The 78-Degree Lifestyle: A Spectacularly Imperfect Plan
Written by Matt & Linda (empty nesters with a Wi-Fi addiction and a refusal to live on autopilot)
The dream was simple:
- Never be too hot.
- Never be too cold.
- Just chase 78 degrees year-round.
We called it the 78-degree lifestyle.
North in summer. South in winter. Perfect weather, all the time.
It seemed like a good idea.
Let’s plan our trip so we never have to deal with extreme weather.
Yeah. Right.
The Plan (That Immediately Fell Apart)
When you’re house sitting full-time, you get to design your route.
So we mapped it out:
Summer: Head north. Virginia, DC, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Milwaukee. The further north you go, the cooler it gets, right?
Winter: Head south. Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii. Escape the cold.
The logic was flawless.
Everyone knows the weather is BEAUTIFUL in Illinois and Wisconsin in the summer, right?
WRONG.
What Actually Happened (Spoiler: We Melted)
It did work out… sometimes.
We had wonderful weather in Virginia, DC, and Pittsburgh.
And then the further west we drove along the northern corridor, the HOTTER it got.
By the time we arrived in Chicago, summer had arrived.
Not Chicago summer.
Florida summer.
The day of our visit to Millennium Park, it was 97 degrees. IN CHICAGO. With 90 percent humidity.
When we looked at the reflection of ourselves in the Bean, it looked like we were melting.
It was good for the businesses that day. Most people were looking for a place to get out of the heat.
We were two of them.
Milwaukee: 98 Degrees (And We Did Everything Anyway)
When we got to Milwaukee, it was only 96 degrees.
Moving upwards to 98.
Heat advisory and all.
But here’s the funny thing:
We don’t think too much about the temperatures when we talk about Milwaukee.
Because we did it all during a heat advisory.
(Check out our Milwaukee post if you want the full story.)
The Air Show. (Drank beer.)
GermanFest. (Drank beer.)
Miller Brewing Company. (Drank beer.)
The Wisconsin State Fair. (Drank beer.)
Walked the Riverwalk. (Drank beer.)
Then saw Fonzie.
Not sure if it was the beer or if Fonzie really was there.
But we got a picture with him.
To this day, Milwaukee is still our favorite house sit.
Not because of the weather.
Because of the life we were living.
How We Escaped the Heat (Three Times)
When you’re melting in 97-degree Chicago heat, you get creative.
Escape #1: The Fountain at Millennium Park
Before we got to the Bean, there was a fountain.
People were standing in it. Sitting in it. Kids were running through it.
We joined them.
Escape #2: The Chicago Athletic Association Fencers Club
After the Bean, we needed air conditioning.
And a drink.
We found both at the top of the Chicago Athletic Association—a rooftop bar with AC, cold drinks, and an amazing view overlooking Millennium Park and the coast.
Worth every degree.
Escape #3: The Art Institute of Chicago
When all else fails: museum.
The Art Institute had art. And air conditioning.
We stayed longer than we planned.
The 78-Degree Lifestyle Wasn’t About the Temperature
Here’s what we figured out somewhere between the Bean and the beer:
The point wasn’t perfect weather.
The point was freedom.
We could GO. (Not tied to one place.)
We could CHOOSE. (Our route. Our timing.)
We could DETOUR. (If it didn’t work, we’d adjust.)
The 78-degree lifestyle became the “we’re in control of our lives” lifestyle.
And yes, sometimes that means sweating in Milwaukee.
But it also means this:
When the 78-Degree Lifestyle Actually Worked
We were able to enjoy fantastic weather after we left the Midwest.
- Aruba in December (while Nashville froze)
- Hawaii in February (perfect 75)
- Crescent City in August (actually got the 78 degrees right)
- Jamaica in January (Caribbean warmth, no crowds)
- Florida Keys the entire winter of 2024 (living on a boat—post to come)
You get the point.
The 78-degree lifestyle worked… eventually.
But even when it didn’t, we were still living the life we designed.
And that’s the part that matters.
What Life Design Actually Looks Like
If you’re reading this and thinking about designing your own version of freedom, here’s what you need to know:
It won’t be perfect.
The plan will change.
Reality will laugh at you.
- You’ll sweat through a brewery tour in Milwaukee.
- It’ll snow in Paris in November.
- You’ll live through a tropical storm in Marathon Key—while living on a boat.
- COVID will close the country while you’re in Hawaii in February.
All of which actually happened.
And you’ll discover that it’s always cold in Ireland. No matter when you go.
And it will still be better than living on autopilot.
Because at least it’s YOURS.
We didn’t design the 78-degree lifestyle because we’re control freaks who need everything perfect.
We designed it because we were tired of being stuck.
Stuck in one place.
Stuck in one season.
Stuck waiting for “someday” to start living.
So we built a life where we could move.
And yes, sometimes we moved straight into a heat wave.
But we also moved into:
- Winter warmth in the Caribbean
- Perfect fall afternoons on the Northern California coast
- Hawaiian winters that felt like a dream
That’s the 78-degree lifestyle.
Not perfect execution.
Just freedom to try.
The Bigger Truth (That Nobody Tells You)
Here’s what we learned after chasing 78 degrees across the country:
Life design isn’t about getting everything right.
It’s about:
Building the life you want (even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned)
Having the freedom to adjust (when reality shows up)
Choosing intention over default (Milwaukee wasn’t perfect, but it was OURS)
Most people don’t design their lives because they’re waiting for the perfect plan.
Perfect doesn’t exist.
But freedom does.
And sometimes freedom looks like sweating through the State Fair, eating a cream puff, and realizing:
This is exactly where we’re supposed to be.
If You’re Designing Your Own Version of Freedom
You don’t need the perfect plan.
You don’t need to know every step.
You don’t need to guarantee 78 degrees.
You just need to start building.
State your intention.
Get aligned.
Take one small action.
Keep going and adjust as you go.
That’s it.
We didn’t know Milwaukee would be 98 degrees.
We didn’t plan on sweating through the Air Show.
We didn’t expect to love it anyway.
But that’s life design.
Not perfect.
Not scripted.
Just intentional.
Hell yeah. We’re doing this.
Even when it’s 98 degrees.
Want to build your own version of freedom?
👉 Read our framework: Declaration of Intendependence™, Part 1
👉 See how we built the bridge: It Took Two Years to “Suddenly” Change Our Lives
Helmets optional. Detours allowed. Autopilot disengaged.
Thanks for coming along for the ride.
With love and laughter,
Matt & Linda
No 2 The Quo
Before We Had the Framework, We Had the Stories
We didn’t start No 2 The Quo with a tidy little life design model and a color-coded spreadsheet.
Shocking, I know.
We started with a few lived decisions. Big ones. Messy ones. The kind where you say, “This is probably fine,” while quietly wondering if you have lost your entire mind.
These three stories explain how we got here before we had the words Declaration of Intendependence™ to describe what we were doing.
These are the origin stories behind No 2 The Quo.
👉 Why We Said No 2 The Quo After the Kids Left Home
👉 It Took Two Years to “Suddenly” Change Our Lives
👉 Yes, We Really Did Pack Our Whole Life Into a Car and Leave
Ready to Start Redesigning Your Life?
Download our free guide:
“How to Start Redesigning Your Life This Week (Even If You Think It’s Too Late)”
Get the 3-step framework we used to go from burned out to full-time freedom.
No theory. No fluff. Just practical moves you can make this week.
Plus, you’ll get our weekly emails every Tuesday—Life Design strategies and adventure stories that prove freedom is possible.
No spam. No nonsense. And yes, we’ll probably talk about helmets.