Hi-Tech German Laundry Machine vs Mine

Do you know anyone who loves Gadgets? I mean do you know anyone who loves to get the fanciest new cellphone, or computer, or TV? Then they like to tell you about all the fancy things it can do. Like: 'Mine cellphone can show me where I am when I get lost', or 'My computer automatically says my name when I walk in the room', or 'My TV will slice and dice my food and put it on the table.' Well, maybe that's going to far, but you understand what I mean.

Being on a tropical island, I like to keep things simple: 

• I call my neighbor from my backdoor, 
• my friends and family greet me by name when I walk into a room
• and since I watch so little television. I don't know how to use its remote control.

The simpler the better.

Well, I have a friend on the island who loves his gadgets. He loves their functions. he loves their technicalities. He loves all their fancy buttons. And... He loves to tell me about each and everyone of them. (Fortunately, he can't see me rolling my eyes as he brags about them).

One morning while Rose and I were having coffee at the beach cafe, our German Gadget Guy excitedly came over to tell us about his new set of high tech laundry machines.

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'Rose, Greg... You won't believe me when I tell you, but these new German laundry machines do everything. I mean it knows when I have colors or whites in the machine. It sets the water temperature automatically. It spins my clothes until they are nearly dry. Then I transfer them into the drier where it senses the type of fabric so that it dries them just enough and stops. What's even better is that they have 'electronic muffler bearings' that reduces the amount of electricity I use. So I think it is an extremely good investment on top of being super high tech. You are a person who enjoys leisure. I really think... No, I know you must have one as well. Do you want to get a set as well? I can tell you the supplier and you can get it delivered next week. What do you think? What do you want to do?'

Rose takes a sip of her coffee and politely answers, 'I think we'll stick with our Filipino model'.

'Greg, tell Rose she's being illogical. I just explained that she can have a super, hi-tech gadgety set of laundry machines, and she wants to stick with what you already have. Is she being crazy?'

Rose doesn't answer, because she can see my protective instinct kick in. 'Billy, I agree with Rose. We are going to stick with what we have.'

'Now you're both being crazy! Can you explain why?'

'I don't feel I need to, but I will. Our's is better than yours, and I'll explain why. Ours is Voice Activated - I can say "wash the clothes" and the clothes are washed. The colors are done perfectly, our delicates are done delicately, and are whites are immaculate. Also, I can include the voice activation function of "dry the clothes", and our clothes are solar dried. We also have a folding function too. And finally, our machine is made locally, unlike yours,  I don't need to send off to a foreign country and wait for weeks for parts to arrive. Therefore, we think ours is better than your new gadgety machines.'

In a huff, Billy stomps away, 'I don't care how advanced your Filipino washing machine is. I still think mine is better. I'm going to read my owner's manual and then I'm going to prove to you that mine has higher functions. Then you'll see that mine is better... and you're crazy for not wanting one. I'll show you.'

Rose and I both look at each other, smile, take another sip of coffee, and enjoy watching the sun sparkling of the crystal clear waves (while listening to Billy promise to prove us wrong).

Rose then looks at me and asks, 'We have a washing machine that does all that?'

'No,' I smile. 'We have something better. We have our neighbor, Susan.'

Laughing, Rose says, 'When Billy comes back, I'm going to tell him that that our can iron clothes too!'

We both laugh and order another round of coffees.

Island life is awesome, and we appreciate all the benefits that come with it. Yes, our friend does love his gadgets, but we love the people that work with us at our home. Susan does a great job caring for our laundry, and we don't have any reason of trading her in for a fancy, gadgety German set of laundry machines.

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