I guess I’m not a very high maintenance person compared to most of my peers. I’m really accustomed to the people around me complaining a lot, demanding perfection, and spending a lot of money to attain insignificant results. This is especially true when it comes to usage of indoor heating and cooling systems. I can’t tell you how many friends I have gone to visit, only to leave their place early because the HVAC system was overwhelming. Folks these days tend to rely so heavily on their heating and cooling systems that they don’t even know what natural air feels like anymore. I can’t stand the feeling of being completely surrounded by expensive artificial indoor air, especially when it’s blowing from every direction due to overhead air vents and ceiling fans. Just give me some fresh, natural air and leave me be. I guess that part of this low-maintenance opinion about HVAC systems can be traced back to my childhood. We grew up without much money, and therefore we were not allowed to use the central heating and cooling system unless it was an emergency. In the summer, we took cold showers and used standing fans to keep calm. In the winters, instead of using the furnace my mom would tell you to put on more layers or wrap up in a blanket if you complained about being cold. Sometimes she wore gloves and insisted she felt toasty warm inside. If we were lucky, she made something for dinner and left the oven open for a little extra heat. If any of us touched the thermostat, my mom’s spidey senses tingled and she basically had an aneurysm. I guess if you grow up associating indoor air temperature control with parental freak outs, you really don’t miss it down the line.
