I've thought of closing this blog and starting a new one for Buslife- but I decided I'd just re-purpose the B's- that's what this life is all about anyhow re-purposing. So this blog will now highlight other B words (not that one!) that personify the life of B.
Barefoot. Physically I get cold feet a lot and I'm wearing fuzzy socks by early September. Barefoot speaks to how I walk this life. Constant direct contact with whatever path I am on and deeply feeling every step I commit myself to walk.
Brave. I have often been told I am a brave person. A wise man once said there is a thin line between bravery and stupidity and I've fallen on both sides of that line throughout my life. I've wasted, stifled, and used my boldness for acts that mattered little in the grand scheme of things. But brave is what I choose to see this life-path to be, and may my future acts of stupidity be few, and only serve teach me to bravely try again.
I choose to bravely, soul barefoot, begin this buslife journey. I'm writing this post in a rather emotional state; I was just approved for a loan to purchase a short bus. Budget is $5000. I have been looking at several that fall in and below that price tag, so that's my maximum but I'd prefer one that's $3,000 with some money to begin the inside build.
So what is the bold purpose motivating my decision to buy and convert an old bus to live and work on the road? It's a multi-faceted motivation, but at the heart of it are military veterans who have re-purposed their lives of service to become farmers. My goal with the bus is to travel the U.S. to these farms to offer my support as a writer: to tell their stories and assist them as a content writer and social media manager, as a skilled horticulturist: consulting and holding workshops on their farms, and lastly as a supportive friend: to farm-sit so they can take vacations and be assured their farm is in capable, caring hands.
This first winter and following garden season I plan to be in full build mode, with a target completion of Summer 2020 to take my first trip to the Northeast where most of my Veteran Farmer friends are located. As I network and bring my services to different regions, I hope to expand my content writing, farm-sitting and workshops to new areas of the country. I will spend a considerable amount of time in Western New York, as I will still run my gardening service, and hopefully my new position as an instructor for the horticulture program will be a long-term endeavor.
This is a huge undertaking, but I have given it years of thought, planning, and careful consideration. It is all of my re-purposing dreams for myself wrapped into one, and put on four wheels. Bus life is flexible, adaptable to change, dynamic. Traits I strive to perfect in myself every day. I am so excited for this plan to begin, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude and love for those of you that support and believe in me. Here's to buslife!
