Life carries on. Life — and therefore, problems — don’t wait for times to get better to show up. We have to learn to roll with the punches, as they say, and boy, am I learning to roll with them.
As if the universe itself were conspiring against me, these past few months have been full of car problems. So many that listing them all would probably bore you. That said, I think my wife’s Nissan is finally “good to go,” as I always say… for now.
All in all, I’m a lucky guy. Not only because the main theme of my life is peace, but because, for one reason or another, my wife and I always figure it out. Over time, I’ve learned not to let the negative voices in my head take over too much. Yes, they still like to say their piece, but they only get the talking stick for a few minutes.
I’m also lucky because 
I was telling my stepdad, as we were driving to Charlie’s shop to pick up the Nissan:
“You know, I don’t shop around anymore.”
And I meant it.
It’s not just because of the convenience of paying with Hive’s stable token — which is awesome — but because, unlike all other shops I know, Charlie guarantees his work.
Isn’t that insane? Every time I think about it, my mind gets blown all over again. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gotten a car back from a shop, only for it to break a week later, followed by the usual “it’s unrelated” excuses. That frustration is what led me to start learning about cars in the first place — a journey that culminated in me swapping out an entire engine. A three-day emotional rollercoaster if there ever was one.
You know, I just let go of the last HBD tokens I had — the ones I was holding for the dip — but honestly, I don’t care. I’m grateful I had them, and I’m grateful I earned them here, whether through writing silly stories, making something, or playing a game. It’s an indescribable feeling, to be honest.
Hence the title of this weird post of mine: “As Long as We Are Still Here.”
That’s my ethos these days. Because I sincerely feel that if there are still enough of us who refuse to turn off the lights, then I have nothing to worry about. Greener pastures are just over the next hill — or maybe the one after that.
— MenO