When Sarah Szymczak and her family (one husband, four children) moved from their home in Minnesota to Washington State, they knew they were in for an adjustment.
After watching I’m Fine, Thanks, a documentary that follows several people pursuing their dreams, Szymczak and her husband Ed decided that perhaps an adventure was what they needed, too. For their adventure, the family bought and set about refurbishing a bus, which they planned to live in, kids and all, for at least a year.
Ed and the kids, Theo, Kaia, Zoe, and Sawyer.
The bus allows the family to move around and, renovations included, cost less than their rented home in Washington.
Inside, it’s been completely remodeled to be a cozy but functional home.
There’s a full kitchen.
There are nooks built in for the kids’ beds. The parents’ bed folds up during the day to create a play space.
Six people living on a bus might seem daunting, but the Szymczaks are loving their “bus life” and embracing the practical simplicity that comes along with it. They’re also happy that their children are getting the experience of traveling around, meeting new people, and learning that life isn’t all about how much stuff you have.
At this point, the kids are homeschooled, so this area is their learning space. Living on a bus also allows them to explore the outdoors.
(via Little Things)
While the bus life is cozy and adventurous, it’s not going to last forever. As the kids grow, they’ll need more space, and so the family will be moving back to their home in Minnesota. It was a hard decision to end their time on the bus, what with all the adventures they’ve had, but they decided it was ultimately best. It’s not that they don’t like it, Szymczak explains, but that they simply wish to return home.
“We will miss living in its simplicity, listening to the sound of the rain on the metal roof…We will miss this beautiful land that we have been so fortunate to have been given the gift to experience and enjoy,” she says. “And in the end of this bus year, we’ll let go…because sometimes life is like that.”
You can see more of the Szymczak’s adventures on their bus on Sarah’s blog.
