Dual Climate Controls

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Master and T went through that car buying frenzy, and so we ended up with the beautiful, garnet-red, brand new Hyundai Tucson.  The specs for the Tucson say:

•Redesigned compact crossover SUV

•“Fluidic” design language featuring new hexagonal grille treatment to be rolled out to all Hyundai models

•Bigger inside and out, with more head, leg, storage and cargo room

•Available dual-zone climate control

•Available dual-panel sunroof over both rows of seats

•Available rearview camera system with Smart Park Assist

•Available leather seating

•Available Smart Key ignition and locking

•Standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 6-speed manual transmission

•Available 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 6-speed automatic transmission

•Available all-wheel drive

•Available 18-inch alloy wheels

 

Yup.  Our new Tucson has dual-zone climate control.  I have seen that control, and in the first few days, I even had occasion to operate it.  It was a heady thing to be able to jump into the passenger seat and set the temperature on my side of the car to whatever number I liked -- warm or cool, I decided! 

For a couple of days.

Somewhere, in those first few power-drunk days, Master noticed that His side of the control system reacts to whatever it is that I do on my side.  If His side was set cooler than my side, then on His side the air would blow cool.  Well, that is all it took...

Today, we were out, running some errands, and I took note of the fact that the Hyundai still HAS dual-side climate control.  However, today, both of those controls were set to the exact same number -- and that number was, of course, determined by Himself.  Of course.

It is a small thing, but I think that the story of the dual-sided climate controls is illustrative.  It shows in very plain and prosaic terms how our relationship works.  He controls.  Everything that He chooses to control.  Big and small.  I may play with making my own decisions and controlling my own world, as long as He allows that -- and not one minute longer.  And, when He chooses to take the control back to Himself, that is how it is, and there is no "wrestling" over that.  The control slides easily into His hands, and if I am not paying close attention, I might not even notice. 

That is, in the end the simplest answer to all the pointed and judgemental questions that have been tossed into the conversation here lately.  Questions that ask why I post pictures, or write the tales of spankings, and others that ask why T and I allow Him to drink when He chooses to do that, and questions that wonder how we can tolerate some of what happens in our household -- all are simply answered by the story of the dual-side climate controls in the Hyundai.  There are loci of control that seem accessible to all of us on an equal basis because we are all competent and capable adults.  There are times when the control rests in my hands, or in T's, but it is deceptive because that only occurs when and if He allows it.  When He wants the control; when He chooses to choose; when He is feeling "dominant," then things are the way He wants them to be.  And that is that. 

There really aren't any dual-control systems in our world -- not even when it looks like there might  be.

swan