Flipping the Switch

I consider myself to be fairly intelligent. I like logic, structure, and reason. While I don’t always claim to have a hefty supply of common sense, some things just completely escape my understanding. And I’m not talking about big things. I don’t understand global warming and that doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t keep up with politics and I haven’t read the health care reform laws; these things don’t fret me.

But there are things that keep me up at night, things that other people probably never notice or if they do notice, they don’t think twice about them. Prime example: the light switches in my house. Bet that’s not what you thought I’d say. I’ll give you a second to get on the same page with me.

There are three bathrooms in my home, two of which have light switches by the door with two switches on the plate- one for the lights, one for the fan. In one bathroom, the switch controlling the light is closer to the door; in the other, the fan’s switch is closer to the door. And I ask myself often, usually when I flip the wrong switch, “Why aren’t they the same?”

Why wouldn’t there be a standard system? The light switch should be nearer to the door, or the fan switch should be, it doesn’t really matter which, I just want them to be the same. Consistency, logic, reason. I can’t control much of what goes on in my life; I should be able to get a little consistency in something as small and trivial as switches. And if consistency can’t be obtained, I’d really like a logical reason for it. I think I would sleep better at night if this little electrical mystery were solved.

In the same vein, my kitchen and dining area share essentially one big room. The double switch plate in the middle controls both areas. And, wouldn’t you know it, the switch closer to the kitchen controls the light fixture (chandelier, if you’re being fancy) over the dining table and the switch closer to the table controls the light in the kitchen. In what world does it make sense that the switches wouldn’t be near to the things they control? Again, I think I’d sleep better if I knew this answer.

Was the electrician just not thinking clearly? Was he just trying to add some whimsy or keep me on my toes? Were these mistakes or is there some perfectly electrifying and wonderfully logical reason for this cross-wiring and flip switching?  

If anyone knows the answers to these questions, please let me know. You know where to find me… I’ll be right here waiting on you to get back from checking your own bathroom switches to see if the one closer to the door controls the fan or the light.