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Way Of Living Forever
I got a new fridge! It was exactly 12 years ago, when I departed the residence I shared with dh3, that I found myself having to set up an instant household for four - me, a dog and three cats. I had to get myself, among other things, a refrigerator - and in short order. On a limited budget, most of my furniture and appliances had to be either used, or cheesy knock-offs. I figured that, if they served the purpose at the moment, I could replace them over time. I've actually done that with many things.
The refrigerator I chose, had to be two things: (1) cheep and (2) of lesser depth. The kitchen I have here is small, and inches matter. The further it stands out from the wall, the less room there is for other frivolities, like table, chairs, etc. I came across an old GE of frosty vintage for $75. Now I was leaving behind a frost-free, side-by-side with ice cubes and water through the door model, but I thought to myself: "Well, this will be the first thing I replace. Surely the condenser will give out in a year or two."
But it didn't. As the years went by, I became an expert de-froster. (Anyone who still has to defrost anything, just ask, and I'll share my "fastest possible - no weapons of mass-destruction required" method.) Over time, I rebuilt the support for the vegetable drawers, learned to cover the little rust spots that emerged on the surface and replaced the light fixture. The damned thing just kept on running, adding to my repertoire of skills. Meantime, I wound up getting things like a hot new computer and hot new car and a hot new hair color. The old GE chugged on - probably due to the now-illegal chlorofluorocarbons, or whatever, that they used to use for coolant systems in the olden days ... the good stuff that wrecks the ozone layer if it escapes into the air. How often refrigerators actually contributed to this problem is anyone's guess, but the substance is banned for good or for ill.
But, I digress. Over the last several years, I have vowed (at each defrosting) to get a new refrigerator. The state of old faithful was deteriorating. The drawers no longer functioned as drawers unless one held up the cheesy plastic "shelf" while pulling them out. Then the shelves started to break. Then the light went again - this time the problem somewhere being prior to the fixture itself - apparently in the wiring somewhere deep in the walls of the thing.
Now, I have been looking around. On the web and in actual practice. Looking, inspecting, opening and closing doors, kicking tires - but mostly - measuring. Refrigerators are DEEP. I mean, try finding one that's 26" or less from wall to front of door. Ahhh, you say, the Profile series. True, they are slim, but mighty pricey. And they all seem to have extra bells and whistles that I no longer want or need. I don't desire ice cube makers. I've learned that they are usually an integral part of the defrosting mechanism, and if they go, so goes the frost free nature of the beast until replaced. I don't want water through the door. I don't like cold water anyway, it hurts my teeth. ... and did I mention they're pricey? Funny, I have no problem plunking down a couple of grand for a computer, but over a thousand for a refrigerator just seems excessive.
Well, yesterday, while wandering through Sam's Club, doing my habitual - and usually depressing - appliance inspection, a new refrigerator appeared amongst the usual suspects. It was made by Samsung. (Samsung? ... a Samsung refrigerator? ... with no music involved? ... no monitor in the door? Who'd a thunk it?) It's only 26" from back to front - my maximum desired depth. The freezer is on the bottom, which I like. There are drawers in the freezer so the cold doesn't flow right out when you open the door. The inside of the refrigerator section is ergonomically designed with one deep pocket in the door and several other more shallow shelves on it. There are two bins with humidity controls. Nice little "deli" drawer - where I can keep my cheeses without them imparting their essence to other occupants. Best of all, it is super energy efficient, with two separate compressors and two separate thermostats. You set the desired temps of the refrigerator and freezer by pushing buttons on the front door and you don't have to guess what 4 or 5 or 6 mean. You choose the temperature and it figures out the rest. All this for $600 and change. I didn't buy it. Sam's doesn't deliver and they won't hold it more than 24 hours.
But, today, thanks to a friend and a friend of a friend, one of whom has a trailer, that baby is sitting in my kitchen - and the 30 year old GE, chlorofluorocarbons intact, is on its way to the dump. Yes, I have, again, resisted that "daughter of Italian immigrant" gene which calls upon me to build a second kitchen in the basement.(I haven't got plastic on my living room furniture, either. LOL!)
Now, sitting in my little kitchen, amongst my 1950's white sink, cheesy 1980's almond finish range/stove, and Nona Luisa's 1930's china closet, is a brand spankin' new, brushed stainless finish, Samsung (of all things) refrigerator. Looks ridiculous! I don't care. I love it! My defrosting days are over .... well, 'cept for the freezer in the cellar. But that's another quest.
Just wanted to share my happiness.
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Re: I got a new fridge! 
One little walker-runner Dude for every 10 miles! 
I long since finished the batch that I made up for (and forgot to serve for) your visit! 
