Outdoor professionals don't make much money. And that's what my husband and I were when we first bought our bus. He was working for a wilderness youth program and I was a ski instructor. We love living in the mountains, but rent in this popular get-away town is expensive since homeowners find it more profitable to rent their homes to weekend vacationers. So, we bought a converted bus and found friends who were willing to let us park on their property.
The bus has seen us through several periods of transition. Because we do not have to worry about high rent or a mortgage, we have been able to test out business ventures and pursue the jobs that excite us, not the ones that pay the most. Now, my husband works for a consumate craftsman building high end cabinets and furniture. (He built the desk at which I am currently working.) I am finally taking the time I need to finish the novel that has been brewing in my heart for several years. For extra cash, we take care of hot tubs at vacation homes. No, hot tub maintenance is not a dream job, but it pays the bills!
Some people decide to take a high paying job and pursue their dreams once they have a safety net in place. That can certainly work and some might say it is a wiser path than the one we have chosen. However, money is tricky. It can be difficult to let go of a decent job and a house in the suburbs. We have financial goals, but we hope to achieve those goals while doing what we love. The bus remains our golden ticket on this journey.
Hi Katy, my girlfriend and I are a few days away from buying a bus to convert into a home (fingers crossed) and I just wanted to send you a quick note to say thanks for writing this blog. Reading your posts has helped us to make the final decision to go for it. Keep the posts and the pictures coming please. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear from you Warren! I wish you all the best with your bus. I would love to see (and post, if you are willing) pictures of your conversion.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Katy, we got a bus! Started a blog here - www.biganandabus.wordpress.com
ReplyDeletewoohoo!
ReplyDeleteHello Katy, Congratulations on the expected new member of the family!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your: bus conversion, sense of adventure, ability to prioritize a happy life, appreciation of the value of $, time and work/life balance.
I'm hoping to convert a school bus for year 'round living on the East Coast of Canada on islands in the Atlantic Ocean. What are the dimensions of the interior of your bus? How deep is the insulation space for the walls, floors and ceiling? are you sufficiently warm during cold winters? is it costly to heat? what are your coldest winter temperatures? Considering your trial and error experience, what would you do differently? Any conversion advice for a 50+ woman? :-) Thanks for sharing :-) and blogging. my apologies if you receive this twice. Regards
We have a wood stove, so we stay nice and warm in the winter. We have very cheap electricity here anyway, so it probably would not cost too much even if we were relying on electric heat only. Our temps here drop below zero on occasion, but we are usually in the 20s. We are slowly making changes to the bus that are making it more and more livable for us. This isn't too big of a deal for us, but if you plan to move your bus much, make sure you get one that is new enough to not break down all the time. Our transmission has been out for a year and a half now. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Katy - I'm a novelist too - and I'm thinking of getting a bus.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Nancy. I hope everything works out for you!
ReplyDelete