Signals - rswfire

–

| |

Context

Temperature

-1.0 1.0

Density

-1.0 1.0

Showing 1 - 24 of 293 signals

...

Sharing Land Dreams and RV Internet Setup

rswfire describes his failed attempt to purchase wilderness land for building trails and cabins, which led to buying an RV instead. He explains the legal complications with the land deal - lawyers couldn't provide clean title and the owner wouldn't pay for a required survey. After the land dream fell through, he drove 2,000 miles to visit a boss/client and realized he couldn't continue programming work. He decided to buy a camper to explore and potentially find other land while rebuilding his savings. The transmission shows him attempting to mount a travel router/internet device inside his RV using command strips, which fails. He discusses his satellite dish setup and wonders about streaming games on the road. Throughout the video, deer are visible outside his RV near what appears to be water.

May 2, 2024 · 31% match

Making Chili While Processing Family Separation

The speaker records themselves making chili in their RV while processing having cut ties with their mother earlier that day. They work through cooking challenges in the small space, including missing tomato juice and limited equipment. Throughout the cooking process, they reflect on their family dynamics, describing both parents as emotionally unavailable and shallow. They explain that their mother taught them to endure their father rather than truly protecting them from him, and that maintaining contact with their mother means having their father in their life as well. The speaker discusses growing up feeling like the only conscious person in an unconscious family, always being blamed as the problem when they were actually the only one trying to grow. They express disappointment but determination to move forward with their life. The cooking video serves as both a practical demonstration and emotional processing session.

Jun 1, 2024 · 31% match

Hunting for Coastal Boyfriend While Managing RV Issues

rswfire walks through a coastal campground area looking for potential romantic connections, describing himself as "gravity" that people orbit around. He discusses practical matters including **RV maintenance issues** - a broken slide-out with water leaks that he's attempted to repair multiple times by climbing on his Jeep to reach the roof. He mentions selling his solar equipment for $2,500 (originally cost $8,000) to catch up on vehicle payments and cover expenses. He describes his **current living situation** - using his own bathroom instead of campground facilities since January, implementing a skincare routine, and planning organizational tasks. He notes being at this location for 6 weeks, which he considers too long and doesn't plan to repeat. The transmission includes observations about **campground dynamics** - tent campers, weekend patterns, and interactions with rangers including one he describes as homophobic who wouldn't let him use a ladder. rswfire mentions his **work situation** - having profiles on Upwork and Guru for freelance work, needing more income, and planning to repurchase solar equipment. He references a previous encounter at Cap Blanco with someone who "turned out to be crazy" but was initially fun.

Mar 15, 2025 · 30% match

Reflecting on Toxic Freelance Relationship and Burnout

rswfire reflects on his most complicated freelance relationship that led to burnout and initially made him want to leave programming entirely. He worked for 5 years building music streaming and distribution services called Arena Music and SoundBlock, along with an admin panel called Arena Office. The projects involved blockchain smart contracts for royalty splits, music distribution to platforms like Spotify, and merchandising integration. The relationship was characterized by chaotic management, constant project switching before completion, high freelancer turnover, and resource constraints that forced him to hire and fire team members repeatedly. Despite building sophisticated backend systems with Angular, Laravel, Python tools, and AWS containerization, the projects were never properly marketed or released even 1.5 years after his departure. He demonstrates the SoundBlock interface, showing features for project creation, music upload, metadata management, blockchain contract creation, team management, and deployment workflows. The system allowed artists to have multiple accounts and projects, with smart contracts automatically distributing royalties to band members based on predetermined splits. rswfire emphasizes that while he deeply loved working on these projects and saw their potential, the misalignment with the company led to his decision to move into an RV and initially pursue becoming a park ranger. Only a personal AI project later reignited his passion for programming.

Jul 23, 2025 · 30% match

Processing RV Tire Installation Problems and Equipment Failures

rswfire documents a difficult day involving multiple RV maintenance issues. **Tire installation problems** included a piece of wood left between tires and concerns about thinner tire specifications. The RV developed **steering wheel shaking** above 50 mph, requiring alignment work. **Propane acquisition failed** due to access difficulties with the RV size. **Leveling attempts** took 30 minutes with onlookers watching, causing self-consciousness. A **desktop monitor broke** when it slid off the desk and cracked in half. Replacement monitors exist at parents' house but rswfire states firm decision to never contact them again. The transmission ends with rswfire on a small trail between RV loops, acknowledging feeling beaten but not giving up on the lifestyle despite its difficulties.

Jun 7, 2024 · 29% match

Campground Work and Resistance to Upwork Return

rswfire works at a campground, dealing with smoky campfire conditions and ranger presence. He reflects on campground maintenance tasks, noting stress about yard work and clarifying he's not suited for deep cleaning roles. A camper named Adam, previously drunk and inappropriate, has become more respectful and they exchanged numbers after a late-night lake visit. rswfire received a new phone from his mother and expects delivery Wednesday. At the lake pier around 10 PM, he observes fog covering the landscape under a nearly full moon, watching ducks communicate in the water. He witnesses two children briefly befriending each other before separating at a road split, and notes golf carts moving around the campground. He describes ongoing issues with the drunk camper who visited his site while he was hiking and made inappropriate sexual assumptions. rswfire plans to avoid this person while continuing his volunteer work. During a trip to Lakeside for groceries and hygiene products, he discovers he now has a name tag. He spent the day distributing dog biscuits to pets and plans to carry rubber ducks for Jeep owners and small dinosaurs for children. After cleaning campsites, including one left as a complete mess by departing guests, he reflects on feeling exhausted after what he initially thought was 4 hours but realizes was 8 hours of work. rswfire expresses strong resistance to returning to Upwork freelancing despite recognizing it as necessary for sustaining his lifestyle. He describes this resistance as unprecedented in intensity, noting that past freelancing work became long-term, draining, and all-consuming. He questions whether there might be another way, emphasizing that his current activities like distributing dog biscuits have actual value compared to freelance work.

Jan 13, 2025 · 29% match

Describing Travel Platform Project and Market Collapse

rswfire describes a travel platform project that followed Pop Star, built on premium domain names like USA.com, London, Asia, Paris, and Berlin. The platform used a geography database powered by Yahoo's API and his custom Matrix Server CMS. **The operation spent $100,000 monthly on SEM campaigns** with ad groups for every city in their database, remaining profitable for several years until Google entered the market directly and began eating their traffic. rswfire explains he **predicted the market trajectory** and suggested pivoting to content-based approaches similar to Pop Star's community model, but lacked partner support for these changes. The platform eventually became unprofitable and died naturally. **He built the entire geography database himself** rather than purchasing existing solutions, creating hundreds of thousands of long-tail SEO pages with A/B testing for conversion optimization. After this project ended, rswfire returned to freelancing and **transitioned into the music industry**, working with a client for 7-10 years on music streaming and distribution services.

Jul 23, 2025 · 28% match

Early Morning Reflection on Family Estrangement

rswfire records at 4 AM from a wooded campground location, having slept 6 hours after going to bed at 10 PM. He discusses poor sleep quality in the RV and plans for the day including grocery shopping, using a charcoal grill, and doing laundry. **Bailey** (his cat) is present and doing well in the outdoor environment. The transmission shifts to family dynamics after **Paty** commented on an older video. rswfire recounts a pivotal moment when he was driving a car he'd bought for his parents, witnessed his father speaking abrasively to his mother, and later made a video discussing issues with his father. This led to his father giving him the silent treatment, ultimately resulting in rswfire ending contact with both parents. He describes his relationship with his mother, who had a bedroom at his house and visited 2-3 times weekly to clean and care for the cats. Despite her practical help, he felt no validation or deep connection, describing their interaction as mere coexistence that left him feeling lonely. His mother would criticize him for not giving Bailey enough attention. rswfire reflects on Bailey's demanding nature, explaining the cat was abandoned by his mother at one day old and requires constant attention. He draws parallels between Bailey's neediness and his own past behavior in relationships, explaining how his need for external validation put pressure on romantic relationships and led him to stop dating. At 47, he reports finding some self-love but acknowledges the unhealthy family dynamics that shaped him.

Aug 1, 2024 · 28% match

Testing GoPro Equipment on Peters Creek Trail

The speaker conducts a hiking experiment to test new video equipment, including a GoPro mounted on a backpack strap and external battery setup. He hikes the Peters Creek Trail near Baron River Lake in 90-degree heat, discussing technical challenges with the camera shutting down randomly, likely due to heat and 60fps settings. **Equipment testing includes:** GoPro with backpack mount, portable battery, Panasonic Lumix camera, and new backpack setup. **Trail access restriction:** Upon arrival, he discovers new signage prohibiting access to the abandoned school bus he previously filmed, preventing him from getting updated footage for his Alien X Channel. **Content creation planning:** He discusses an important upcoming video explaining his dialectic thinking style to help viewers understand his cognitive approach and channel content. This video will feature nature shots as metaphors, including branching trails to represent dialectic reasoning. **Physical fitness reflection:** The speaker shares encouragement about pushing physical limits, referencing a challenging Natural Bridge hike where he had to push through exhaustion. He discusses aging, past health choices (30 years smoking, poor nutrition), and current fitness improvements. **Channel development concerns:** He expresses financial desperation after 6 months of RV life, hoping to grow his YouTube channel for income. He acknowledges connection challenges with viewers due to his unique cognitive style and believes the planned explanatory video could help bridge that gap.

Aug 25, 2024 · 28% match

First Day Orientation at Oregon State Parks

rswfire travels north to Reedsport for laundry after GPS confusion at Lakeside CU. He attends a 3-hour orientation at Umpqua Lighthouse for his volunteer position at William Tugman State Park. During orientation, he participates in introductions, team-building exercises, and receives keys and a volunteer hat that he declares he'll keep forever. He volunteers to deep clean a yurt when no one else does. The speaker expresses nervousness about navigating the social network that comes with the job and conflicted feelings about institutional constraints versus the opportunity. He reflects on his history of struggling with structured work environments while acknowledging this could be a significant opportunity leading to becoming a park ranger.

Jan 3, 2025 · 28% match

Dismissed from Oregon Parks Volunteer Program

rswfire announces his official dismissal from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department volunteer program via letterhead. The dismissal cited public comments (referring to a previous video timeline) but provided no concrete justifications beyond standard volunteer termination language. He plans to escalate by filing a formal complaint with HR, not to rejoin but to hold leadership accountable. **rswfire reflects on bringing presence, joy, and genuine commitment** to the volunteer role and states he was rejected solely for holding leadership accountable when they forced the situation. He accepts the reality, will resume his job, and return to moving every two weeks, which provides more freedom to explore the coast. Recording takes place in his RV on a cloudy afternoon with poor lighting conditions.

Mar 26, 2025 · 27% match

Phone Issues and Establishing New Location Patterns

rswfire deals with a broken phone that won't charge due to moisture warnings and has a cracked screen from being dropped on cement. He navigates to local stores (Walmart, Reedsport, Lakeside) to establish new patterns for groceries and vape cartridges in his current location at Tugman. He reflects on how patterns are formed through first experiences and only change through conscious effort or necessity. The transmission includes RV maintenance - emptying black and gray water tanks with some hose leaking issues. He mentions his neighbor's quiet dog and plans to get dog biscuits. His mother will mail him her folding Samsung Galaxy phone as a replacement. He spends a peaceful day at Eel Lake Trail on a park bench, working on freelance projects while waiting for the phone replacement.

Jan 11, 2025 · 27% match

Organizing RV Storage and Learning Mobile Living

The speaker documents their ongoing struggle to organize storage space in their RV while learning to live and travel with it. They explain their proximity to another campground and their plan to drive to Nevada to gain experience with towing and navigation. **Storage challenges dominate the transmission** — they show various exterior storage compartments, discuss moving cat enclosures outside to free up space, and express frustration with items they can't yet let go of. The speaker reveals they've spent 14 days at the campground without hiking or exploring, focused instead on dealing with house matters, cats, and space organization. They express **frustration with their current limitations** compared to their younger self who used to camp and hike regularly. The transmission includes extended footage of their cats playing outside in enclosures, with the speaker noting this is the most playful behavior they've seen from Bailey in years. Technical issues emerge as the speaker runs out of phone storage space. They share background about their cats — Bailey was abandoned as a day-old kitten and raised by a woman named Gay in Michigan before the speaker adopted him. The transmission ends with the cats playing together outside.

Apr 24, 2024 · 27% match

Processing Financial Pressure While Hiking Oregon Redwoods

rswfire hikes to Oregon Redwoods Trail while processing financial crisis. Has $200 remaining after 10-year client refuses payment and blames him for project failures. **Financial situation**: Car insurance due, no groceries, car payment due, satellite internet due. **Client pattern**: Went through hundreds of programmers over 10 years, client disconnected from projects, rswfire managed all decisions, client didn't market completed project. **Current state**: Restarting freelancing business, feeling hurt by client's blame pattern. **Location details**: Hiking near river expecting rain, exploring redwoods that sometimes merge together, downloading forest maps and road maps for future exploration. **Personal notes**: Forgot teeth and contacts, feels embarrassed around other people, doesn't like recording around others, finds modern life recording habits incongruent. Plans to continue exploring national forest area.

Oct 17, 2024 · 26% match

Attempting RV Slide Repair Before Oregon Journey

rswfire begins the day at 6 AM in an RV, preparing for a 10-hour drive through Wyoming to Idaho the following day, then continuing to Oregon. **Bailey the cat** wants out but must wait. The primary focus is attempting to repair a malfunctioning slide that won't retract fully, compromising insulation and letting in elements. The slide mechanism is partially stuck - one section moves but another remains fixed, creating gaps that allow cold air and moisture infiltration. rswfire expresses strong criticism of RV slide design, calling them "the dumbest thing RV manufacturers ever made" due to their tendency to fail, compromise insulation, and reduce usable storage space. **Repair attempts include:** - Installing pipe insulation in gaps around the slide mechanism - Planning to seal remaining areas with Eternabond tape - Working both inside and outside the RV to minimize air infiltration rswfire explains the slide has been problematic since acquisition, requiring constant reconfiguration when moving and providing an uncomfortable sleeping surface. The plan is to permanently seal the slide in its current position rather than attempt expensive professional repairs, as the slide will never be extended again. The work is motivated by the need to survive Pacific Northwest weather conditions.

Sep 27, 2024 · 26% match

Processing Relationship End and Storm Preparation

rswfire reports at 7 AM that a relationship with a new friend ended badly, making him feel unsafe and scared. He describes the relationship as initially beautiful - they cuddled, he cooked meals (burgers and elaborate chili), bought gifts, and was falling in love. He's doing laundry at a campground while processing grief and preparing for a major storm with 50-60 mph sustained winds and 80 mph gusts. He plans to leave the current location early because it no longer feels safe, intending to return to Brookings area where he has other connections. rswfire mentions hiking daily for over a month, ranking in top 3% on Samsung Health. He shows his campsite with flooding and visits Cape Blanco lighthouse during high winds, carrying a pocket knife for protection while maintaining he will defend his sovereignty. The transmission includes footage of the approaching storm system and lighthouse area, with rswfire declaring this coast as his home and expressing intent to continue living his best life despite the setback.

Nov 19, 2024 · 26% match

Testing Cat Enclosure System for RV Life

The speaker tests a modular cat enclosure system with two cats, Bailey and Oliver, while his mother observes. He demonstrates a large "mega city" unit and smaller collapsible enclosures, evaluating their suitability for full-time RV living. The speaker concludes the large unit is too complex for road use but finds the smaller, modular pieces will work well. He discusses setup challenges, the cats' initial reactions to the new spaces, and plans to use beds and toys when traveling. The cats explore the tunnels and enclosures while the speaker provides commentary on durability, ease of assembly, and practical considerations for mobile living.

Mar 3, 2024 · 26% match

RV Controller Failure and Cape Walk

rswfire discovers that external lights on his RV have been stuck on for a week due to a failed brake controller that was improperly installed outside where it got wet from Oregon coast weather. He identifies this as a known issue with his RV model requiring a $20 part replacement, expressing frustration with the RV industry's poor design practices. After investigating the problem, he takes a walk to the cape to process his anger. During the walk, he encounters mosquitoes that appeared after a recent storm and receives a text from someone he calls 'the little Cape dweller' who claims not to be thinking about him. rswfire deletes the message, stating the person violated his trust during an intimate moment and refuses to take responsibility. He ends at the oldest lighthouse in Oregon, which currently has a broken motor, comparing it to himself as a 'void penetrating device' that shoots beams into the ocean.

Nov 21, 2024 · 26% match

Analyzing Volunteer Dynamics and Gossip Networks

rswfire records at 3:30 AM from his RV, discussing heating experiments with propane and electric systems. He describes an interaction with a gay volunteer host who gossips extensively and spreads information about other campers. rswfire helped a woman jump-start her RV despite her poor hygiene and messy living conditions, getting dog feces on his new shoes. The gossipy volunteer later warned him about this woman, claiming she does drugs and could sue him, while also revealing he spreads rswfire's business to other volunteers. This created tension with an older volunteer who felt unappreciated. rswfire reflects on how to handle institutional gossip dynamics, noting the older man later shared a personal story about reconnecting with his alcoholic father, suggesting the tension may have resolved naturally.

Jan 7, 2025 · 26% match

Working Campground Maintenance and Helping Van Dweller

rswfire works a 7-hour shift cleaning campsites at a campground, handling difficult campers who couldn't get their RV jack up and were rude when he couldn't provide tools. His cousin criticized his volunteer work, saying he should get a "real job" despite the volunteering covering all his living expenses and connecting him with Park Service work. After work, he gets a post office box in Lakeside to establish residency. He meets a woman camping in a van who has a transgender son and worries about elections and climate disasters. He helps her with electrical setup and reassures her about using her heater and smoking cannabis. The encounter reinforces his sense of purpose - that he was "molded for what's coming" and is here to help people prepare for worsening conditions.

Jan 9, 2025 · 26% match

Morning Routine and Creative Inspiration Discovery

The speaker wakes at 7 AM in their RV and reflects on morning quietude and bird sounds no longer bothering them. They acknowledge advice received about mattresses and confirm they will purchase one but are weighing transport options for their Jeep. **YouTube algorithm discovery** leads to art journaling content they had never encountered before, prompting supply purchases sent to their mother's house. They discover a Korean woman's self-sufficient lifestyle videos and cooking techniques, finding inspiration in her rice-based meals and small-space living. The speaker expresses desire to **embrace dietary changes** including making rice a staple and eating breakfast regularly. **Propane concerns** limit their cooking as they worry about running the tanks dry, especially since the fridge needs propane when moving. They discuss microwave egg preparation and mention having a rice cooker they used once. Coffee sensitivity during withdrawal makes them consider eliminating caffeine. They reflect on how RV living forces adaptation compared to their previous house living where similar attempts at change failed. Window coverings help with temperature control but make the space feel like a dungeon. The video ends with speculation about a commenter's username.

May 5, 2024 · 26% match

Traveling Through Wyoming to Glendo State Park

rswfire travels through Wyoming en route to Glendo State Park, reflecting on the deep personal impact of Matthew Shepard's murder and its connection to his experience as a gay man. He discusses the societal fragmentation imposed on LGBTQ+ people and how Pride events exist as a response to rejection rather than inherent opposition. During the journey, he encounters practical challenges including GPS navigation errors, a dried-up lake at the destination, and difficulty locating the correct campground. He passes through remote areas, observes trains and cattle, and appreciates the expansive landscape despite the painful associations with Wyoming. At Glendo State Park, he finds an isolated campsite after navigating cattle on the road and discovers the park is much larger and more remote than expected. He considers adjusting his travel plans to reach Oregon sooner, as that remains his primary destination. The transmission ends with him setting up camp in hot weather, dealing with RV leveling issues, and planning maintenance tasks.

Sep 27, 2024 · 26% match

Moving to Honeyman State Park for New Assignment

rswfire documents his early morning preparation and relocation from one Oregon state park to Honeyman State Park for a new volunteer position. He begins at 4 AM, completing RV tank cleaning and maintenance routines that he's developing into monthly patterns. **Tank maintenance** involves sanitizing and flushing systems, which temporarily restricts water access for showering and restroom use. He describes **evolving living patterns** including switching from campground shower facilities to using his RV shower, developing a comprehensive personal care routine with multiple products, and ongoing nutrition challenges. His current diet consists mainly of bagels and hamburger meat due to financial constraints, though he's experimenting with smoothies using a Ninja blender when budget allows. **Wall decorations** in his RV include Oregon coast lighthouse posters, local dunes area maps, and a new Oregon State Parks guide showing the entire coast. He reflects on his **travel map stickers**, planning specific routes for upcoming trips to Kentucky and back, targeting six additional states while avoiding areas like Texas and the East Coast. The **23-mile drive** to Honeyman proceeds smoothly despite rain and an earbud mishap. At the new location, he'll be working in a yurt as a Welcome Center volunteer and later as a yurt cleaner. His site (H-381) is positioned directly across from dune access gates. **Technical challenges** include AT&T phone service not working and his power cord being slightly too short to reach the electrical hookup. He discusses **adaptation strategies** for the more open campsite compared to his previous private location, mentioning plans to set up a dome-shaped tent structure once additional components arrive. The transmission ends with him settling in during continued rain, planning to rest before exploring the extensive park facilities.

Jan 31, 2025 · 26% match

Organizing RV Storage and Weight Distribution

rswfire works on reorganizing storage in his RV slide-out compartment, discovering that heavy items like books and tools were adding excessive weight to the slide mechanism. He removes blue bags containing art supplies, gaming equipment, and other belongings to sort and redistribute them. **Key items removed include:** Nintendo Switch controllers, PlayStation VR equipment, contact lenses, and various art supplies. He shows specific books he's keeping despite space constraints - **Beverly Cleary books** (Ramona series and Henry Huggins) that connect to childhood memories of reading while sick, and **C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia** series. He also identifies cookbooks as essential items that need proper storage since he now has teeth and can cook. rswfire discusses potential solutions for better storage, including **hiring someone to build custom cabinets** in unused RV spaces. He references watching videos of a young man who lives in a customized ambulance and mentions **Bob** (likely Bob Wells from nomad community) who featured a woman in Maryland who does RV customizations. He expresses interest in contacting her but notes timing/location challenges. Throughout the process, his cat is vocal and demanding attention. He concludes by considering more extensive renovations, potentially removing the wardrobe to redo the entire slide-out area.

Jun 12, 2024 · 26% match

...