Tim & Cory:

Thanks!  Exactly as you both described.  (One from
the Vanagon list and one from the syncro list!)

By feeling along that steel side bar from the fridge
opening, the ground is just ahead of where the
wiring harness comes through the panel into the
cabinet.

It makes sense--the little elves installed the
wiring first, making the ground contact, then pulled
the harness through the panel hole as they
installed the cabinet.  And in good VW fashion,
a ground at that place makes for the shortest wires
and the most savings!

Muchas gracias,
                        Richard A Jones
                        Boulder, Colorado