Six Things to Consider Before Moving into a School Bus, Part 4: Who's Coming with You?

How many people, animals, and plants do you need to fit in your bus?  Our 28 foot bus fits two people and a small white dog quite comfortably. A short bus might be perfect for one person.

Ike on the futon.

How far into the future do you want to look when converting your bus? Do you want to marry? Have children?

We want to have a family at some point. For now we have room for a kid or two in the Grunewald Guild house that we live in, but we love to dream about other alternative living options that include children. For example, Steve spotted a well-used double-decker bus in Wenatchee and is scheming a way to get our hands on it. I like the idea of setting up a bus village, maybe with a central yurt.

As in any home, it is important that all residents feel that their needs are considered as decisions are made regarding the use of space. In a bus, however, there is not much space to divvy up, so these decisions become even more critical.

Which features are most important to each person? Does one resident need space for an "office"? How big of a kitchen do you need? It's wonderful to be able cook anything you could cook in a regular house kitchen, but a full kitchen takes up space that could be used as a separate bedroom or living space. Which features are most important in your situation?

Writing in the bus.

Once you are living in a bus with another person, you will have to get used to being close together anytime you are both inside. What will you do when one person needs some space? Will separate chairs facing opposite directions suffice? How will you deal with clutter? Will breakfast dishes be washed and put away immediately after use? Will there be set clean-up times?

Steve and I had less of a problem with clutter when we lived in the bus than we do living in a house. In the bus, even a few stray items felt like a huge mess and we had to clean up for sanity's sake.

Even if you don't have a roommate in your bus, you'll need the support of friends an acquaintances as you look for places to park and find creative solutions to unique problems. Bus living is relational living.

Busmates.

Related Post:
Where to Park a Converted School Bus