Differences...
Sometimes the differences in people can be slight, and just enough to make you further want to investigate. Neil and I are very similar in several ways, but we are also two different individuals. As such, we have opposing ways of sometimes viewing a given set of circumstances.
I tend to take a more preventative approach to dealing with certain life issues. Neil will often not wish to be bothered with something that has yet to happen. The past few days, I have been working on my truck, as well as the Subaru. (Neil's previous car)
I come into possession of a vehicle, and I will immediately put on seat covers, and throw in heavy duty floor mats. Why? To postpone the inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, but it can last a lot longer with a bit of preventative care and maintenance. I'm a firm believer of this philosophy. Always have been. Neil is not.
My truck is a 1986. It has just over 212,000 original miles on it. Neil's Subaru is a 1995 with a little over 162,000 miles on it. I am the original owner of my truck. Except for a couple of small cigarette burns in the carpet (it was my ex's truck before I began driving it full time) the interior is in almost near perfect condition. The seats, carpeting, flooring have been protected. I've always had seat covers, and heavy duty floor mats. Except for a few interior trim pieces I've not been able to locate and replace, she's in very good shape. She's in dire need of a good hand washing and waxing, and thorough cleaning up (which is what I'm in the process of finally doing). All in all, Betsy's lead a fairly charmed life. She's been taken care of.
Neil's Subaru has not been so lucky. The seats were stained horribly, and try as I did, I was not able to remove all of it. They are also threadbare in several places. This will justify my expenditure for seat covers in the near future. The floor carpets are dirty, stained, and are worn through. This will justify the heavy duty floor mats. The trunk is retaining moisture from somewhere. It may have a leak. The seal may need replacing. This is not good, as rust is already apparent, and you can smell the mold. Not a good thing with the humidity here.
But, what gets me; the other day while I'm outside working on the Subaru, Neil pulls in the driveway from work. He comes over to take a look and makes a comment about how he knows how I might be able to remove some paint. Seems there is a random stripe of white paint running along one side (towards the undercarriage) on the passenger side of the car. I guess I just find it funny that he would mention it now. He originally bought the car over three years ago, and had never bothered to try to remove the paint from it. I'm guessing he realized that it would bother me, so he figured he'd offer some constructive advice.
Yes, I did wonder aloud why he never bothered to try to remove the paint himself, but such are the differences between us. Things like that do not bother him. In many ways, every day I see differences between us. But, what makes this relationship different, is that I am able to accept the differences between us, and look at the whole picture. Don't get me wrong, as he was offering up his suggestion, I almost wanted to bonk him on the noggin' for not removing the paint himself three years earlier! But, I didn't. I restrained myself. The whole picture is, that yes, we may be different people with very different personality traits, and opposing views on certain issues. But, there is so much good, really great "stuff" between us, that it's almost pointless to sweat the small stuff. It's just not worth it anymore. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Being with Neil has taught me that. He has taught me patience and a tolerance for others. I used to operate in a no tolerance zone. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. Every day I learn something new.
I'm still debating the keep or sell my truck issue. I'm sure in time I will make up my mind.
Side note: I now have six bites. I have become a veritable buffet for bugs. I'm so not happy about this.
Oh, and because it's Friday, and I can, I will add:
Life is too short- Take a Road Trip!
Add your own. I dare you.
Have a great Friday all, and a fabulous weekend.
I tend to take a more preventative approach to dealing with certain life issues. Neil will often not wish to be bothered with something that has yet to happen. The past few days, I have been working on my truck, as well as the Subaru. (Neil's previous car)
I come into possession of a vehicle, and I will immediately put on seat covers, and throw in heavy duty floor mats. Why? To postpone the inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, but it can last a lot longer with a bit of preventative care and maintenance. I'm a firm believer of this philosophy. Always have been. Neil is not.
My truck is a 1986. It has just over 212,000 original miles on it. Neil's Subaru is a 1995 with a little over 162,000 miles on it. I am the original owner of my truck. Except for a couple of small cigarette burns in the carpet (it was my ex's truck before I began driving it full time) the interior is in almost near perfect condition. The seats, carpeting, flooring have been protected. I've always had seat covers, and heavy duty floor mats. Except for a few interior trim pieces I've not been able to locate and replace, she's in very good shape. She's in dire need of a good hand washing and waxing, and thorough cleaning up (which is what I'm in the process of finally doing). All in all, Betsy's lead a fairly charmed life. She's been taken care of.
Neil's Subaru has not been so lucky. The seats were stained horribly, and try as I did, I was not able to remove all of it. They are also threadbare in several places. This will justify my expenditure for seat covers in the near future. The floor carpets are dirty, stained, and are worn through. This will justify the heavy duty floor mats. The trunk is retaining moisture from somewhere. It may have a leak. The seal may need replacing. This is not good, as rust is already apparent, and you can smell the mold. Not a good thing with the humidity here.
But, what gets me; the other day while I'm outside working on the Subaru, Neil pulls in the driveway from work. He comes over to take a look and makes a comment about how he knows how I might be able to remove some paint. Seems there is a random stripe of white paint running along one side (towards the undercarriage) on the passenger side of the car. I guess I just find it funny that he would mention it now. He originally bought the car over three years ago, and had never bothered to try to remove the paint from it. I'm guessing he realized that it would bother me, so he figured he'd offer some constructive advice.
Yes, I did wonder aloud why he never bothered to try to remove the paint himself, but such are the differences between us. Things like that do not bother him. In many ways, every day I see differences between us. But, what makes this relationship different, is that I am able to accept the differences between us, and look at the whole picture. Don't get me wrong, as he was offering up his suggestion, I almost wanted to bonk him on the noggin' for not removing the paint himself three years earlier! But, I didn't. I restrained myself. The whole picture is, that yes, we may be different people with very different personality traits, and opposing views on certain issues. But, there is so much good, really great "stuff" between us, that it's almost pointless to sweat the small stuff. It's just not worth it anymore. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. Being with Neil has taught me that. He has taught me patience and a tolerance for others. I used to operate in a no tolerance zone. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks. Every day I learn something new.
I'm still debating the keep or sell my truck issue. I'm sure in time I will make up my mind.
Side note: I now have six bites. I have become a veritable buffet for bugs. I'm so not happy about this.
Oh, and because it's Friday, and I can, I will add:
Life is too short- Take a Road Trip!
Add your own. I dare you.
Have a great Friday all, and a fabulous weekend.