This morning, something happened that brought me immense pleasure. A long-standing client called and asked if they could "bother" me. I replied that they weren't bothering me at all, and that I was "testing some new things". They immediately said, "Oh, I'll call you another time then".
Of course, they had my full and undivided attention from that moment on.
One of the challenging aspects of my work method is making people (not necessarily clients, but generally) understand that experimentation is more important than deployment itself. When they see me set up a server in a very short time (and it will stay up for years), it's not (just) because I use effective tools, but also because it's backed by research, errors, and successes. In a word: experience.
Sitting in front of my computer with two old APUs, therefore, isn't a pastime but one of the most critical parts of my testing. Dated and underperforming hardware necessitates optimization. When people grasp this, it's a true joy for me.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go check how a signal penetrates concrete walls with three different access points placed in the same spot...
...And the fact that I enjoy all of this immensely is just an added bonus!