When I got sober, and the world opened up, I started thinking, "Why wait" I told my wife about this incredulous idea, and surpirisingly enough, she was on board. I started my search (in the typical all obsessive fashion) and learned more than I ever cared to know about South America. Costa Rica was pretty damn pricey. It seems as if I wasn't the first person with this idea or living in paradise on the cheap.
We started looking for alternatives. I used to work for a guy from Venezuela. I heard enough about Chavez to cross that one off the list. Columbia, as much as I like armed abductions, my wife didn't think it sounded so good. Honduras, seemed a little unstable. My godparents were from somewhere in South America. Ecuador. I started reading all I could about it, it seemed as if we had found our dream.
Unfortunately, reality and doubt snuck into my little scheme and started making me second guess myself. My rational side was quickly kicking the shit out of my whimisicle side. It sucked. Being the provider for a newborn son didn't help either.
Rationale one out for the short term and I started searching for an alternative excodus to our daily grind. I had always wanted to travel the country, and I knew for a fact Thera wanted to see more of it too. She hadn't been much east of Montana, or south of Oregon. There was a whole world for us to explore, right here within the continental US. (Did I mentioned getting a visa would be damn near impossible for me?)
I told Thera the idea. Long term travel, go where the day takes us. She bought it hook line and sinker. We had a plan. Sort of.
I started worrying (thats what I do) about being away from my friends in AA. Could I stay sober? I knew I could hit meetings in every state, but would it be enough? I seriously contemplated this dilemma. How could I stay sober? I knew takign the focus away from me, being humble, and helping people always worked before. It hit me like a ton of bricks. The trip would have a theme. Go where the days takes us and help those we run into along the way. Volunteer and a food bank, bring a meeting to someone who can't make it to one, help build a house, paint someone's car...the list goes on ad infinitum (you know where that's from, right?)
The idea was born, and I finally stopped worrying about it. It felt right, it felt good, and I couldn't wait to dive in.
So if we are going to be travelling, we need something to travel, hotels wouldn't cut it in our minimal budget (read minimal as next to nothing) not to mention we have 2 pit bulls and a bird. We've got a Durango, so we thought we could pull a travel trailer... we both wanted something unique, something to put our own touches into. An Airstream. Perfect. We searched. They are expensive.
Then the thought of traveling for extended periods of time, in the Durango, with 2 dogs, a bird, our 1 year old Cayden, Thera and I, just didn't seem all that appealing. Actually, it sounded about like doing the dishes, not terrible, but certainly not something I want to do, especially on a regualr basis.
Well...the next logical solution is an Motorhome. Perfect. We Search. They are also expensive, and they break down. Thera's Dad, who owns a big mechanic shop in town hates motorhomes. When I say hate, I mean like probably would like setting them on fire hate. They are hard to get parts for, near impossible to work on, get shitty mileage, constantly break, are constructed poorly, etc.
Our dream was rapidly coming to a screeching halt. On our budget, it just didn't seem like it could happen. I was nearly about to put it to rest. I would keep working, Thera would keep working, maybe, just maybe someday (after Cayden is out of school) we could start living our dream. It was pretty deflating. I cried a couple of times I think (don't tell anyone)
Now, I don't remember the date or time it happened, or even how the hell I found the idea. It must have been a God thing, because It has been erased from my memory. I do remember texting Thera who was at work and telling her "I hope you like school buses"
She thought I was nuts, I knew I was nuts, and we were back on track. I found skoolie.net, a great resource, and started talking to people. Thera's Dad thought it was a great idea! Check! It was almost a necessity from my standpoint to have them on board. Since I quit drinking I actually started valuing their opinions. I talked to my Dad, he thought it was a great idea! He has always wanted to convert a school bus, he even had a book about it! Check! Convincing the rest of the world, not so easy, luckily society be damned!
The search was on. I checked government surplus outlets within 1000 miles, ebay, craigslist, called the school districts, and generally became obsessed with finding a bus. Months went on. We didn't really have a spot to park a bus, so I was waiting for the right one. About 3 months into it, I found out the local school bus contractor First Student, lost the bid with district 81 to Durham. They parked their fleet of buses in a town about 10 miles from Spokane. It took me about a week to get a hold of someone who could actually tell me if the buses were for sale. They guy said yeah, we'd sell some of them. Go ahead and pick one, 2k. I don't know anything about them. I brought Thera's dad and we went to meet the guy from the mechanic shop that was supposed to open the gate. He didn't show. After more calling, we finally got someone to show up (about an hour later) he didn't have they keys for the buses, and didn't know much about them Even why they were there.
Thera's Dad checked them over, we settled on the one with the lowest mileage. It had air in the breaks still, the battery was still charged, good tread on the tires, overall in good shape.
It was the moment of truth. Actually cutting the check, it was hard to do. I FedEx'd the check overnight and got the title 3 days later. I went with my brother in law and Dad to drive the beast home. I was scared as hell. It is one big bus.
The drive was realitively uneventful, and our dream was back on track.
We were bus owners, for better or worse.
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