The sink continues to heal itself, and Andy is building more bookcases, but the refrigerator is an ongoing problem. The pilot light keeps going out and the refrigerator shuts itself off. It will be interesting to see if it can ever be fixed, since we think the problem is the altitude. We did install the special high-altitude orifice for altitudes of 8000-8500+ feet to control the gas going to the burner, but the cottage is at 8800 feet and it looks as if we need a separate adjustment for the pilot light.
Andy has spent several hours now on the Internet and on the phone searching for suggestions from the company, but the problem seems to be beyond their expertise. One fellow did suggest we take the refrigerator to the closest service center—about 80 miles away and several thousand feet lower—but that isn’t feasible. So either Andy and the plumber figure it out themselves or else we skip the idea of a propane refrigerator.
Before Andy left this morning he warned me it was going to be an expensive project. Why am I not surprised? In fact the reason we downsized so severely was we knew things wouldn’t always go smoothly.
What about you? Any interesting challenges in your life right now? Do you usually expect things to go smoothly?
Jean: okay I get your point entirely, thanks for the clarification…
Having now read Rummuser I see another point surfacing. It shows how different you, me and the respondents are in their thinking on the matter/s in hand. It gives much food for thought that may in the long run make us re-evaluate certain things or just say “I will always have my view”
And it is our differences that give the world and life it’s quality…
Rummuser,
I agree that emotions are natural, and more than that they’re a great source of insight. I believe in welcoming them and listening to what they’re trying to tell me. See, for instance, The Power of Focusing. Cornell (the author) says “The results of listening to your body are insight, physical release, and positive life change. You understand yourself better, you feel better, and you act in ways that are more likely to create the life you want.” I’m guessing that’s a bit too active for you.
In the past you said you never feel stress because you meditate and have achieved equanimity. Do you still believe that? Is that just another way of saying, emotions happen, there is no doer, I’m just along for the ride?
A lot of people are bothered by the word stress, presumably because they think it has negative connotations. I think of it as a great source of motivation and energy. It’s up to me to use it wisely. I like thinking of it that way because it’s a slightly more creative approach to life. As usual, different people like different things.
Cathy,
Yes, ideally my posts are food for thought with the hope that other people will share their own views. For a long while I’ve also been trying to keep family and friends informed of what’s going on with the building up on the land, but my part of that is just about over now.
It will take time to reach the full living of “no doer” stage, but if not in this life time, perhaps the next or the next or whenever. In the meanwhile, what else is there to “do” but be there for the ride?
Rummuser,
I would be more curious and instead of saying I never felt stress I would be observing more closely and seeing exactly what was going on. Again, we’re all built differently. Gardner talks about different kinds of “intelligence”. There are a lot of them I don’t have, but intrapersonal is one area I do have talent—and a lot of interest.