For months (and months) when asked how the bus is going, my response has been, “We’re almost done!” Admittedly, I’ve been saying that for so long that it’s getting embarrassing (insert red-faced emoji here!). But, in reviewing my project and task lists, we really are getting very close, as in a matter of weeks, barring serious distractions.

The very last “big” thing we’ll move in is our California King Murphy bed, the same one we have used in our van for 4 years, and we are actively planning that process. Taking that apart, re-assembling, installing, and loading our monster mattress on it will be an all-day ordeal, and once that is in place we can say we are officially moved in, even if we are still in the process of transferring items to their new spaces.

Changing Plans

When we bought the bus it was because we loved the nomad lifestyle so much, we wanted to make it our permanent arrangement. We wanted greater comfort, more versatility, longer range, the ability to stay “out” in remote areas for months at a time, and greater mechanical reliability.

Life threw us a “plot twist” when Calvin’s mom got sick and needed some pretty intensive care. As a result, we have had to change our plans to be closer to her so that Calvin can be available when needed. That means we are back in homestead mode – traveling, at least as a full time adventure, will have to wait a bit longer.

Homestead Mode

Related to moving into the bus will be physically moving from our friends’ property to our own place, several wooded acres in NE Texas. We bought it last year and have been doing work on it sporadically as we’ve needed breaks from the bus. We put in – by hand – a nicely curved wooded driveway, opened up an existing clearing, sprayed ACRES of poison ivy (with 6 dogs and cats, I expect that to be a nightmare for a while), put to use many of the homesteading tools that we carted across the country, tuned up a gifted-to-us small tractor and brush hog, and spent several evenings by campfire watching stars and full moons, and of course, dreaming. It really is a peaceful place with a few cattle as neighbors, coyote and cicada serenades, and plenty of space to welcome friends who care to venture to the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas.

Our plans for the property are to create a self-sufficient off-grid homestead, collecting rain water, using our ample solar system for electricity, establishing a low-maintenance perennial permaculture food forest (that’s a mouthful!), and raising small livestock, like chickens, ducks, goats and rabbits. I’ll be putting my 20 years of Master Gardener knowledge to work, plus I’m currently enrolled in a professional permaculture design certification course, which I’m hoping to grow into one of my next careers, having done freelance residential landscape design for some years.

In preparation of the ending of the bus build project, and the beginning of the homesteading project, we are ticking off the final items of our lists and looking forward to moving in and moving forward to the next adventure.

I can’t speak for Calvin, but I am antsy and anticipating the next exciting chapter. The next post will likely be a detailed tour of the finished bus, perhaps even from the new homestead! So exciting!

See you soon.