When the ball dropped at the new year I told myself that this would be the year of change for me. I was right.
I had just moved into a new place with someone who I considered a close friend after my ex and I went our separate ways and for a few months everything was going great. As I got over my broken heart and started to date things turned sour at home. I had allowed my roommate to get too close to me and she started to feel as if I was abandoning her which led to a whole host of ugliness which culminated in getting the cops called on me for trying to move my food out of the downstairs kitchen. Needless to say I had to get out and as soon as possible. When I told my dad what happened he came down that day and moved me into a storage unit leaving me homeless.
With just my Sportster and the storage unit I was highly motivated to find a new place to live but after the disaster I just went through I was trying to avoid roommates at all cost. While searching for cheap studios I came across a subreddit for van dwellers, people who buy older vans and convert them into functional living spaces. From the beginning I was hooked. The freedom spoke to me and I knew I could make it work. I was single, had very few monthly expenses, and had been downsizing my life for the last couple years anyway.
I spent a week searching and doing research for what I would need. Do I want just a basic cargo van? Pay more for one that's already been converted? What would I do with my motorcycle? And most importantly, who has something for sale RIGHT NOW? In the end I sacrificed the mobility of a more normal sized vehicle for a small shuttle bus that came with a wheelchair lift. The lift was the selling point for me. The bus is big enough for my bike to fit inside and with the lift getting it in and out is a snap. Well, maybe not a snap, but it is a lot easier than a pair of ramps.
Unfortunately things rarely go smoothly. I rode from San Diego up to Santa Clarita (about 3.5 hours) and when I was a few minutes away the belt drive on my bike broke leaving me dead in the water. Luckily the bus was exactly what I wanted, it even had the seats stripped out and a basic bed inside already. I was able to load my bike inside and make my way back. Happy to have a place to sleep but frustrated that my bike was out of commission I made arrangements to replace the belt with my friend Nick on the Fourth of July.
For the first time a repair on my bike went without a hitch and I was able to ride it off that day. With my main form of transportation back up and running we celebrated the Fourth with too many beers and a whole lot of food. Lucky for me my new home was parked right out front and I was able to sleep in my own bed. The next day however I had my second stroke of bad luck, the fuel pump on the bus exploded. I noticed the smell of diesel on my way back to the area I live in and when I checked I was leaking like a sieve. When I took it to the shop I hoped that it would a relatively simple repair. It was not. $900 and three days later I was on my way with both vehicles fully functional but flat broke.
Since then nothing major has happened though and I'm starting to get back on my feet. I've added a stovetop and am eating better that I ever have. A lack of refridgeration, I'm only using a cooler, means I can't get lazy and grab a quick burger. I have to cook all my food as I get it. Not that I don't have plenty of time now while hanging out at the beach or in a park. Barring any more major problems this will be the last month that I'm struggling to get through. Starting in September it will be smooth sailing and I'll be able to start with the real rennovations to my bus transforming it from a place to sleep to a home.
