love real hardware stores, where the owner works there and knows where everything is, and can tell you what will work.

Amen!

Tom and Wanda (who own the best and the closest hardware stores in town, respectively) are my heroes. They taught me how to dry out my basement, change my locks, solder pipes, install new light fixtures, fix a broken window, repair my clothes drier, and identify my keys. And many many other things.