke. 
You never forget those acts of kindness, especially when not everyone takes kindly to your foreign accent or the fact that you have a hot girlfriend and they don't. 
Can't win 'em all. Ugly attitude ? Best to stay away from those types. 
It was not a happy shop. It was good to leave it behind.