Comments on: Methinks They Doth Protest Too Much…my a/c and me http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:42:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tao http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-136 tao Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:02:17 +0000 http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-136 Thank you all for picking up where I left off - I always knew there were many others out there walking the walk and learning and THINKING during the process. And, this is STILL WHY I write this blog, so that we can all talk about it, share ideas and support each other. Thank you, Mary, for the reminder that we CAN live with nature if we keep it in mind as we design and build what we need. And I'm happy and humbled to hear from you, Don. Namaste to your family - I'll send the next media crew to your place! Seriously, you're so right, our supposed sacrifices allow us to stay connected to the seasons and provides the opportunity to enjoy all the little things that much more. Ben is right, we are reluctant to see the truth of our "swanky lives". Seeing the truth of what is happening to the planet can be difficult, but there is so much silver lining. Some of it involves simply THIS - coming together in creative purpose. Other things will continue to show up as we learn the joys of more simple, less-consuming lives that allow us to live with more authenticity, integrity, peace and joy. Changingly Yours, Tao Thank you all for picking up where I left off – I always knew there were many others out there walking the walk and learning and THINKING during the process. And, this is STILL WHY I write this blog, so that we can all talk about it, share ideas and support each other. Thank you, Mary, for the reminder that we CAN live with nature if we keep it in mind as we design and build what we need. And I’m happy and humbled to hear from you, Don. Namaste to your family – I’ll send the next media crew to your place! Seriously, you’re so right, our supposed sacrifices allow us to stay connected to the seasons and provides the opportunity to enjoy all the little things that much more.

Ben is right, we are reluctant to see the truth of our “swanky lives”. Seeing the truth of what is happening to the planet can be difficult, but there is so much silver lining. Some of it involves simply THIS – coming together in creative purpose. Other things will continue to show up as we learn the joys of more simple, less-consuming lives that allow us to live with more authenticity, integrity, peace and joy.

Changingly Yours,
Tao

]]> By: Don http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-135 Don Sun, 12 Aug 2007 02:49:54 +0000 http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-135 I happened to catch the tail end of the tv news coverage of you and your home the other day, that you were doing without A/C and using fans, shade, etc. My family and I have been doing the same this summer, tho' for different reasons. Last summer our poorly performing A/C, heat pump condenser stopped working, and we decided not to fix it. This winter we used a wood burning stove and a Kerosene heater to warm our home and it was the best winter we'd had in a while( as far as being warm). There is an appreciation that goes along with something that doesn't come so easily, like keeping warm or cool as the case may be. I think most folks take for granted something that until very recently was not even available; flicking a switch for instant warmth or coolness.If I am not perfectly comfortable in my abode I think this is bad, and I start to complain how difficult life is. But when I am living along with the way things are (hot or cold), and the weather changes and it's now a bit warmer or a bit cooler, I really appreciate the change, I appreciate this very real part of life on Earth because it feels good and I'm thankful for the cool summer breeze or the warm spring day.I'm glad you caused a bit of a stir! Don I happened to catch the tail end of the tv news coverage of you and your home the other day, that you were doing without A/C and using fans, shade, etc. My family and I have been doing the same this summer, tho’ for different reasons. Last summer our poorly performing A/C, heat pump condenser stopped working, and we decided not to fix it. This winter we used a wood burning stove and a Kerosene heater to warm our home and it was the best winter we’d had in a while( as far as being warm). There is an appreciation that goes along with something that doesn’t come so easily, like keeping warm or cool as the case may be. I think most folks take for granted something that until very recently was not even available; flicking a switch for instant warmth or coolness.If I am not perfectly comfortable in my abode I think this is bad, and I start to complain how difficult life is. But when I am living along with the way things are (hot or cold), and the weather changes and it’s now a bit warmer or a bit cooler, I really appreciate the change, I appreciate this very real part of life on Earth because it feels good and I’m thankful for the cool summer breeze or the warm spring day.I’m glad you caused a bit of a stir!

Don

]]> By: Ben http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-133 Ben Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:07:09 +0000 http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-133 And another thing. Methinks they doth protest not damn enough. Keep up the good work. And another thing.

Methinks they doth protest not damn enough. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Ben http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-132 Ben Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:04:54 +0000 http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-132 Wow. My hope is that when people hear your story, they make it a point to learn the truth that this archaeological era will be known as the most destructive in way of natural resource consumption, waste production, and pollution. The reality is there are lot of things that we are doing that's bad for us i.e. our oil usage (which includes everything from the cars that we drive to the energy requirements we have to satisfy our swanky lives), and our senseless waste production (which includes pretty much everything harmful like fast food wrappers, used electronics, paper towels, and a gillion other products we consume without making consideration for its end use and life cycle ). The stuff that we're creating is polluting our streams and oceans where we like to fish, our forests and back country where we like to camp, hike and hunt, and the list goes on. Learn the facts about how easy it is to make small changes that will go a long way towards preserving our planet as if such of thing were of some sort of importance! Wow.

My hope is that when people hear your story, they make it a point to learn the truth that this archaeological era will be known as the most destructive in way of natural resource consumption, waste production, and pollution. The reality is there are lot of things that we are doing that’s bad for us i.e. our oil usage (which includes everything from the cars that we drive to the energy requirements we have to satisfy our swanky lives), and our senseless waste production (which includes pretty much everything harmful like fast food wrappers, used electronics, paper towels, and a gillion other products we consume without making consideration for its end use and life cycle ). The stuff that we’re creating is polluting our streams and oceans where we like to fish, our forests and back country where we like to camp, hike and hunt, and the list goes on.

Learn the facts about how easy it is to make small changes that will go a long way towards preserving our planet as if such of thing were of some sort of importance!

]]> By: Mary http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-131 Mary Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:48:05 +0000 http://taoofchange.com/2007/08/09/methinks-they-doth-protest-too-muchmy-ac-and-me/#comment-131 Hi Trace, I'll be listening for you in just a bit! I think however, your story is compelling to people because you do make it seem quite easy and can inspire others to take action too (the point of this blog eh?) Course the dramatic 'she is doing this in 100+ degree heat' angle does enhance the story. You all are lucky to be in a community where the homes take into consideration the environment, like homes did years ago. Remember 'breezways' in homes? Main halls with a door at both ends to bring a breeze through in the summer? My little house we fondly call the 'anti solar' home, oriented completely the wrong way for maximum efficiency, but simply pulling down the shades drops the temp immediately. A close friend of mine works with HVAC systems and is on call this week. It is amazing what people consider an 'emergency' at 10 at night or 2 in the morning. "My upstairs system won't cool" (but they have two), "It won't go below 75" (like that is unbearably suffocating), "My ceiling is falling in" well that was an emergency (the condensation of water should drain, preferably to water something, not your ceiling). So many newer homes are built so they have to have AC. Small windows, no shade, or huge homes that suck up energy no matter what. Not to mention the hospitals, assisted living places where you can't open windows and would practically suffocate without AC of some sort. I'll quit rambling now. Hi Trace,
I’ll be listening for you in just a bit! I think however, your story is compelling to people because you do make it seem quite easy and can inspire others to take action too (the point of this blog eh?) Course the dramatic ‘she is doing this in 100+ degree heat’ angle does enhance the story.

You all are lucky to be in a community where the homes take into consideration the environment, like homes did years ago. Remember ‘breezways’ in homes? Main halls with a door at both ends to bring a breeze through in the summer? My little house we fondly call the ‘anti solar’ home, oriented completely the wrong way for maximum efficiency, but simply pulling down the shades drops the temp immediately.

A close friend of mine works with HVAC systems and is on call this week. It is amazing what people consider an ‘emergency’ at 10 at night or 2 in the morning. “My upstairs system won’t cool” (but they have two), “It won’t go below 75″ (like that is unbearably suffocating), “My ceiling is falling in” well that was an emergency (the condensation of water should drain, preferably to water something, not your ceiling).

So many newer homes are built so they have to have AC. Small windows, no shade, or huge homes that suck up energy no matter what. Not to mention the hospitals, assisted living places where you can’t open windows and would practically suffocate without AC of some sort.

I’ll quit rambling now.

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