HVAC System dying?

I have a 2008 Touring, 211K miles. It has been, and still is, a great little car. A few days ago I cranked the A/C down using the steering wheel buttons and nothing happened. That's my usual MO - my wife always uses the MFD. I pressed the "Climate" button and pulled it up. Everything looked normal; A/C was highlighted, and the fan was on high but nothing coming out of the vents and no unusual sounds. I took it off Auto using the steering wheel buttons, and the display responded appropriately. However, I couldn't turn it back on using the MFD. I turned it on using the steering wheel buttons and it came on, performed normally. Today we took a 1 1/2 hour trip and I never could get it to work. Windshield defrost button doesn't work either place. I haven't checked fuses yet, it's rainy and dark now. I am an electrical idiot and will be lucky to do much more than check the fuses. Any idea where to start, or should I just drive it to a stealership and leave my credit card? With 211K miles is it worth putting much money into it?

This was yesterday; I just went out and started the car and the HVAC came on where I had left it. I was afraid to adjust it (Windshield defrost, high fan speed) but it came right back on after I came out of the store. I hate intermittent electrical problems.