Sunday, May 31, 2026 — 98° / 74°
A Very Hot and Not-So-Great Day

The high today was 98° with the heat index, which is way too hot for us. Unfortunately, it’s only supposed to get hotter over the next few days.

Today was supposed to be a recovery day for me after everything I did yesterday, but it seemed like Herb needed the recovery even more than I did.

He went out for a drive and came back hoping to cool off, but it was still very hot inside the trailer. He became overheated, and later, when he went to pick up dinner, he wasn’t able to get into the van. He also couldn’t get back into the trailer and ended up lying on the hot concrete until he cooled down enough to recover. This required waiting for the sun to go down. 

This morning, I walked down to the bathroom and took some photos. On my way back, I fixed my tarp and cleaned up the campsite, taking care of some things I hadn’t been able to finish yesterday. I still needed Herb to help set up our gray water tank, but he wasn’t able to do that today.

I also have several projects left to complete inside the trailer. I need to take some measurements as we continue planning improvements to our kitchen area. I have a Walmart order arriving tomorrow, and everything still feels a little upside down from travel day. We’re unpacked enough to function, but not yet fully settled.

Overall, it was a good, lazy day for me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t such a good day for Herb. The heat is simply too much for him, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that we need to stay ahead of the hotter temperatures as we continue our travels.

Monday, June 1, 2026 – 96° / 73°
Wichita Falls — The Day the Van Died

Today started like any normal day. I was motivated and got my work done while Herb took the trash out. It was an easy workday, and by the time I finished, Herb had returned and laid down to rest for a while.

Later, our Walmart order arrived, and I put everything away. After that, we both took it easy as the day grew hotter and hotter. The heat here has been relentless.

Eventually, Herb left because it was so hot in the trailer and decided to cool off by driving around in the van with the air conditioning running. I decided to head to the pool instead. As it happened, Herb was nearby and picked me up to take me there. He considered joining me in the pool, but he thought the van sounded strange and decided to find an auto repair shop. Not realizing how late it was, he found a shop that had already closed. Unfortunately, that was when the van finally died. Herb called AAA, and they first towed him back to the campground and then towed the van to the Ford dealership.

So much for an ordinary day. Despite the unexpected vehicle trouble, we still managed to enjoy some simple comforts. We had cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches for dinner, and when the Walmart order arrived earlier in the day, we treated ourselves to ice cream. I also bought fruit salad and apples for the refrigerator and still need to make egg salad and a regular salad for the next couple of nights. It feels like the perfect weather for cool, light summer meals, even if the temperatures are a little more extreme than we’d like. It is ridiculously hot here. Things start becoming uncomfortable around 2:00 PM, and by 4:00 PM the heat is almost unbearable. The hottest part of the day seems to be between 4:00 and 7:00 PM. For now, I think those hours are going to be designated pool time whenever possible.

The forecast says thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday, which should cool things down a little. Hopefully, they’ll give us a few days of relief before the heat builds back up again. At this point, we’ll take any respite we can get.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — 93° / 73°
Herb to the Rescue

This morning, Herb and I got up as usual. We went through our normal routine, and then Herb gathered his things and left as he normally does. The unusual part was that he didn’t have a vehicle to leave in. When we checked in with each other later in the day, I learned that he had taken an Uber to the Ford dealership. He figured that if he was physically there, they would move a little faster on diagnosing and repairing the van—and he was right. He spent most of the day at the dealership enjoying the air conditioning while they worked on the van. Later, he came back and picked me up. On the way home, we were able to throw away the trash and pick up our Amazon packages. Herb had also rented a car, which made a lot of sense given the circumstances.

The van wasn’t expected to be ready until at least Thursday night, and being without a vehicle would have made things much more difficult at the RV park. The dumpster is quite a walk from our site, and while we’re relatively close to the office, it’s not close enough to comfortably carry heavy packages. Today’s delivery included a particularly heavy package, and tomorrow we have a case of water arriving, so having the rental car will make life much easier.

I’m not sure whether Herb plans to go out tomorrow. Normally, he isn’t in the trailer while I’m working, but driving the rental car is difficult for him because it doesn’t have the adaptive equipment he uses in the van. The weather was extremely hot again today, but we managed it better than expected. Keeping Herb’s tip-out closed, mine partially closed, running the air conditioner and fans continuously, leaving the shades drawn, and avoiding opening the door as much as possible made the trailer bearable. For dinner, we had Panera delivered, so I didn’t even have to prepare a meal. That was a welcome break after dealing with the heat all day.

Tomorrow morning is supposed to bring thunderstorms, and the temperatures aren’t expected to climb quite as high. We’re both looking forward to a little relief from the relentless Texas heat.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — 91° / 67°
Easy Day

Today was a good day. Herb left in the morning with the rental car and spent the day working from Starbucks, where he was able to enjoy the air conditioning. I worked all day from the trailer. Thunderstorms had been forecast several times throughout the day, but they never materialized. Even so, the temperatures stayed a little cooler than they have been recently, which made the day much more comfortable. There are thunderstorms forecast for tonight, so we’ll have to wait and see if they actually arrive. Hopefully, if they do, we’ll sleep right through them.

Herb brought dinner home with him this evening, and other than working, I did very little today. It was a quiet, uneventful day, which was exactly what I needed. 

Thursday, June 4, 2026 — 91° / 71°
Today Was a Little Cooler

Today was supposed to bring more thunderstorms, but once again, none of them showed up. The temperatures were a little lower, though, which helped keep the trailer more comfortable throughout the day. I was able to go swimming in the pool, which was really nice. After spending so much time dealing with the heat, having a chance to cool off in the water felt wonderful. For dinner, we had a salad, which seemed fitting for another warm Texas evening. Overall, it was a good day. The biggest news was that Herb got the van back. The dealership replaced the alternator, and the repair solved the problem. He was very happy to have his van back and was able to return the rental car. Herb has adaptive devices on the van so he can drive with his hands or with his feet depending on his need. Not having them on the rental was surprisingly difficult for him to drive. 

And tomorrow is finally Friday.

Friday, June 5, 2026 — 88° / 72°
TGIF

Today was a slow and easy day.

I got to spend some time by myself, talked with my brother, went for a short walk, and enjoyed a nice dinner. It was one of those quiet days that felt restful and productive at the same time. This weekend, we plan to organize and clean up the trailer and see if we can finalize our kitchen layout. We have a lot of ideas about improving our workflow and making the space function better for everyday living. The weather was a little cooler today, and we even had a brief rain shower. It was nice to have a break from the extreme heat. This time next week, we’ll be on our way to Canyon, Texas.

Over the weekend, we’ll probably go out to eat and do a little exploring around the area. We’re also planning to go to the movies on Tuesday. The gray water system still isn’t set up. As I think about the projects I’d like to tackle but keep putting off because of the heat, I understand a little better why Herb hasn’t gotten around to this one yet. Even simple outdoor tasks can feel overwhelming when temperatures climb into the upper 90s. Sometimes waiting for a cooler day is the most sensible choice.

Overall, it was a good day, and I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend before we begin preparing for our next move.

Saturday, June 6, 2026 – 87° / 68°

Rainy Day

Today was nice. I was able to sleep in and wake up to rain showers coming through on and off throughout the day. It stayed cooler and windy.

I got to talk to my mom today, and hopefully we’ll talk to Caleb tomorrow as well. It was very nice.

Sunday, June 7, 2026 — 93° / 67°

Happy, Proud, and More — Travel, Partner

I woke up this morning listening to the rain and thunder rolling through. I was able to sleep in because the cat is afraid of the rain and didn’t wake me up to be fed, so I stayed in bed on and off for a couple of hours.

When the rain finally subsided, Herb and I went to the pool, which was really nice. When I came home and changed, I was reminded again that when I swim or even shower, there is really nowhere good to hang wet items. Many parks also don’t allow clotheslines. I’m thinking about using my octopus hook system attached to the trailer so I can dry towels and swim gear. I don’t think it will be a problem since it wouldn’t be a traditional clothesline.

I made dinner, but it got very hot in the trailer, so next week I plan to keep meals simpler. I’ll make egg salad, and I can boil the eggs earlier in the day when it’s cooler. I’ll make one hot dinner tomorrow night, and then we’ll have egg salad for the next two nights. Cooking in this heat is not enjoyable.

Later in the week, we’ll start preparing for our Saturday move. We usually don’t cook for the last two or three nights before moving so there is less to pack and clean. Tomorrow we may set up the gray water tank. If not, we’ll wait until our next location to revisit it.

I walked down to the office today to pick up mail and a package and sent something to Caleb. It was nice to get some steps in. I’ve definitely been walking less here than at our last location. After dinner, Herb and I went out for coffee and ice cream. He showed me some buildings he’s been looking at, and we drove around town for a bit before heading back. We got home after nine, and it was still light out, but by 10 it was dark and time for bed.

We’ve been talking about how to set things up more efficiently. Once we are in a better climate, we’ll be able to reassess our belongings and storage with a clearer mind. There’s always more we could have done today, but part of this lifestyle is learning not to overdo it or stress about productivity. Even though I could have done more or done things better, I’m pleased with the slower pace today.

Monday, June 8, 2026 — 95° / 76°

Hot, Hot, Hot

Today was hot, hot, hot.

I was able to sleep in a bit, but then I remembered I needed to make eggs for egg salad. I forgot to zip up Herb’s tip-out, so it got hot inside and we were never able to fully cool it down.

By dinner time, while cooking, the trailer became extremely hot again. After dinner, we went out for ice cream, and when we returned, it finally felt nice and cool.

Tomorrow I will be more careful with managing the trailer temperature.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 — 95° / 75°

Satisfied, Grateful — Travel, Dating, and More

Today we went to the movies to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is not something we typically do. In fact, we don’t do many “normal” activities like that.

I finished my last client around 3:15, and we were home by about 6:45. Since the hottest part of the day is between 4 and 6, we were able to avoid most of the heat.

The day went really well, and I felt good about the work I did. I even had an hour break between clients and got to take a shower, which helped reset the day. Everything timed out well.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — 94° / 75°

Frustrated, Irritated — Work

Today was a hot, hot, hot, windy, windy, windy day.

The morning started off well. Herb went out early and came back with Dunkin’ Donuts and some pre-dawn footage. I saw my clients and things were going fine.

Then I started making bratwurst, and the trailer heated up quickly. After that, I tried working on the website, but it kept crashing. I was frustrated. At the same time, I kept getting frequent text messages from Herb. Between the crashing website and constant interruptions, I never really had a chance to reset or recover.

Dinner was good, but we didn’t go out afterward, and it would have been nice to have a change of scenery after a difficult afternoon.

Thursday, June 11, 2026 — 95° / 77°

Anxious, Excited — Travel

Today was hot, with a threat of thunderstorms and very strong winds. Gusts reached up to 35 mph throughout the morning and early afternoon.

My goal was to get to the pool to escape the heat, but by the time I finished work, there was a severe storm alert—though no rain ever actually came, and the alert ended after about 30 minutes.

Herb and I went for a short drive and got ice cream, which was nice. Overall, it was a decent evening.

Friday, June 12, 2026 — 91° / 73°

Preparing for move Day

We had thunderstorms last night, and during the first storm we realized our AC unit was leaking water. We placed a trash can underneath it and by morning had collected about 5–7 gallons of water. We both looked it up and came to the same conclusion that it was likely a simple fix.

Today, while I was working, Herb showed up with someone from the park and they disassembled the AC unit, tightened four bolts, and reassembled it. It seems to be working normally again and no longer leaking, though we’ll know more after the next storm.

Tomorrow is our move day, so I am feeling my usual pre-move anxiety. The inside of the trailer is in decent shape, but I haven’t had time to handle the cat supplies in the van or anything outside yet. We also still have water collected in the tops of some totes.

One thing I’ve noticed is that every location seems to come with its own “pest” issue. One place had spiders, a couple had ants, and here in Wichita Falls we’ve had Love Bugs. Out of all of them, the love bugs are the least bothersome, even though there are far more of them than there are of us.

Most of the inside is ready, but the outside and cat supplies still need attention. My goal is to make sure our next setup is more efficient and easier to manage when we arrive.