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Old 11-05-2017, 03:28 AM   #1
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Homer Alaska - My New Home

Here's what I've bought:

Blue bird with 8.2 Detroit diesel motor 5 spd Manuel tranny. Runs great registered as MH on title so anyone can drive it.

And here is where I'm at with it, so far.

I'm in Washington State until about February. I'll need new tires ...eventually. I bought it off craigslist. And a wood stove to keep warm - lol!

This is what I saw, and it was love at first sight.





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Old 11-05-2017, 07:08 AM   #2
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Old 11-05-2017, 09:26 AM   #3
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8.5 + stick 5...solid combo!
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Old 11-05-2017, 12:31 PM   #4
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Thanks, you guys!

I'm SO excited I can hardly STAND it!

Anyone who has ever lived and fallen in love with Homer, Alaska might begin to understand how important this is for me.


Part of what is happening is that I left Alaska to be able to afford to live there. I figured to make some money living in Washington. Well, you guys understand expenses rise to meet income.

I was cruising the want ads in Alaska, looking for something I could do full time to bring me back when I came upon this bus for sale. I called the guy, and the bus ran (and drove) and he liked me and said I could make payments. I sent him everything I had, keeping my fingers crossed.

When I was twenty two, I was a bicycle messenger in San Francisco. I was homeless, and sleeping in the back of a car. It's had to describe being poor, but I'll try. I dreamed of living for a year eating what I wanted instead of what I could afford. I worked six days a week, and at at the mission every day for breakfast, and every night for supper.

I saw a school bus for sale on the Panhandle, near the San Francisco Department of Motor Vehicles and I called the number. I explained to the guy I was working and showed him my pay stubs, explaining I could give him "Something" every two weeks when I got paid. He agreed. It was great: Bed, stove, bathroom and shower, even!

I was five hundred dollars from making the bus mine when I came home one night and the bus had been driven off. The man was gone. And so was my bus, and my money.

This time is different. I get to move back to Homer. That's when the real work begins!
  • Tires
  • Insulation
  • ...etc
♥️
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Old 11-05-2017, 01:07 PM   #5
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4 walls and a roof ! Bukowski would be pleased.

Welcome. Glad you are where you want to be on the map.


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Old 11-05-2017, 01:59 PM   #6
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Bird Dog tells me the ToYo stove is in working order, and included with my new home!
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Old 11-05-2017, 01:59 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
4 walls and a roof ! Bukowski would be pleased.

Welcome. Glad you are where you want to be on the map.


Attachment 17068
Bukowski never lived in Alaska! Haw!

Thanks, Rusty!
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Old 11-05-2017, 04:24 PM   #8
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Nice score on the bus.

I know what it's like, being poor. I've lived in my car for a while, too. IT SUCKS! I won't have to do that again (sleeping in car), but I'm still poor. SSDI doesn't go very far. Once a month, I get to eat meat!
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Old 11-05-2017, 06:07 PM   #9
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Nice score on the bus.

I know what it's like, being poor. I've lived in my car for a while, too. IT SUCKS! I won't have to do that again (sleeping in car), but I'm still poor. SSDI doesn't go very far. Once a month, I get to eat meat!
We're "Homeowners", Captain. And rich in ways indescribable.

Smooth sailing, and thank you for the comments, too!
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Old 11-08-2017, 10:52 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father.Luke View Post
Thanks, you guys!

I'm SO excited I can hardly STAND it!

Anyone who has ever lived and fallen in love with Homer, Alaska might begin to understand how important this is for me.

...
Cool story, brah. No seriously. Buy a padlock this time!!! A BIG one.

I have not been to Homer but I spent a week and a half in Seward, Anchorage, and Denali back in Sept. Seward is a dumpy little town (what port city isn't?) and I wouldn't want to live there even tho the surrounding area is gorgeous. Denali of course was AWESOME (in all caps). Even Anchorage isn't bad for being a "big city".

I was conceived in Seattle and it took me about 45 yrs to get back. Loved the area. I've always like the pics of the area and fell in love with it after being there in person. Then AK came along. It's quite possible I like AK even more than coastal OR/WA.

Anywho, I'm looking at properties now in both western WA and AK. 2 to 40+ acres, <$45k, and attached by roads. Power would be nice but may not be required.

Do you already own your own dirt in Homer?
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Old 11-09-2017, 05:31 AM   #11
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Congratulations to you 😁
Yes!! Get a Padlock!!

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oh yes she did!
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/to...-it-16557.html
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Old 11-10-2017, 12:46 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
Do you already own your own dirt in Homer?
Only the dirt in the treads of my new skoolie, Brewerbob!

Thanks for the nice thoughts!
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Old 11-11-2017, 12:38 AM   #13
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I'm stuck here in Washington until about February. When I get back, I
should have a place to park my new home to winter over in Homer; a friend
will let me trade occasional ranch work for parking, which is fine because I do
farm work as a living anyway. And winter is a pretty slow season.

You've seen the only pictures of the bus that I have. What looks to be necessary
is ...pretty much everything.

Here are my plans:
  • Tires
  • Tear out the floors and then insulate
  • Start insulating the inside walls and ceiling
  • Rig up Solar for juice

Since I'm going to be living in it full time, this is going to be fun.

As I look around the forum I see lots of floor plans. I'm pretty basic, too.
Insulated from the heat and the cold, electricity for my computer, a stove to cook
with, some kind of potty, perhaps eventually a wood stove, and my hammock.

As I go along I'm sure to make mistakes. I've made many and I'm only fifty eight
years old, so some more mistakes seems right on target.

I plan on living full time in The Bus <-- that's the name I've given her

Here's the ad I answered, by the way:

Quote:
Blue bird with 8.2 Detroit diesel motor 5 spd Manuel tranny.Runs great registered as MH on title so anyone can drive it.Please call for more info or text 907-***-**** thanks and have a great day
Because it's already got a clear title as a Mobile Home, I'm guessing/hoping
registration won't be a problem. Insurance either. Again, I'm hoping; I have a
good insurance broker already for my pickup truck, so I'll talk with her.

The cold, and parking (as well as will the tires get me up the road to my friend's
place) are my primary concerns just now; living a gypsy lifestyle requires
flexibility, and I'm already used to doing all that.



And that's what I have for now.

Talk soon...
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Old 11-11-2017, 10:50 AM   #14
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Finding a place where you can store AND build, is a win-win. Sounds to me like you have a grip on what need sto be started. The best advice I can give you is, I think you should find a better solution for your potty. A wood stove OR your hammock may be uncomfortable, not to mention difficult.

Happy Trails
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Old 11-11-2017, 01:15 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by 1olfart View Post
Finding a place where you can store AND build, is a win-win. Sounds to me like you have a grip on what need sto be started. The best advice I can give you is, I think you should find a better solution for your potty.

In the long run, 1olfart, definitely yes. Meanwhile ...? I am on a big ranch ...in Alaska -- lol!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1olfart View Post
A wood stove OR your hammock may be uncomfortable, not to mention difficult.

Ahhhhh ...I love my hammock. I've slept in one for over five years now, and even though The Bus comes equipped with a Futon? I'll probably use that futon as a couch -- comfy!

The Bus, as I've been told ?...comes with a propane furnace, which will be fine. Although? The guy selling to me showed me a film/video of his NEW bus, equipped with a wood stove. COZY!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1olfart View Post
Happy Trails
Happy trails to you, 1olfart. And thanks!
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Old 11-11-2017, 03:25 PM   #16
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I love the hammocks, too. Hope to be able to sleep several grandkids in them. They'll love em too. (I hope)

All the best to you
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Old 11-13-2017, 07:28 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father.Luke View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ad
Area code 907
I'm stuck here in Washington until about February.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Father.Luke View Post
In the long run, 1olfart, definitely yes. Meanwhile ...? I am on a big ranch ...in Alaska -- lol!
I'm confused; it doesn't take much. Are you in WA or AK? You're stuck in WA until Feb but you're on a ranch in AK. The bus is from AK. Do you have your hands on the bus yet?


Anywho, all that aside Home in Feb will be interesting. Any ideas on how you are going to insulate the bus? I want to do spray foam as both insulation and sealant. All those damn seat bolts and nails from the plywood. GRRrrrr.
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Old 11-13-2017, 09:47 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
I'm confused; it doesn't take much. Are you in WA or AK?
WA


Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
You're stuck in WA until Feb but you're on a ranch in AK.

When I get to Alaska, I will be. I may end up in AK sooner than I thought. That in mind, the bus will be safe until Feb.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
The bus is from AK. Do you have your hands on the bus yet?

No. It's being sold to me by a friend, and he has the bus until I get back.

It's confusing the way I wrote it; my aspirations melding with my current situation. I can see your confusion. Thanks for calling me on that.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob View Post
Anywho, all that aside Home in Feb will be interesting. Any ideas on how you are going to insulate the bus? I want to do spray foam as both insulation and sealant. All those damn seat bolts and nails from the plywood. GRRrrrr.
I lucked out. That ton of weight with the seats has already been addressed, and the bolts sanded down. The rubber floor is still in, however.

As far as insulation, he's begun with foam in the windows, which I like -- not spray foam. I had spray foam in a van I lived in (...long story short, Ford 250 van - LOVED that van!)

I'm prolly going with fiberglas and foam. Ceiling, walls, floor. It IS Alaska, after all.



That, and it has the Toyo Heater, as indicated.
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Old 11-13-2017, 10:22 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father.Luke View Post
WA
Gotcha.

Quote:
When I get to Alaska, I will be. I may end up in AK sooner than I thought. That in mind, the bus will be safe until Feb.
What's wrong with WA? As it is a state I'm considering moving to I would like to know all the dirt on it.

Quote:
No. It's being sold to me by a friend, and he has the bus until I get back.
How good of a friend? If you're making payments on it or absolutely need it in Feb, it might be good to have it in writing this time. Since the guy is letting you squat on his land hopefully he doesn't flake on you.

Quote:
[It's confusing the way I wrote it; my aspirations melding with my current situation. I can see your confusion. Thanks for calling me on that.
No worries, I do the same all the time as well. It makes perfect sense to me. It's not my fault you aren't here and know what I'm talking about.

Quote:
I lucked out. That ton of weight with the seats has already been addressed, and the bolts sanded down. The rubber floor is still in, however.
Figured as you said futon and MH. My rubber matting was on top of the plywood tho.

Quote:
As far as insulation, he's begun with foam in the windows, which I like -- not spray foam. I had spray foam in a van I lived in (...long story short, Ford 250 van - LOVED that van!)
The rigid board stuff right? It is a WHOLE lot cheaper and better if you are making removable "plugs" for the windows. I want my floor at the very least to be spray.

Quote:
I'm prolly going with fiberglass and foam. Ceiling, walls, floor. It IS Alaska, after all.
See about talking and not understanding? Of course you're doing ceiling, walls, and floors. Anyone who doesn't is just looking for trouble if you ask me. If you're a fiar weather guy chasing 70° it isn't terribly important but you'll still be hating life on a 40° night or a 95° day.

Quote:
That, and it has the Toyo Heater, as indicated.
I dunno if I said it already and I'm too lazy to go back and look. I wants a diesel and/or wood stove for heat.
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Old 11-13-2017, 11:15 AM   #20
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