Plans, Predicaments, and Propane – Surviving One Cold Decision at a Time

It’s day four without a working furnace.
But it’s not all gloom — we’ve got layers, barn heaters, and just enough stubbornness to keep going.

We started this morning bundled up like marshmallows, half-laughing and half-freezing as we tried to figure out whether the floor was 16°C or our toes just gave up trying to feel.
Turns out… both.

The technician we pinned hopes on?
He tried — truly. But he doesn’t have the right motor for our specific furnace model. He did have a used furnace he could’ve tried to retrofit…
But here’s the catch: it was -20°C, and his shop is full, and we don’t blame him for not wanting to disassemble an RV in the middle of an ice storm. Neither would we.

So, we pivoted. Again.

We returned the sad excuse for a space heater — one that blew cold air with the confidence of a jet engine — and picked up a barn heater someone suggested.
It’s not toasty, but it’s better.
Between that, sleeping bags (bless those things), and hot drinks, we’re keeping the camper livable.

But “livable” doesn’t mean “easy.”

The cold still seeps up through the floor. Our solar batteries are shot — only one of three still holds a charge — which means we’re relying on external power, graciously supplied by our hosts. And while they’ve been incredibly generous, we can’t camp on their lawn forever.

We’re at a crossroads:

Stay where we are, and try to install a wood stove, maybe with a generator and a better battery bank.

Or wait for weather to ease and make a push to the land — which has no road access this time of year except a 9km stretch of unmaintained forestry trail.


Neither option is easy.
But one thing is clear: we need heat we can count on.
And that may mean cutting a hole for a chimney, finding an affordable (but safe) wood stove, and sourcing or buying wood for now.

We’re researching, guessing, troubleshooting — all on shoddy internet where a 7-minute video takes 90 minutes to upload. And yet, somehow… we’re still smiling. Still leaning on each other. Still moving forward.

The land is calling.
We just have to wait for the roads, and the weather, to catch up.


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To everyone who’s been cheering us on — whether with donations, messages, or kind words: thank you.
You’re helping us turn chaos into courage, one degree at a time.

If you’ve got ideas, suggestions, or stove leads — drop them in the comments. We’re all ears and frozen toes.

Until next time,
Des & Sandy
Our Better Life

This post is related to the following YouTube video: