Rolling Joy

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2022-07-17T15:11:00.001-07:00

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Rolling Joy One Year Anniversary

2021-12-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

ROLLING JOY 2.0

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Wow!

Year in review: Parked the entire year in Chiefland, Florida. A small rural town where the only delivery services are Walmart and one pizza shop. And no one wears masks because, according to the locals, “the government is trying to control us and make us afraid with all that made up stuff about Covid.”

So I spent the year staying far from people except for Eliana, a great college queer who assisted me once a week.

Sunrise at Campground #1

Both my campgrounds had great views. The first one was on 40 flat acres so the sunrises and sunsets were amazing. There was always a breeze even though there was no shade. Lots of birds flying overhead, especially raptors.

The second campground, a small Skoolie compound, is surrounded by multiple varieties of thin oak trees.

Canopy of oak trees surround bus and sheds.

Here the wildlife is up-close. A tree next to the bus has a knot about 10 feeet high that houses squirrel families. The squirrels here are skinny compared to city ones. Mostly because they run (never walk) all the time and jump long distances between trees. Quite a show!

Squirrel climbing into home aka knot hole in the oak tree

One of the folks here keeps a bird list. I hear lots of them but mostly only see the giant (to me) red cardinals. Don’t know why I thought cardinals were the size of finches but I was wrong. How does a bright red bird blend in so easily to the tress?

Red cardinal hidden among a branch lying on a metal roofed shed

This part of Florida is full of egrets, herons and cranes. The small ranches of 20 cattle have egrets standing beside the cattle making a striking dark/light contrast of interdependent species. Seeing a flock of cranes flying overhead in formation took my breath away the first time I saw it.

My days on the bus are easily filled with Zoom meetings, FaceTime chats and projects including returning to writing my first novel. This might not sound like much but as I approach my 2 year anniversary of having Covid, the long term effects remain. I have significant fatigue often accompanied by brain fog.

The upside is that my previously overworked brain is now calmer and more easily entertained.

BIG NEWS - DOWNSIZING (again)

I am selling the bus. After living in it I realized it’s too big for me and I don’t like driving it. All my planning created a bus that is great for a wheelchair but not for MY body in a wheelchair. So it’s time for a change.

BUS SALE information: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2001-Blue-Bird-SCHOOL-BUS-5018425614

White high top E-350 van.

Van interior facing rear

Van interior facing front

I bought a Ford Econoline E-350 van with a raised roof. It’s got low mileage especially for 2011, runs great and will be easy to convert for living.

My current plan is to do the basics (bed, toilet, power, etc.) so I can go to Quartzite, Arizona as soon as possible. Quartzite is where the nomads (people living full time on the road) go for the winter.

Once in Quartzite I will hook up with the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous / Homes on Wheels Alliance folks and add solar and plumbing to the van.

I’m really looking forward to being mobile and to have a more nimble vehicle for traveling and camping.

THANK YOU for all the support that makes these journeys possible.

Newbie Surprises

2021-02-02T16:10:00.002-08:00

These first few months on the bus flew by. I kept intending to write a blog post to keep you all updated but there were so many surprises

There’s an expression in many cultures but I’ve heard it as “people plan and God laughs.” I’m one of those people that thinks that because I have a plan that’s what will actually happen. Of course my carefully made plan never happens. So instead of saying I encountered some problems so I’ve decided to tell you that I encountered some surprises.

THE GLORIOUS BED

One of my biggest indulgences for this adventure is my first brand new mattress. With new pillows and comforters from IKEA I am supremely comfortable and warm every night.

OH, THE VIEWS

One of the things I love most about school buses is the abundance of windows. Here are a few morning views.

I’m in a flat 20 acre field that’s surrounded by mature trees at the edge. I ling passenger side faces south and I watch the sun rise from my left and set on my right. Every day is a beautiful visual adventure.

SURPRISE!

The number of things that have broken surprised even pessimistic me. A few of the things that broke: chair, wheelchair, toilet, hot water heater. With each problem my health got worse. So having a fabulous bed is wonderful since I’m spending most of my time in it.

RAINBOWS

I made some minor improvements this week that are providing visual joy and practical storage. The visual joy comes from a window film that makes rainbow patterns inside the bus while providing visual protection from people walking by.

Translucent laser cut window film in the lower half of the bus window. Beyond the window other RVs and a blue sky are visible.

The window film has laser cuts that make beautiful rainbow designs on the inside of the bus

I added shelves above the windows over the bed and kitchen

12 inch deep Wood shelf supported by L shaped brackets above the bus windows

DOORS

The two large bus doors, the wheelchair door on the side of the bus and the emergency escape door on the back of the bus are easy to open from outside but were impossible to open from the inside. We created a system with just a simple piece of piping that pivots up and down to get the wheelchair door open. A rope secures it so that it cannot open too far.

A piece of galvanized pipe extends from inside the bus and slides onto open hooks on the bus side door. Yellow para cord rope prevents the door from flying too far open.

HANGING HANDCYCLE

Another challenge with getting the Firefly hand cycle, which weighs 30 pounds, in and out of the bus. Up until now I’ve been lifting it from the 4 foot bottom of the bus. But we found a place to mount it inside the front door with a pulley. The system is surprisingly easy and effective.

The fire fly hand cycle is held up by yellow para cord rope that goes through a pulley at the top of the door frame and comes down to a cleat inside the door. UM

HORIZONTAL LIFE

I’m spending my days more horizontal than I planned. I learned there’s a lot I can do from bed including learning to use Apple‘s new voice control system, which although far inferior to Dragon dictate, is far better than Apple‘s typical dictation system. I’m enjoying short phone calls and FaceTime with friends, doing a little bit of writing every week mostly on my Library novel, and as always doing more reading and enjoying retirement.

Crossing the US

2020-12-15T15:37:00.001-08:00

On November 9th I finally got on the road. David drove me from West Coast to East Coast in six days.

Dry scrub landscape NV

Snow on the ground near Flagstaff AZ

One of my favorite photos is in Texas. A huge building with a large sign “Shelton Fireworks”.

Over the wide entrance doors is a huge banner “No Smoking”. The need for the big banner made me ponder if the customers understand what they are buying and how they work.

I was surprised at my internal joy when I first saw the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile, Alabama.

Green long grasses form the Gulf shoreline. Alabama

A lone sailboat anchored in the Gulf. Alabama

The water levels in the Georgia landscape made a dance with the low lying around. One minute I’d see water on the surface in a field and 100 yards later it would only be ground. Up and down the dance went all the way across the state.

Wooded area Georgia

Our destination is in North Central Florida. The land is flat, having been cleared for crops previously, and the 20+ acres are surrounded by tall mature trees. The sunrises are amazing.

Stunning orange yellow sky sunrise behind tall straight mature trees

Blue Outside, Crane inside

2020-11-02T20:57:00.003-08:00

Three HUGE changes to the bus.

The outside is BLUE!!!! The inside is white. The bathtub crane and hoist are installed.


Rolling Joy bus with new paint. Bus top is bright white and the body is marine blue. A black band caps the bottom edge.

She looks great! I love the color.

When you paint a school bus you have 2 choices - tractor paint or rust-prevention paint. Tractor paint lasts longer and was designed for metal. But the choices are very limited. It's colors like Caterpillar Yellow and John Deere green.


18 tractor paint colors

Luckily they make one blue paint - Ford Blue (aka New Ford/Holland Blue) which is now covering Rolling Joy. I love being in or near water. So riding around in a blue bus really suits me.

I want to preserve the school bus history of Rolling Joy so I left a tiny area on the front original.

Front of the bus shows a rectangle of the original school bus yellow
color with the words "Blue Bird" in silver surrounded by blue paint.

I painted the inside of the bus a bright white but left the ceiling the original tawny metal. I will be adding decorations - particularly on the outside of the tub. Here's a first look at the new interior colors amid the mess of ongoing renovations.

View of the bus from the front looking to the back.
The wood is all painted white and gleams off the off-white metal ceiling.

The amazing Samantha the Welder took on the complicated project of modifying an existing crane. She had to find pipe that is not made in the U.S. and then create a taller crane. She added holes for locking the crane so it doesn't spin around. She replaced the hand-crank hoist with an electric one - and built a new base for the hoist and a new roller end to thread the cable. You can find her on Instagram.

The vertical column of the crane is bolted to the floor between the tub and kitchen counter.
The horizontal arm is topped by an electric hoist with a steel cable and closing clip.

Just have to get it all hooked up to the electrical system so we can test it. I can't wait to have my first bath in over a decade. It's getting closer.

First Rolling Joy Bus walk thru

2020-10-21T04:12:00.001-07:00

When I bought the school bus it was a dirty empty shell. Previous owners removed the bench seats and floor rivets. They left bits of wood and supplies.

Then the conversion folks installed insulation, ceiling fans and lots of built-ins. Access: I added a voiceover description of what is shown in the bus. There are also captions. Hit the 'autocaption' option to see the captions (I edited them). If the video does not run for you, then here's the Youtube link

We're almost done painting. Still to be done: Adapt and weld the pickup truck crane and add the electric hoist to get me out of the tub and off the floor. Figure out what to do with the driver's side rear wheel well where the rust is barely holding the wheel rubber bumper on. Create storage. And oh so much more.

Making the Bed from one side only

2020-10-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

For some of us making the bed, specifically changing the sheets is impossible. I can pull everything off the mattress. But I cannot get it back on.

I decided to solve that problem. With the coronavirus, I want to limit my exposure so I don't want people coming into the bus. I'll gladly visit outside at a 6 foot distance.

After a lot of thought and design revisions here is what I plan to change my sheets.

BUILT IN

The design requires eye bolts at regular intervals on 3 sides of the bed (the 4th side is open to me). Since the base of the bed is plywood, I have a solid surface for the long side. On the short sides I don't have access to the base because the mattress is up against the walls so I put the eye bolts just below the height of the mattress.

The other materials are strong thin rope. I am using paracord with different colors on the long and short sides. I placed carabiner's (like the ones you put on your keys but a bit stronger) along the paracord between the eye bolts. I do not lock them in place because I want to be able to move them as needed.

The "Long Side Taut" drawing shows the red paracord rope going THROUGH the 4 eyebolts on the long side of the bed. But it goes AROUND the eye bolts on the short sides of the bed.

"Short Side Taut" shows the green paracord rope going through the eye bolts on the short end of the bed.

After the paracord rope was threaded through the eye bolts, I added carabiners between each eye bolt. The carabiners are shown as black rectangles.

CHANGING THE SHEETS

In this drawing I am using the long side and the left short side to hold the blue sheet. This means that my head is going to lay on the right short side. On a skoolie (converted school bus) it's necessary to be able to sleep with my head at either end.

I can make both the long and short sides loose by releasing the tension on them. Then I can pull the sheet all the way across the bed to the open long side.

To prevent ripping the sheets, I bought king size sheets for my queen size bed. Then I folded over the edge on the long side and one short side. I inserted a piece of duck cotton for added strength. Then I sewed button holes where I want the carabiners to be attached.

I decided not to use grommets for 2 reasons. I don't want anything metal near my body when the air is cold. And even though they are small, I didn't want to roll over and have cold metal waking me up. I also didn't want the noise of metal grommets against the metal carabiner.

When I want to put the sheet back in place, I just tighten the paracord -- long side first then the short side.

I plan to use the carabiners to attach the mattress pad, bottom sheet, top sheet and duvet cover. I will use all the carabiners for the mattress pad and bottom sheet but only a few carabiners for the top sheet and, when needed, duvet cover.

Fingers are crossed that this will work as well as I planned.

Access Features part 2 - First Peek

2020-10-02T18:46:00.002-07:00

Access Features Part 1 documented the decisions for the lift into the bus and also the kitchen area. Part 2 looks at the Work Table, power outlets, and toilet. There will be a separate post on my mobility equipment, seating, as well as changing the sheets without climbing on the bed.

Access note: I belatedly realized I haven't described the images. Starting with this post (and all other posts will follow) I am adding a detailed caption to each image. Apologies to folks for not doing this sooner.

A quick summary - I am a wheelchair user. I need to do (or know how to direct someone else to do) everything on the bus - from hooking up at campsites to changing the bed by myself. Posting the layout again.

Bus layout. Top (driver's side): sliding, rotating driver seat; washing machine; deep soaker bath tub; kitchen counter and sink; toilet; bed across the back of the bus. Passenger side: front door, open space; Superarm lift; wheelchair door; long table.

WORK TABLE / DESK

I plan to do a lot of writing and making art. I want a durable surface with lots of room to spread out a project. I choose a single slab of maple butcher block 8' long and 2' deep as the top of the work table. I find that 2' depth is the right mix for me of work and tabletop storage area.

Inside the bus I get around in an office chair on wheels. It has a smaller footprint than a wheelchair. I designed a table that is an upside down "U". The side supports are solid plywood so they can be used as attachment points to restrain the under-desk storage.

Under both the kitchen and work tables the space is wide open from side support to side support. This design gives me maximum flexibility in storage and the easiest options for changing systems as my needs change. My current plan is to use the 3 gallon and 10 gallon Rubbermaid totes because they are light to lift, are rubber so no noise when rolling down the road, and stack easily allowing for many different configurations.


Photo of desk/table


Drawings showing front and side views of one possible under table storage configuration with 5 columns of 3 small storage boxes and 1 column of 2 large storage boxes. Side view shows that the boxes are recessed 6" from the front edge of the table.

As you can see on the far right side the yellow metal is the cover for the gas tank. The blue electrical outlets show (from top) ceiling light control (so I can turn the lights on/off from bed), two 3 prong plugs and below that two USB plugs. The black circle at the bottom of the right leg is where the heat comes in from the diesel heater.


Close up photo of right table support showing (from top) light switch rocker, two 3 prong outlets, two USB outlets and at the bottom the heater vent.

POWER OUTLETS

I placed power outlets in strategic places throughout the bus. They are under the front edge of the kitchen and desk counters. When they are on walls, they are just below the windows at a height of 24" from the ground.

The under-counter outlets are recessed 4" from the front edge of the counter. This allows the plug to stay tucked inside the profile of the countertop. I didn't want to be hitting a plug because it was sticking out from the edge of the countertop.

A few things have their own power outlets - the washing machine, the Dometic fridge/freezer, the Superarm lift and the driver transfer seat. The electric hoist on the crane will also have a dedicated outlet.

The rest of the outlets have both 3 prong and USB plugs. Having many USB ports means that I don't have to constantly look for USB adapters.

TOILET

** If you talk to RV folks you will hear about toilets. If you don't want the details, skip this section. **

There's lots to think about in selecting an RV toilet. The biggest one is black tank or not. A black tank is basically a holding tank where the toilet empties. In an RV that means you fill it up and you then have to empty it.

Photo of the Separett toilet from above. Also visible is the drain pipe for the sink.

So I started exploring composting toilets. I knew I wanted a urine-diversion option. That means the urine is hooked up to the grey tank (waste water) and mixed with the water runoff from the sink and tub.

The final consideration is what happens to the poop. Some systems incinerate it but that's a huge energy hog and I want to have off-grid, low power options. Other systems require you to crank a handle to mix the poop with another substance (sawdust, coconut coir, etc).

I settled on the Separett toilet because the urine can go into the grey water tank and the poop decomposes slowly into a bag and can be easily emptied.

I had the toilet set 6" away from the wall to give me more space. I also have open space on both sides so that I have multiple options for transfer direction.

Access Features Part 1 - First Peek

2020-09-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

For the last year I designed (and redesigned) Rolling Joy, my 30' school bus conversion. Sending it to the bus conversion folks meant I had to make some important access decisions from afar. I had to decide on the final layout, what types of systems I needed (solar? propane? shore power?) as well as where to put the electrical outlets and what kinds I needed (3 prong? USB?)

Because I use a wheelchair, I adapt and redesign every place I live. Rolling Joy provided the challenge of having to plan more carefully because in a space that's 25' long and 7.5' wide every decision is critical and in many cases permanent. I can't move the bathtub or toilet or bed later.

In this 2 part blog on Access Features I take you through some of the reasons for the decisions I made.

One of the best pieces of advice I received on doing a custom build: "Figure out what's really important to you and then make those the priorities."

My priorities: a queen size bed with handrails; a series of eye bolts on the bed frame so I can change the bed without climbing on it; a kitchen counter with a built-in sink; a large table with clearance underneath; a soaking bathtub; a washing machine; two ceiling fans; a lift that drops me right next to the bus; a driver's seat on a rail to move back and swivel; under-the-bus locked storage cabinets; and enough solar and batteries to live off-grid for a few weeks at a time.

All of these require careful access considerations. What is the usable height of the bed? of the toilet? Where to put the electrical outlets? the important monitors (for solar/ water/ fuses)? How to get in / out of a deep bathtub? So many questions. So few options.

By and large I made up the solutions based on what I know works for me and what I hope will work in a bus. After 2 years of research I only found a handful of wheelchair users who travel in an RV or skoolie (adapted school bus) independently. Nearly all wheelchair users travel with a nondisabled person. Based on their blogs and articles the nondisabled person does a lot of tasks that I will be doing myself.

In Access Features Part 1 I discuss the lift to get me into the bus and how I designed the kitchen area. Part 2 focuses on the Work Table, Soaking Bath Tub, in-bus lift, and toilet.

Just for easy reference I am putting the layout here along with a front-to-back view of the inside:

ACCESS ESSENTIALS

LIFT

The floor of the bus is nearly 48" above the ground. The bus came with a working industrial Braun lift. The conversion folks removed it (chopped it into pieces) when they laid down the floor (a sad story for another time).

As I evaluated replacements I also looked closely at RV parking spaces in campgrounds. A school bus is 8.5' wide. The parking spaces (i.e. space available for the RV and getting in and out) are usually 10' wide. Just enough room for someone to open the door and step out of the RV. Definitely not made for any kind of platform lift (i.e. a lift where you roll out onto a platform) and there's rarely, if ever, any additional flat space next to the bus in a typical RV campsite.

I assessed if I could make any type of platform lift work. Typical platform lifts require 3-8 feet of drop space. Even if I cut off the lift side wall (a common disability hack), I'd still need 3- 4' because of the way that the lift pulls away from the bus as it drops.

All this led me to look at Superarm lifts. Started by a wheelchair user, the Superarm is the ultimate bad ass lift. You are hanging your body with 1" straps attached to a single horizontal bar.

Yup, all that's between me and a 4 foot drop is 1" straps attached to a horizontal bar.

Take a deep breath because riding this lift feels as scary as the photos show. But I want to be clear, this is a safety-tested lift. I am safe as long as I follow their directions on how to attach the straps to my wheelchair and how to safely operate the lift. Superarms are reliable lifts and the owner (according to website photos) was also a large-bodied person. My fear comes from being a new user and the height I am traveling.

As the photos show I am still in the "I'm know I am going to die" phase of learning to trust the lift. But as I nail it, I will relish the freedom of a lift that positions me right next to the bus.

Here's how it works.
A tall motor mechanism is mounted on the right side of the door opening (right as looking from the outside). It has an "L" shaped metal arm. The long side connects from the motor mechanism. Ths short side has 2 hooks. There is also a wired controller with 2 toggle switches (up/down, in/out).

When I first got the lift, it came with 2 metal rings with two 1" strips of webbing on each ring. The device and straps are rated to safely lift 600 lbs. On each side I take the shorter strap and attach it to my wheelchair handle. The longer strap goes down to my wheelchair base frame. I adjusted them until I was comfortable when the lift rises.

I start by grabbing the controller (which I leave on the bus floor at the door opening when I am outside). I park my wheelchair with big wheels against the bus. The lift arm comes down in front of me. When it reaches the lowest point, I attach the 2 metal rings to the 2 hooks on the metal arm.

Then I lift myself a few inches off the ground. I am checking that the I can be lifted safely while I am still close to the ground. Once assured, then I bring the lift "up" about 2 feet from the ground.

The lift automatically stops when I reach the top of "up". Then I press "in" to pivot the long metal arm so while the short metal arm rotates keeping the hooks in a strong lifting position.

The "in" function is timed to move much more quickly than the "up" function. Once I am inside the bus, I am still a few inches off the floor so I press "down" to bring the wheelchair down to the floor of the bus.

After I am fully down, I disconnect the metal rings from the metal arm and press "out" to position the lift parallel to the door for storage. That keeps the lift out of my way when I am inside the bus.

I LOVE the freedom of a lift that brings me right next to the bus. This means that I only need the same space as someone needs to open the front door and walk out of the bus. The joy of this freedom is exhilarating. No more searching for spaces where I have 6-8 feet for the lift to come down and I can get off. Many many times I couldn't put a lift onto the sidewalk because there was not enough room - even with small minivan ramps.

I also love that the lift takes up only a tiny footprint on the bus - that the door is usable even when the lift is inside the bus.

A few notes probably of interest to only a few folks. These photos were taken with my very old back up manual wheelchair. The one I use when I cannot use my power chair and someone (pre-covid) is driving me door-to-door. It doesn't have footplates because my disability has whole body weakness and I find using both my legs and my arms makes it easier for me to use a manual wheelchair. Obviously this doesn't work if I need to do anything more than move a very short distance.

Also I attached a thin rope to the controller. As I move "up" and "in" it's hard to hold onto the controller. I worry about dropping it and being stuck. So whenever I use the lift I tether it to the metal bar so that I can always retrieve it.

KITCHEN

I wanted a small kitchen where the only built-in is a sink. Using my home sink for comparison I knew that a 18" x 16" sink with a 6" depth is plenty big enough for me. I also want the flexibility of preparing non-cooking meal with a flat open counter area.

I decided to start with one induction cooktop (i.e. individual burner) with a second one as a back up. The induction burner will be pulled out of the drawer as I need it. Luckily IKEA's highly rated one was on half-price sale just when I was buying.

I looked at small ovens. I love my convection/microwave. But decided that it takes up too much space and the weight means I cannot move it around. I expected the toaster ovens to be a possibility but at an average of 25 lbs I rejected that option.

The kitchen countertop is 29" high, 4' long and 2' deep. The sink is 6" deep so that I can fit my legs under it. It has an upside "U" design so that I can have individual cabinet storage underneath.

After many conversations with the bus conversion folks, I couldn't figure out where to put the chest-style fridge/freezer. Right now the dual zone (separate fridge/freezer controls) Dometic DZ75 takes up the entire knee space under the kitchen counter. I am not happy with it but couldn't figure out a better option during the conversion. To make things a bit more challenging, I cannot use the slides under it because it seems to require someone strong with a wide arm span who can lift and pull at the same time. Since it has to be pulled out fully to open the top, I need to find a workable, if temporary, solution in the next few weeks.

In this configuration I can get to the sink but not use any of the counter. Not sure if my temporary solution will be to put some wood between the kitchen counter and work table and put better slides on the Dometic - or - move the Dometic and have a usable kitchen counter.

SEE PART 2 for more access features.

Want list - First peek

2020-08-05T15:52:00.002-07:00

This is part 2 of a three part First Peek. Part 1 looked at what I needed in the bus design. Part 2 is what I wanted. Part 3 is about the access features.

WANTS

Building from scratch is a balance of what is needed (i.e. finished floor), what is wanted and how to make everything work for me (i.e. accessible to me).

I needed to have: a finished sealed interior; insulation in floor, walls and ceiling; hot & cold water with storage tanks; sink; toilet; bed; and desk.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Building is always a balance of what I dream, what is possible, what I can afford. For 2 years before the build I read a lot about what people love and hate in their moving homes. What they wish they had done and what they realized was something that sounded good but wasn't important to their mobile lifestyle. This blog post is about some of the choices I made.

This is going to be my hast home so I really focused on what's important for my comfort and lifestyle. I intentionally had the builders put in the structural basics I need but not do the finishing work. I want to select the colors, the interior storage and the style after I spend time inside Rolling Joy.

BED

I've never had a brand-new mattress. I decided since this is my last home, I want a really good mattress. After a lot of research I decided on a mattress that got top ratings for large bodied side sleepers like me. I almost bought a Sleep Number bed which also had a high rating. But a disabled friend bought one and told me that the edges of them are soft and she knew I needed a hard outside edge.

One of the most common complaints people have about beds in RVs is that they get moldy underneath. So I had the builders cut long slots into the plywood base to prevent a moisture buildup.

I built the queen size bed into the back of the bus. I plan on having a futon seat/bed up front for guests. I like the idea of separate spaces when I have visitors.

BATHTUB

People are often shocked to learn that I put a bathtub into the bus.

I love soaking in water. The deeper the water the better. They don't make a soaking bathtub that matched my needs so I adapted one. More on this in Part 3.

WASHING MACHINE

When people ask why I have a washing machine in a school bus conversion I reply: "I'm LOL. Leaky Old Lady." They rarely ask any more questions.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

I hate being cold and I also hate air conditioning. So I put in 2 ceiling fans that can push or pull air; insulation in the ceiling, walls and floor; and a diesel heater with a blower fan. The bus windows are original - meaning the kind that are super hard to open and impossible for me to do. So opening doors will also be part of the temperature control system.

DESK

My goal is to park the bus under trees that are next to water. I plan to divide my time between making things with fabric - mostly quilted things - and - writing both fiction and nonfiction.

I need a large flat flexible space with adaptable storage underneath. Hence the Big Desk, an 8 foot long, 2 feet deep slab of maple butcher block.

STORAGE

I initially envisioned the space under the bed to be my main long-term storage area and the area under the Big Desk being my everyday storage area. But the space under the bed slowly got filled by the fresh water tank, then the power system, and finally by the diesel heater. (see Bed picture above)

I am pondering adding some external storage cabinets to the passenger side of the bus. Every first timer says they pared down their belongings to the bare bones basics and discovered they still had way too much stuff to fit into their RV. Especially because living in an RV requires purchases (and storage) that they didn't plan for like hoses and leveling blocks. The need for storage and where it goes will evolve as I move into the bus.

First Peek at the inside - Needs

2020-07-30T23:37:00.002-07:00

Here's the very first peek at Rolling Joy's interior. Since there's a lot to show there are 3 blogs on the interior - one on the things that I needed, one on the things that I wanted and one for the access features. The blogs will touch on some of the reasons for the decisions and the product I selected.

This is the final layout.

Looking to the back of the bus

CONVERSION
I chose to have the conversion focus on getting things built but not fully finished. I want the fun of choosing finishes, paint and decorations.

AIR FLOW

I hate air conditioning. So I decided to install two MaxxAire fans. These have 2 way flows - in and out. With one pushing air into the bus and the other sucking air out of the bus I will have a decent air flow.

Both fans are in the top of the ceiling crest (the middle measured from side to side). The front fan is between the lift door and the bathtub. The back fan is between the kitchen and the desk. The fans went into the existing emergency ceiling hatches with some minor modification.

KITCHEN

The kitchen counter is has a sink with rotating faucet and pull out sprayer on the left and an extended countertop on the right. The Dometic CFXDZ75, a dual zone chest style, is under the countertop. To open I pull it out on the heavy duty rollers and open the zone I need (fridge or freezer). The Dometic tucks fully under the counter but I show it as slightly pulled out in the layout graphic so you can see where it is.

For cooking I decided two IKEA Induction cooktops. I expect to use only one but wanted a second one just in case especially because I decided not to have an oven.

The on-demand hot water heater is tucked under the sink. This is the only thing on the bus running on propane.

TOILET

Since I was converting from an empty shell I had a lot of toilet options. After lots of reading and internal debate about black tanks, power usage, and frequency of emptying I decided on a urine-separating composting toilet.

DESK

My two big needs are a large desk and lots of windows. I had hoped to have all 12 feet of desk plus kitchen counter on one side of the bus but in the end I got one 8 foot long desk.

SHORE & SOLAR POWER

I want the option for both shore and solar power since I need reliable electricity every day. I opted for a 30 amp shore power system. Folks are surprised and ask why I didn't build a 50 amp system. The 30 amp system meets my power needs and allows me many options for camping places since all have 30 amp spots. There are some 50 amp campground spaces but there are fewer of them and they tend to be in more expensive camping spots.

I put in a 600 watt solar system so that I have enough power to stay off-grid for a while and still meet my daily electrical needs.

WINDOW SHADES

I planned on dark blue window shades from IKEA. But covid made that impossible. So for not I have cheap plastic pull-down blinds.

HEAT

I put in a diesel heater. In the images it's the round black vent at the bottom of the desk side. The fuel comes from the bus gas tank. I like that it's a closed system meaning that no fumes come into the bus. The vent is just sharing the heat from the warm pipes.

Dec 2019 update

2019-12-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

JOY is home and now all cleaned out. The last owner donated a bunch of materials that we had to remove, sort and store. Now the bus is clean and empty.
I finally got to be inside the bus and really feel the space. I haven't taken exact measurements but have created the latest layout option.

Just to recap: my absolute requirements for this space are:
* separate sleeping spaces for me and the driver
* long work counter
* fridge, sink and kitchen counter with moveable induction cooktop
* deep bathtub
* recliner
* composting toilet
* washer / dryer
* independent way to get in and out of bus
* ceiling fans

For a long time I've been stumped about where to put the bathtub and second bed. Once I got into the bus, I realized that the front wheel wells provide a nice defined area that with a curtain can be a semi-private space for the driver. I plan to add a really comfortable driver's seat on a swivel.

So glad to finally have a layout I like. Of course, once I get in and measure everything and consult with the experts things will inevitably change. But for now, I am happy with how it looks.

Equipment on and off grid

2019-12-19T19:00:00.002-08:00

I made some equipment decisions and still have some to go. Here's my current list. Dec. 18, 2019

EQUIPMENT TO HAVE and use ON grid (i.e. with power)

FOOD
cooking - 2 induction burners
baking - no, though a future possibility might be a toaster oven
fridge - 3-4 cu ft fridge mounted 20" above the ground

WATER
washer/dryer - the LG 4 washer/dryer combo
bathtub - repurposed industrial tub - 24" wide x 48" long x 24" deep
water heater
water pump

HEAT
diesel heat system

BED
CPAP -
bed warmer - Electrowarmth half-bed pad
Sleep number bed (requires minimal power to keep inflated)

ELECTRONICS
laptop
ipad
cell phone
wifi booster

Handcycle lithium battery charging

LED lights (overhead)
task light - OTT clamp light

EQUIPMENT - NO power needed
toilet - urine-diverting compost - either a C-Head or homemade version
sink - 16"x16-18"
bed - platform bed with mattress and Hypervent Aire-Flow Moisture Barrier

STORAGE
under bed
under work table
under kitchen counter
under bus storage compartments
end of bed closet (12"w x 66" tall x 38" deep)

Sewing machine

Superarm wheelchair lift

OFF-Grid equipment to power
FOOD
cooking - 2 induction burners
fridge - 3-4 cu ft fridge mounted 20" above the ground
cooler - Dometic

BED
CPAP -
bed warmer - Electrowarmth half-bed pad OR USB Hot Water Bottle
Sleep number bed (requires minimal power to keep inflated)

LED lights (overhead)
task light - OTT clamp light

ELECTRONICS
laptop
ipad
cell phone
wifi booster

Superarm wheelchair lift

Handcycle lithium battery charging

Getting in and out of the Bus

2019-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

One of my priorities is to be able to get in and out of the bus by myself.

I traveled across the country in a bus with a standard bus lift. While it was reliable, to use it required turning on the engine. Diesel engines in old buses are noisy at 7am and did not make my camping neighbors happy.

To make it work, someone else had to start the engine so the battery wouldn't run down while I used the lift. Then they had to open the lift door. Then pass me the lift controls. When I was down, they had to put it all back up.

A bus lift requires at least 7-9 feet of clearance. 4-5 feet for the lift itself then at least 3 more feet for my wheelchair to get off the front of the lift.

I always felt a bit trapped so for this bus I want a completely independent system. I have good use of my arms and hands so I figure it's possible.

WHAT's AVAILABLE?

I went looking for existing lifts and the only one that matches some of my needs is the Superarm lift especially the 129 Basement Motorhome model which works for 34-52" ground to vehicle floor distance.

But the Superarm lift has a weight limit of 600 lbs but that weight limit is too low for today's power chairs.

When I got my first power chair, the amazing Quickie P-200, it weighed 250 lbs empty. The newer chairs, such as the Permobil M-300 preferred by my friends, weighs 450 lbs empty. With add-ons a power chair can go up over 500 lbs empty. So the Superarm won't work for them.

The weight limit seems fine for a manual chair. Here's a video of it being used by a manual wheelchair user getting into an RV.

The other problem with the Superarm is that it does not swivel.

On the bus I need a lift to both get in and out of the bus but also out of the bathtub. My most recent layout has the lift arm between the lift door and the bathtub.

Finally the cost is very high. For the motorhome model it's well over $8,000 new.

CRANE

I began to look at devices that can lift up to 1,000 lbs, can swivel and are reliable enough for daily use.

I started to look at small industrial cranes like this Jib Crane. This one swivels 360 degrees, can be bolted down to the floor of the bus, lifts 1000 lbs and the arm can be extended.

This particular model doesn't work because you have to hand pump it. But there are tons of variations on this idea where I can have the crane frame and add a small electric motor and straps.

The price of the cranes are so much cheaper than the Superarm - like cranes are in the hundreds and Superarm is in the thousands.

Hoping to get some bright brains working on this problem. I'll post as new ideas emerge.

JOY's First Logo

2019-12-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

Some days a nice thing happens to make your day brighter.

Today my friend Marilyn Wann (of Fat!So?) brought me this beautiful gift.

Mercedes Straham made this by pressing into tin and then adding colors.

This 10" round logo has two concentric circles. Green flowing leaves swirl through the inner circle of blue with critters swimming around. The outer circle top contains the text "Rolling Joy" in calligraphy lettering and the bottom half shows a dark blue sky with golden stars.

11-2019 design

2019-11-30T10:04:00.000-08:00

11-2019 design

Where to put the bathtub and second bed are stumping me.

This is the most recent idea.

In this design my bed remains in the back but moves over to the passenger side of the bus.

On the driver's side is the bathtub.

I'm finding the bathtub requirements difficult to plan around. I need a pan underneath for overflow. Because no matter how careful I am, at some point the water will rise over the top and I don't want a flood on the wood floor.

For draining, it's best if the bathtub doesn't move. Also the tub + water is a lot of weight so putting it on a platform doesn't make sense.

The other big challenge is that I need a deep soaking tub. That means sides of at least 24" - probably higher since I want 24" of water depth on my body. So with the drain hole at 24" the sides need to be at least 26".

Then the problem becomes I cannot put anything permanent on top of the tub. Otherwise moving stuff just to take a bath will be onerous.

I thought about putting a bed on top. But it would be high enough off the ground that I'd worry about someone forgetting the height and falling getting out of bed groggy.

Can't put up shelves because then it would be hard to get in and out.

I thought about a desk but the distance between the bed and tub is pretty narrow. Not even sure I can have the bed and tub in this position.

While I love this process, I am a bit frustrated with the tub position.

But I have solved the second bed issue. When I have a guest/driver staying overnight, I will have an ottoman that converts to a bed at the front of the bus. There can be a curtain from the front closet to the opposite side to make a separate area. I will add a curtain at the back of the bus from the tub to my bed to give me some privacy as well.

JOY has Arrived !!!!!

2019-11-27T12:50:00.001-08:00

Been a long struggle to get her home but JOY, the wonderful school bus, has finally arrived.

She's as beautiful as her photos.

A few things she'll need:

A NEW FRONT DOOR

CLEANING AND ORGANIZING

CHECKING OUT THE LIFT

Can't wait to get started spending every day with her.

Designing the interior

2019-11-13T20:05:00.002-08:00

Today I am sharing some different layout ideas. From the start of these designs I had to meet certain needs:
* bed for myself
* sleeping place for driver or visitor
* long work counter (or table)
* washer/dryer combo
* toilet
* comfy recliner chair for me (that rotates around)
* lots of storage
* keep 30" of space for wheelchair to get through all parts of bus

Still lots of other stuff to figure out. Here are the designs so far in the order of my thinking (most recent ideas are last). Ignore the comments on the edges of the designs.

Layout 1: bed against short back wall, counter on driver's side, recliner and toilet on passenger side. PRO: easy to move around CON: no 2nd bed or seating for driver/visitor

Layout 2: add 2nd bed at right angles to my bed. The second bed is higher so the foot of my bed goes under it. I added 2 cabinet/steps at the end of the 2nd bed so they can climb up into the bed.
PRO: 2 beds in small space; lots of open space. CON: top bunk can only be entered through the foot of the bed and up steps; 2 beds in small space.

Layout 3: Put 2nd bed at opposite side of bus with steps. Move my bed along the driver's side with my head next to the washer/dryer. Move the toilet to opposite behind the driver.
PRO: toilet is enclosed; 2 beds in small space. CON: up steps to foot of 2nd bed; no seat for 2nd person; 2 beds in small space; head of my bed is against washer/dryer.

Layout 4: removed the work counter and add a table to the passenger side of the bus.
PRO: 2 beds in small space; can have kitchen counter/table for eating. CON: tighter for moving around; 2 beds in small space; head of my bed is against washer/dryer.

Layout 5: Move toilet to the back of the bus. Add sofa bed behind the driver.
PRO: 2 beds in separate sleeping areas; private toilet area. CON: tighter to get around.

So much to think about. Still not got a plan I love. Will tape it all out when the bus gets here and see how it feels.

Finding Joy (part 3 of 3)

2019-10-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

WHAT FITS ME BEST?

I pondered this question for months. What size bus? I decided to go for a mid-size bus. These are usually 24-30 feet long.

The short buses fit into lots of places easily but with a wheelchair I felt cramped inside.

The long buses (35-40 feet) are hard to park and have fewer campground options. These negatives make the additional interior space not worth it to me.

Next I needed to find a bus with a wheelchair lift door. I don’t care about the lift just want the door. Ideally I wanted the lift door to be near the front entrance so I could put the bed in the back (some lift doors are in the back corner).

The big question became a balancing act of money versus level of conversion. The prices are all over the place. One seller had a bus with just the seats removed and wanted $7,000. Another seller with the same level of conversion wanted $4,000. When other factors such as electrical, plumbing and solar systems get added in the price ranges went from $15,000 - 70,000.

I wanted a bus that had the seats already removed and if possible, some good insulation on the floor, walls and ceiling. School buses are basically metal cans. For full-time living, good insulation is necessary.

When I found the right bus for me it had the seats removed and insulation in the floor and walls, a wheelchair lift door near the front of the bus, a ‘flat face’ design (think city buses), and a strong engine and transmission combination.

The bus is purchased and I am arranging to get it transported to me. I found a great place for building the conversion - an outdoor storage place with rain protection that also has a wood shop and metal shop.

I am interviewing experienced skoolie builders to find someone to work with me to implement my design.

I invite you to follow along on my adventure to Building Joy.

What I Think I want

2019-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Every day for over 2 years I wandered around the RV internet. I knew almost nothing about RVs when I started. Now I know a bit more.

My dream of what I want changed significantly over the 2 years - on everything from toilets to tires.

I am just at the beginning of my build. Here is what I think I want.

SKOOLIE

I bought a school bus and not an RV. The decision came down to the weight capacity of both. RVs are built on light frames and me and my wheelchair riding friends would have problems with our 250+ lbs. wheelchairs (that's their weight when empty). The bus has insulation on the floor and lower walls. Everything else is up to me.

I bought a 2001 International Bluebird with a strong engine/transmission combination. How do I know it's a strong combination? Because of the wise folks at Skoolie.net

Some things that made this the "right" bus for me:

* Age of bus. I wanted to get a bus from 2004 or earlier to avoid the engine restrictions caused by post-2004 regulations.

* Wheelchair lift door. The bus has one and it's near the front door. This gives me a lot of flexibility with my interior design. Many lifts are in the back side corner, a spot most people use for a bed.

* Flat face on the front of the bus. Many school buses have a "dog nose" meaning that the engine is in the front of the driver. The flat nose design puts the engine at the back of the bus so it's "pushing" the bus down the road.

* The flat face design also means more interior space in the same 30 feet of length.

UNDERBODY STORAGE

I want to add underbody storage to the bus. John, my bus guy, says that carrying water (which weighs 8 lbs a gallon) below the frame is much easier to drive than having it inside the body of the bus.

Also underbody storage would be great for all the outdoor stuff (table, chairs, rug, canopy), spare parts, off-season stuff, etc.

INSIDE THE BUS

I am hoping to mix staying in campgrounds and boondocking. In campgrounds I will have electrical and water hook ups, folks nearby, and some amenities like a small store, recreation area and maybe even a swimming pool.

Boondocking means parking the bus in a rural area with no hook-ups. The bus has to be complete self-sufficient to do this. My goal is to be able to boondock for 2-3 weeks at a time without needing to leave to get water or supplies.

The goal is for me to be able to live in the bus by myself for weeks at a time. I cannot find anything designed for one person who uses a wheelchair. These are my current ideas and assumptions about what will work.

Actually being in the bus, figuring out where things need to go and how I can do things independently will inevitably change the designs and my decisions. As I make final decisions I will post about them in detail.

* Power

I need power 24/7 even when I am far from an electrical outlet. Every day I need to run my CPAP and charge the wheelchair battery. The need for heat/cold, lighting, cooking, etc will vary.

In order to have reliable power every day I need a generator and lithium batteries to store the generator's output. Lithium batteries are an expensive option but also offer more power in a much smaller footprint. I am looking at solar and wind options as well.

* Lift

In a regular school bus there is one heavy-duty lift (often Braun) that works only when the bus engine is running. It cannot be operated independently by the wheelchair rider either going in or out of the bus.

That obviously won't work for me. I don't want to have to run the engine just to work the lift. It is impossible to run the engine while I am sitting outside the bus.

I am looking at adapting an industrial crane. I am hoping to have 2 options on the crane. One option would be using an electric motor for the lifting. The other option is a pulley system that is easy enough for my arms to operate the lift.

I got some great minds thinking about this. I'll post our ideas and progress as we go along.

* Heating / cooling

I love the heat. I am hoping to have two openings in the roof of the bus. Each opening will have a skylight that opens and a fan. For most days that air flow should be enough. This is Plan A. If I get on the road and really need air conditioning (and have the off-grid power to support it) then I will look into it.

For heating I will use something connected to propane. I prefer something built in so that I keep my small open areas clear for me to get around. Haven't done enough research to know what products to consider.

* Cooking

At home I have a 2 burner cooktop and a convection/microwave that I don't use much.. For the bus I am getting two IKEA conduction cooktops. The IKEA brand tests high (usually 1 or 2) in most reviews. I'm not sure if I want a stove. If so, I will probably get a toaster oven (cuz I love toast).

* Counter / table

In my very rough design, there is one long counter running along the side of the bus. I'm planning for it to be 18" deep and have a sink installed at one end. The rest of the counter is open with some electrical outlets near the wall. I plan to use the counter for drying dishes, cooking, computer work, art making and sewing.

I envision that underneath the counter (which will be 30" high at the top) there will be 12" deep storage areas. I measure my knee clearance and only need 6" from the front edge of the counter. So I know the storage area can be a maximum of 12" deep for an 18" deep counter.

Still exploring whether I want the counter hinged at the back so I can lift it in sections to reach the storage areas - or - whether I just want to put all the storage areas in columns on lockable rollers.

In my research I found the table of my dreams. It's a table on a post but it has 2 points where it can turn 360 degrees. Plus you can install multiple bases and move the table from place to place.

* Beds
I found out that a Consumer Reports study showed that large bodied side-sleepers like me are happiest with a Sleep Number bed. The bus will be my full time home for many years. I want a comfy bed. Still trying to determine if Sleep Number beds need continuous electricity or just intermittent. Planning on a twin or full.

For horizontal partner activities that require more space, I will either get creative or just check into a hotel.

* Water in/out

I got a huge (100 gallon) fresh water tank with the bus. I also got a 45 gallon grey water tank as well. I doubt that the grey water tank will be large enough for 3 weeks of boondocking when it's likely I'll have 2 of us in the bus. Thinking about adding a second 'overflow' 45 gallon grey water tank.

I am still trying to figure out what size on-demand water heater and what kind of water pump I will need.

* Toilet

Entire books (and many internet fights) happen when the subject turns to RV toilets. After extensive consideration I am getting a composting toilet. Not sure if I will buy one or make one - but either way it will have a urine-diverting system and be easy to move to different parts of the bus.

* Seating

Some folks like to sit on their beds and do stuff. Not me. I am a sit-in-a-chair kind of gal. I am hoping to design a stable rolling chair that can be locked in place during transfers (bed, toilet). I don't want to use my manual wheelchair indoors because it's much longer than a regular chair.

In addition to a work-at-the-counter chair, I want a put-my-feet-up chair, perhaps a recliner or separate seat and ottoman combination. Some folks use put the driver's seat on a base so it can turn around.

Guests will have portable seats (perhaps even an anti-gravity lounger) as well as at least one regular chair for sitting at the counter. I am hoping to store these extra chairs under the bus when not needed.

* Outdoor rug and table

An easy way to have a dirty RV is to drag in the dirt surrounding the RV. As a wheelchair rider having a rug makes moving around on soft ground easier.

So this is my thinking for today. Who knows what new ideas will come my way tomorrow?

As always join me Rolling Joy.

Finding Joy - Buses (part 2 of 3)

2019-10-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

WHAT ABOUT A BUS?

School bus conversions have come a long way since they were moveable hippie communes following rock bands.

School districts sell off thousands of buses every year. With prices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand, they are a great base for building a custom home.

For my purposes, school buses provide a very strong base. Unlike RV trailers that often have a top weight limit of 6,000 lbs a school bus top weight limit is often over 25,000. No matter how many wheelchairs I put into the bus, their weight will not be a problem.

Converted school buses are called “skoolies”. Over the past 20 years people documented their designs and builds so that information is widely available.

Since every conversion is unique, there are innumerable variations. From short buses which are less than 20 feet long to full size buses at 40 feet long, every type of person can find a bus and design that works for them.

There are very few wheelchair folks living in either RVs or school buses.. Most “wheelchair friendly” RV or skoolie designs presume the disabled person is not cooking or driving. Neither are they cleaning, showering, or toileting without assistance. Many don’t have options for the disabled person to get in and out of the RV by themself.

The good news: dream up a design.
The bad news: figure it out yourself

Luckily I’m connected to some disabled and nondisabled designers, builders, and dreamers. Their support and guidance emboldens me to move forward.

RESOURCES FOR BUS SEARCHING
SKOOLIE.NET functions as a clubhouse for modifying and selling skoolies (school buses converted to tiny homes). You can find everything from electrical schematics to tire recommendations. This is where the smartest skoolie folks hang out and share their knowledge. CRAIGSLIST is the most common place to find converted school buses for sale. Many (maybe the majority) of folks who buy and start to convert a bus stop after the grueling work of taking out the seats, sanding out the rust and putting in some insulation. Since Craigslist is everywhere, many folks turn to it as the first place they advertise the bus.

OTHER - Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Tiny House and Bus Life have a much smaller selection for sale and they tend to be finished conversions.

Finding Joy - RVs (part 1 of 3)

2019-10-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

For the past year I researched all things RV. I am losing my housing and need to find someplace to live. Though very sad it’s also an opportunity.

I love travel and hate to fly. I also use a wheelchair which means hotels are often a hassle due to lack of wheelchair access.

Having my own vehicle is perfect for me. I can design my bed, kitchen, work area and bathroom just for my own needs.

WHICH RV IS BEST FOR ME?

Even before I began the search, I knew I would call my new-to-me home on wheels "Joy". So the search for my RV became the search for Finding Joy.

Photo of an Airstream travel trailer being pulled by a pick up truck

I started out looking at RVs. The prices soon sent me to travel trailers (think Airstream but cheaper). They are designed to be pulled by a vehicle.

One type of travel trailer is called a toy hauler. Basically it’s boxier than an Airstream and the back door drops down to become a ramp. Folks use these to bring their all-terrain vehicles (ATV) with them.

Photo of sideways view of a toy hauler travel trailer by Ed Simmons

They seemed to offer some great advantages for me as a wheelchair user. I’d have a built-in ramp, the back half of toy haulers are open so I could build in whatever I needed

But toy haulers have some drawbacks as well. How would I open and close the back ramp? It’s usually 7 feet by 8 feet and heavy.

Layout of 2018 Jayco SuperLite 161 showing a bathroom and kitchen at the front end and removable bed and table at the back end.

RVs come with the kitchen and bathroom already built in. So I would have to modify those as well. With used toy hauler travel trailers costing over $10,000, the changes I need would increase my costs quickly.

The bigger problem with travel trailers and traditional RVs in general is that they are not built for adding a lot of weight to them. The frames and building materials are light so that more different types of cars and trucks can tow them.

This is a problem when I am adding wheelchairs that weigh over 250 lbs without anyone in them. Also lifting a wheelchair from the side door would stress out the RV frame and tires.

RESOURCES FOR RV SEARCHING RV TRADER Want to see tons of different types of RVs? RV Trader is a great online resource.

YOUTUBE Hundreds of YouTube videos made by RVers giving video tours of their RVs and discussing different features.

Check out the next 2 parts in the Finding Joy series: Part 2 - Skoolies (converted school buses) Part 3 - What I chose and why

A BIG ADVENTURE

2019-09-24T17:17:00.001-07:00

I am at the beginning of a big life-changing new adventure. But when I tell friends about it they shout:

“You’re doing WHAT?”

Now I understand how what I am proposing is not typical. My plan is to buy a school bus, convert it for full time living and spend the next few years traveling around the U.S. and Canada.

Not a conventional plan for most people. Certainly highly unusual for someone with my demographics.

I am 68 years old, use a wheelchair, live on less than $1,000 a month and do not drive.

They ask “why would you even think about doing this?”

I reply, “Why not?”

Before you start to mentally draft your comment supporting my friends, let me tell you I’ve done my homework.

Photograph of people and small RVs at the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous 2019

There are over 1.8 million people in the U.S. right now who are living full time in their RVs (recreational vehicles). These are people who chose to live this way. This number does not include the folks who are forced into living in a vehicle.

There are dozens of RV support networks that provide valuable information and resources. Escapees provides RV safety education and offers needed nomad services such as handling the mail, offering insurances (including health), and hosting affinity groups (everything from Christians to queer).

I joined Skoolie.net a few years ago to get educated about conversions. These folks are a living encyclopedia on all things related to converting a bus.

I also joined women RVers groups and pay close attention to what issues and solutions they find.

I also researched non-bus options. I attended the 3 day Escapees RV Boot Camp where I learned about everything from propane safety to water systems. It was there that I discovered, with the help of the instructors, that a regular RV would not suit my needs because of weight restrictions.

As I found potential buses, I went back to Skoolie.net and start posted questions:
Would you recommend this engine / transmission? Why?
Is this a good price for this amount of conversion?
I made a diagram of an electrical system. Will this work or set my bus on fire?

Photo of tire sidewall with DOT J3J9 1001

In the course of my education I learned that buses have birth dates, well really birth weeks. All tires sold in the U.S. have a 4 digit DOT number indicating their week and year of manufacture. So in the photo above the DOT 1001 means that the tire was made in the 10th week of 2001. Feel free to share this to spice up your conversations.

Tire birth dates are important for RVing because the tires often age out from UV rays before they wear out their tire tread. So I ask a potential seller the birthdate of their tires before I ask about tire tread.

While my friends are dutifully impressed with my new knowledge, they are universally concerned about my safety. I understand. They don’t know anything about full time RV living.

There are many different groups who have RV meet-ups. They host lots of gatherings and some are only for women.

One of the RV Boot Camp instructors is a woman who travels alone and she provided many specific ways of staying safe especially when dry camping (aka boondocking) in the wild.

I could be just as worried about my safety just staying at home. In the past year I’ve had friends die from medical issues or just hit by a car because they were riding on the street due to lack of an accessible sidewalk.

Photo of the Milky Way by photographer Carrie Ann Lucas

As poet Mary Oliver asks, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

For me the answer is have one last grand adventure.

I will be posting here everything from the specifics (bus details) to the experiences.

Please join me for Rolling Joy.