Craig Gordnier, a 27-year-old US Coast Guard veteran, found himself back on his parents’ sofa after a failed business transaction at the start of the pandemic.
He tried to get work, but it was more difficult than ever.
“It was just so awful in March, April, and May.” I knew I wouldn’t be able to get work because to COVID. “I had everything taken away from me because of the way my life was going,” he explained.
Craig had envisioned himself traveling around the country in an RV during his retirement years after serving for eight years.
When he began to plan his life, he found he could shave 40 years off his original schedule and start working on his dream RV right then.
So, in May 2020, he took the risk and bought a 1999 Bluebird TC 2000 school bus. Craig then spent the next six months transforming the van into a mobile house, which cost him an additional $40,000.
The Coast Guard veteran purchased the bus from a man in South Dakota who had already lifted the roof and insulated it with spray foam insulation.
With the support of his father, grandfather, and a few family friends with welding experience, he took over from the point and restored it into a living home.
Craig stated that he was unconcerned about downsizing. In fact, he described the experience as “liberating.”
He has thoroughly embraced the minimalist lifestyle and now lives a clutter-free life. He doesn’t have a storage facility; everything he has is with him on the bus.
Craig created his home in the style of a studio apartment, with an open floor plan.
“Just because a house has rooms does not mean a bus has to,” he explained.
You can see all the way to the back of the bus as soon as you get on. Craig believes that this design decision gives the bus a more roomy appearance.
He described it as “feeling like a house on wheels.”
To preserve the bus’s heritage, Craig preserved the original driver’s compartment at the front. It stands out against the rest of the home’s modern design, but it’s his “absolute favorite” feature.
The kitchen, which is located near the driver’s seat, has a faux-marble countertop made of two pieces of 3/4-inch recycled plywood. Craig was able to give it a marble countertop finish by using epoxy.
A stainless steel fridge, a propane burner, and an espresso machine are all included in the kitchen.
A 56-inch fireplace with stones and color-changing lighting can be seen in the living room. A plywood hearth has been erected about a foot and a half above the ground. The extra area beneath the stairs is used for storage.
There’s also a hinged coffee table that can be stowed or expanded into a table that’s attached to the fireplace.
A couch across from the fireplace can be used as a queen-sized bed for visitors. Behind the sofa, the bus batteries and electrical equipment are carefully put away.
Craig’s bedroom and bathroom are placed at the extreme back of the mobile home, separated by a wall.
The bed is between a queen and a full size, and it sits on a slightly raised platform. Craig has a clear view of the stars at night because of the skylight above.
A rainfall shower, composting toilet, vanity mirror, sink, and three-drawer medicine cabinet are all included in the bathroom.
“The funniest thing you’ll notice is that by living in a little place and having a lot fewer stuff, you’ll have a lot less of all the little boring tasks that rob your day one cent at a time, like cleaning, laundry, and dishwashing,” he said. “You’ve got so much more time to do whatever you want.”
Today, the Coast Guard veteran is happy than ever, living his dream life with his partner, Kate, and their soon-to-be-born baby!
Watch the amazing video below:
