It’s been a while since I’ve written anything regarding myself, and I figure I owe it to my subscribers to fill them in on how things have been going for me over the past few months. Some things have progressed to the point where I now feel more comfortable sharing them.
Family
Firstly, thanks to everyone who sent kind words and warm fuzzies over the past few months regarding my dad’s condition.
With regards to him, my father is no longer in such a dire state of health following his accident. He’s conscious, not really coherent yet, but alive and stable, and most importantly recovering; albeit slowly.
I’m very thankful his condition isn’t as serious as it seemed initially, and that he’s in good hands while regaining his faculties. What was once my biggest fear has taken a more cautiously optimistic form. We’re out of the woods, and into the foothills of the mountain. He’s still not 100% but his situation is improving bit by bit, day by day.
Again, thank you to everyone who reached out and kept him in your thoughts. It means a lot to me, and I’m sure it means a lot to him too.
As always, I’ll keep you updated on any changes in his condition as they happen.
Living Quarters
Those familiar with my situation know that my partner Mike and I have been doing the van life thing for several years now, coping as best as we could while living out of a dilapidated old minivan. Thankfully, that’s no longer an issue. Hooray!
This past weekend, we were able to limp the broken piece of shit van to Mike’s coworker’s home, where he kindly set up his large camping trailer for us to use as a domicile for the foreseeable future. While I’m not overjoyed with the location or the price per month, it is very accommodating and has enough space for us to be comfortable without tripping over each other every few minutes.
This has opened up a whole new slate of opportunities for both of us, with Mike now being closer to his place of work and I now having a space to actually use my computer more reliably, on top of the basic amenities in life like a shower, hot food, laundry facilities, and consistent electricity. A huge relief, basically.
Is it glamorous? No, but it’s manageable, and for now it’s better than a 20 year old minivan. A lot better. We no longer have to worry about finding a bathroom, or finding somewhere safe and quiet to park; we don’t have to worry about our home and all of our worldly possessions being towed away at a moment’s notice. We even have a working fridge and microwave of our own!
To those who pitched in to the GoFundme, or just kept in touch during the first few weeks in the year when things looked incredibly bleak, thank you for your kindness and your strength to keep going, and to hold out for something better. We could not have done it without you. We genuinely owe it to you for keeping us above water while the tides were trying to push us under.
This publication
Frankly I’m a little disappointed in myself, having not written anything other than some Notes over the past 4 months. I was hoping to have written on a number of topics, but they fell to the wayside while I worked on more pressing issues, including my father’s health concerns and my own living situation.
Though, to be fair, that’s just excuse making. I could have and should have taken the time to write more, and I regret not doing so. However, I intend to change that in the coming weeks. I’m not sure what topic will provide the muse and spark required to slam out a few dozen paragraphs on topics covered by people far more informed and intelligent than I, but I promise that I intend to take the time and cover something that matters to many of us.
In due time, I suppose.
That’s all for now, I just wanted you all to know that things are getting a little bit better as the days go on, and I’m still here and still jotting down ideas for things to discuss.
Back to regularly scheduled content soon.
— RS
may life get better and better from here on out. thanks for the update.
Thanks for the update. I'm glad y'all have managed to upgrade your lives. Having to live in a vehicle AND having to work for a living is an unimaginable nightmare to me.
And I'm glad your father is stabilized.