One year and four days ago I bought my bus. I had big plans of finishing the whole project of converting her into a house in one year. I was absolutely positive I would. I had read so many blogs about other people who again and again wrote, we thought we'd take less time, but it ended up taking us longer because of unforeseen life events and unforeseen things we had to do to the bus. I thought...well those people just aren't focused like me. Flash to now...and I am greatly humbled by the place I am at with the bus. I have removed the seats, gutted the bus, mounted a skylight above where the bathroom will go and mounted a camper shell about where the kitchen will be, sealed the roof, worked a bit on the engine when she wouldn't start, and various things that would be boring to list. The interior still smells like an old bus, and it has a tarp over the camper shell that I need to seal in a few places.
Since I bought the bus I have gone back to finish my bachelor's degree in full time school and now have a part time job. I have learned so much about letting go of my goals and judgements on myself for not doing enough. The reason I bought the bus is so eventually when I live in it my life can be less complicated. I have come to feel that I want the entire process of building out the bus to be filled with self love and learning, so I now get to let go of the attitude I've had to rush through it as fast as I can.
I still dream and vision about the bus constantly. I just picked up a very cute 1970's propane stove and oven that was pulled out of a travel trailer. I found some amazing bamboo flooring that were remnants from someone's project that I got for a steal. I have been gathering materials in my free time and researching, but the actual physical progress has been slow recently. My friend who lives in a beautiful bus came to visit me a few months ago and told me something I needed to hear. He said something like "You are building your home. You want to do it slowly and with love and care so that you're so happy with the final product." I was grateful for this reminder. I want to live in my bus as a counter to our western culture that tells us to constantly be productive and busy, and to get everything done as quickly as possible. So, I've slowed down, given myself some love, released the judgements I had about where I was "supposed" to be with the project by now, and given thanks for the possibility of making my dreams come true! This is the biggest project I've ever undertaken. I'm grateful for the lessons and revelations of this past year, and look at all I've done with pride and a smile on my face. I'm on my way, it's not where I thought I'd be by now, but as they say... We plan, The Goddess Laughs. The cosmic joke of thinking I know how my life is going to go continues! Stay tuned...
Since I bought the bus I have gone back to finish my bachelor's degree in full time school and now have a part time job. I have learned so much about letting go of my goals and judgements on myself for not doing enough. The reason I bought the bus is so eventually when I live in it my life can be less complicated. I have come to feel that I want the entire process of building out the bus to be filled with self love and learning, so I now get to let go of the attitude I've had to rush through it as fast as I can.
I still dream and vision about the bus constantly. I just picked up a very cute 1970's propane stove and oven that was pulled out of a travel trailer. I found some amazing bamboo flooring that were remnants from someone's project that I got for a steal. I have been gathering materials in my free time and researching, but the actual physical progress has been slow recently. My friend who lives in a beautiful bus came to visit me a few months ago and told me something I needed to hear. He said something like "You are building your home. You want to do it slowly and with love and care so that you're so happy with the final product." I was grateful for this reminder. I want to live in my bus as a counter to our western culture that tells us to constantly be productive and busy, and to get everything done as quickly as possible. So, I've slowed down, given myself some love, released the judgements I had about where I was "supposed" to be with the project by now, and given thanks for the possibility of making my dreams come true! This is the biggest project I've ever undertaken. I'm grateful for the lessons and revelations of this past year, and look at all I've done with pride and a smile on my face. I'm on my way, it's not where I thought I'd be by now, but as they say... We plan, The Goddess Laughs. The cosmic joke of thinking I know how my life is going to go continues! Stay tuned...