Everything Else Is Bonus

These days, it has become absolutely normal for the temperature to reach between 110 and 115 degrees. It might even get up to 120 or 125 for a short period during the hottest part of the day. Right now, it is 9:28AM, and it is already 90 degrees in my room. It is probably at least 5 to 10 degrees hotter outside, and so by noon, it’s safe to say that it’s going to be dang hot today.

On top of the heat, we’ve been without consistent running water for about three or four weeks now. On occasion, our outside hosepipe will get water, and when that happens, we fill up every bucket we have so that we can go a few more days without making a trip to the borehole, which takes at least an hour to two hours to fill up a majority of our buckets.

Surprisingly, life really isn’t that horrible with the intense heat and a shortage of water. So far, we’ve always had enough water to drink—we’ve just had to cut back on bathing, washing clothes, and watering the garden. Things do get a little stickier when the power goes out, but for the most part, you can usually find a shady place with some kind of breeze. The only time I actually get annoyed is during the night when you’re trying to sleep and there’s no power for a fan.

All in all, these experiences of heat, lack of water, and inconsistent electricity have really made me appreciate how comfortable and luxurious life is in the US. I’m beginning to realize that life consists of water, enough food, some kind of shelter, and relationships; everything else is bonus.