While the idea of living mortgage-free and downsizing might not quite be mainstream yet, it has been getting more and more recognition and acceptance as a way of living. Will Hitchcock and Alyssa Pelletier of Outside Found represent a great example of two brave people who not only made it work, but did so in style.
Both Will and Alyssa were once employed by start-ups in Silicon Valley, which was a very stressful time for them. Being lovers of the outdoors, they soon found themselves feeling cramped and unhappy. They solved the problem by leaving their respective jobs, moving to Boulder, Colorado, and starting their own tech consulting company. They also wanted to work remotely while travelling, and to realize that dream, they turned a 2001 GMC Bluebird bus into a home on wheels. They bought the 38-foot-long (11.6 m) bus off Craigslist and did most of the renovation themselves, despite not having any previous construction experience. The process took four months, and according to Alyssa, each day offered a new challenge to overcome.
They started the renovation by first completely insulating the interior. The majority of the interior is taken up by the main sitting area, across from which they installed a fold down desk that can serve a variety of purposes, such as an extra worktable or a dining table. The custom build sofa hides a storage area.
The kitchen is also quite spacious, with plenty of counter space. It is fitted with a sink, stove and fridge. Across from it is the main working station, which has a nice amount of legroom as well as offers ample amounts of storage. The bus is powered by a solar power array, and all the equipment needed for it to run is also hidden away out of sight in this space.
The bathroom is small, but functional and features a composting toilet and a custom built shower. The bedroom is located at the back of the bus, and raised a little on an elevated platform. This area also features a hand built shelving unit that really works to free up the space. They also built a sort of storage shed at the back of the bus, which is used to store their outdoor gear and muddy shoes.
For a few years, they’ve travelled across the US in the bus, visiting Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. But they have recently decided to settle in Arizona, and are now selling their home on wheels for $64,500.
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