Today, I wish to write about very general things. It’s likely that this post will change a lot as I write it.
Bluetooth Keyboard
On a whim, I went out to Walmart to purchase some RV-related things that I thought that I would need. While I did purchase stuff, I’m unsure if I actually needed them; at least right away. One of the impulsive purchases was a miniature, foldable Bluetooth keyboard. It took a small bit of convincing in my own mind to purchase it, but I took the plunge. Many times, I’m discouraged from writing a blog entry for a couple of reasons. One, I don’t have internet at home. I stopped service over a year ago to cut costs. Being unemployed will cause you to do that. Since the speed of my phone’s internet is plenty fast for most of my usage, I just didn’t need it anymore. Of course, I have all of this extra equipment such as two Apple wi-fi routers, internet switches, power line adapters and other ancillary items that I need to get rid of, but it’s all for the best.
Another reason which prompted its purchase is linked to the previous one. When I needed the internet, I would have to break out the laptop to write the post. From there, I would have to hook up a hotspot or go to Starbucks, upload the words, transfer photos I’ve taken on the phone over to the computer in addition to other tasks which I really can’t remember right now.
In my world, at least, it was a bit of a bother. Also, I either couldn’t use the Mac’s WordPress app offline or it would require an update which would take forever. The delay makes it more cumbersome and, thus, hampers the creative process.
From the phone’s perspective, while the WordPress app works great, I’m not really a fan of using the virtual keyboard for extended writing. Therefore, combining both worlds, i.e., the phone’s capabilities, an iPhone 7 Plus, and this handy, dandy Bluetooth keyboard, would remove some disincentives for writing. So far, as I’m typing this post using this setup, it’s working pretty well. I’ve also been pretty accurate. While using the keyboard this way, the predictive text does not appear, but it will offer occasional spelling corrections. Sometimes, it will auto-correct words, which can be really annoying when it’s not intended.
Mood and thoughts
As you may have figured out from my last post, I’ve been feeling rather down lately. There was a few items that have been bothering me as well as existing battles with my various idiosyncrasies and deficiencies. I was surprised that it was liked by a number of you. It is a lot of drama, that’s for sure, but it is real. I’m glad that you could get whatever value you could get from it, even if it’s just exposure to some of my perspective on that day or what I’m currently facing. I do realize that while emotions are real, they sometimes paint the proverbial picture using a gray-tone pallete.
I’ve also been attempting to avoid using kratom as a crutch when I’m just feeling down. I realize that doing so will definitely lead to addiction. The last few times that I’ve used it, I think that I used too much. I say this because it has made me tired and a little too sedate. Today, I’ve cut my amount in half; from ยฝ to ยผ teaspoon mixed with my usual hot chocolate. I wasn’t too happy drinking hot chocolate with today’s high hitting 95ยบF(35ยบC), but I did it. For the record, I’m not too happy tasting kratom either because it’s absolutely horrible. If someone could create a kratom-masking cookbook, many would buy it, I’m sure.
In any case, I was feeling really overwhelmed about all of the things that I still need to do. After drinking it, it appeared to help my mood and expose some hidden motivation. Although, I’m not sure if it gave me motivation or just helped me to feel better about sitting in shit. Now that I think about it, I did put some items up for sale online, so there’s that. I wasn’t doing anything before.
Battery Usage
As I’ve been sleeping in the van more often, even if in my own driveway, I’ve been using more of the solar system supply. This includes the fridge, vent fan and lights. I also use the USB outlets to charge various accessories which include the Bluetooth speaker, portable fan, air filter, and iPhone. Right now, I have used about 50% of the battery’s power. While it has taken a couple of days to get to this point, it is also taking a while to load back to capacity. I am concerned, based on others’ advice on social media, that this is going to have an negative effect on long-term battery life. While I’m not using this amount in one day, if it’s partly cloudy, rainy, or there is some occlusion on the solar panel, it will affect how quickly the battery charges. I had understood that if the battery exists in a constant state of not being fully charged or if it repeatedly falls below 50% of the battery’s capacity, it will severely shorten its lifespan.
To counteract this immediately, I may have to hook the house battery to my electric battery charger. For a longer-term solution, I intend to complete my installation of a continuous-duty solenoid. I first saw this idea from the CheapRVLiving channel on YouTube. This will allow my house battery to charge using my engine’s alternator when I’m driving. When the engine is not running, it will automatically separate the two systems, thereby preventing any house usage from depleting the starting battery.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the funds to buy the 4AWG wire, crimp connectors, crimper, and other items to complete the job. I have installed the solenoid inside the engine bay, purchased the 150A fuse assembly, but haven’t hooked up any wires yet. I also need tires, shocks, and brakes. I really need to prioritize saving money for these items, but my existing neurosis and impulse control is getting in the way.
Pets
If anyone would care to adopt a cat or a dog, it would really help them out. I would love to keep at least one cat, but I don’t think that I can keep it comfortable enough for him to live. My wife won’t take any of the four animals: two dogs and two cats. However, one of her friends is going to take one of the dogs. I’ll post pictures below.