The true measure of success

I have often wondered just what makes a person consider themselves a success.What milestone should be passed to say to ones’ self, this is as good as it gets?Is it money? Is there a point where we look at our salary and say, “you know, I’m good. Thanks, boss, for the offer of that raise, but I’m going to hold.”Is it employment perks?Is enough vacation time even something we could comprehend? Or the coffee machine that still charges only 35 cents per cup enough to make us feel that we’ve arrived in the promised land?How about feeling content with a job well done?Nah. Nice thought, but … nah.After pondering this problem, I’ve decided that for me to believe myself a success, I want one thing — and one thing only — to fall at my feet: I want to control the thermostat.Everywhere.I don’t care if it’s the thermostat at home, the thermostat in the office, a restaurant or the grocery store, I want to have total temperature control.Can you imagine the power in that?I could walk into my home and turn on the heat and never care if my husband complained that he was being forced to live in a spa. When he puts on shorts in January to drive home the point, I won’t even care. I’m in control.Total control.At the office, it would be even sweeter.Currently, I wrap myself in an afghan sweater a friend made for me just to have a fighting chance of staying warm. I keep mittens in the drawer year-round so my fingers don’t freeze, and I have threatened to start a fire in the hallway just so I can warm myself.How wonderful if the next time I felt cold I could just waltz over to the thermostat, adjust it to my liking, and head back to my desk with the smug assurance that life for me will be good as soon as the place warms a little.I don’t even know who in my office has the power to do that, but someone must have the keys to the kingdom. I want it to be me, and once that happens, I will be all-powerful.In restaurants, all of the people eating in their jackets will thank me when I kick the temperature up a few degrees. Even the joy of dining out is sucked out of me when I have to shiver through the meal. And I hate that I am forced to order coffee to drink just to warm my hands when sometimes I want ice tea.I always blame my husband that he chooses the coldest restaurants so I won’t want to order dessert.And how about the grocery store? Does the frozen food aisle need to be that cold?I’m all in favor of keeping the popsicles frozen, but do I need to share their temperature? In my scenario of ruling the world, I would know just where the thermostat is in the grocery, amble over to it, make a few adjustments, and shop in pleasure. I might even linger longer and buy more.You see, my lust for success would not benefit only me.As I see it, my plan is almost an economic stimulus package in itself. If we’re warmer, we’ll linger longer wherever we are, and spend our money more freely in that place.If only I could sell my vision to the big-wheels around me. To date, no one has bought into the Kim-controlling-the-thermostat concept, but I think it’s only a matter of time.I promise that once I’ve made my mark, I’ll help all the rest of you who shiver indoors more than out — those of you forced to wear winter clothes year-round.And if I can help out just one other person, I truly would count myself a success. Kim Kincaid writes about the big and little things that involve area residents. If you have an item of interest, call her at 419-993-2059 or 800-686-9924. She can be reached by e-mail at kkincaid@limanews.com.