I leaned down and began to feel what looked like water on the cement floor in front of the dryer. My heart sunk into my stomach.

You can bet it was a relief to feel a non-oily sensation when I tapped my index finger against it. It was water, alright.

Jumping from one thing to the next, our vehicle has been in the shop since Thursday. We are getting some long overdue repair work on it. The superior half and I are heading out on the open road for some more adventures.

Before the car and the dryer water (oxymoron much?) close calls our older vehicle required an expensive repair. They say not so great things can come in threes and I’m hoping this is the case for us.

Back to dryer water

I’m getting the most mileage that I can (from the dryer water oxymoron), and after doing some research, the water in front of the dryer has a perfectly good explanation that (for now) I’m going with: Condensation from a clogged vent. The main lint trap was full of it (lint), and I chalked the condensation up to that. I’ll keep you posted if it’s an actual clogged vent. I have not done any research on it, but I checked the vent to outside the house and it is clear.

Back to car repairs

There will be no wiggle room for the newer vehicle repair in terms of cost. It’s been a good vehicle and we have not needed anything major done to it. However, age and the magnitude of the repair dictates it’s time to invest dollars in it; we want to be as safe as we can, it’s our daily driver, we want it to run well, and we’ll feel better (once the service is completed next week).

Life as one big repair cycle

Life can be about maintaining this and/or that. If you want stuff to last, and unless you have dollars to spare in abundance, basic maintenance will save you some money in the long run.

Life can also be about connecting with other people that you might not ever connect with socially. Think of Abe the service manager. He wants you to be happy with the service and asks you to have coffee and a donut while you wait for the car to be fixed. Or, your superior half may facilitate an informal dinner with a friend you have not seen for awhile. While not meaning to misconstrue this as as a repair, you can look at it as the universe’s way of nurturing the relationship you have with this person and the potential for more get togethers.

I used to feel planned obsolescence was/is a thing. I’m not so sure some times these days. I think over time stuff just breaks through either moderate to extreme use or to neglect (think anything that has rubber that can crack, wear and deteriorate as time goes by). It happened to our leaf blower and over three months’ time I had changed everything out except the fuel line (before I could use it again).

Apple used to promote it’s merchandise, and especially their Macintosh computers as “just working.” Get a Mac, it just works. I thought it was a great advertising campaign except for not addressing when it doesn’t work due to something breaking.

I kind of like tinkering some, but not on a broad basis because stuff happens. And when it does, there is no shame in calling in an expert, whoever that might be.

So, cherish the repair work in your life because if you don’t you might never experience what can happen when it manifest’s itself into something that makes you feel good.