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The Digital Nomad Guy and His Epic Bus Home


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Luke’s bus might have the most gorgeous paintjob I’ve seen! The sunset, the mountains, the large tree with mature roots. Stunning.

For the past 2.5 years, “The Digital Nomad Guy” (@thedigitalnomadguy/Instagram) has been traveling the country in his converted school bus. While the bus was partially built out when he bought it, he finished up the interior (and exterior) and made it his home on wheels.

Luke got in touch with us looking to show off his build, so be sure to enjoy the photo tour and read what he wrote at the end of the post (including his top advice for those wanting to go tiny).

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2.5 Years on the Road in a Mural-Painted Skoolie

He decorated the interior to make it “homey.”

He has all his music gear on the road with him.

The paintjob on the bus is it’s defining feature.

What a gorgeous mural!

As you can see, he likes climbing atop the bus.

VIDEO: Tiny Home Tours Tours My Skoolie

Interview w/ Luke:


Where are you from?

Michigan

How did you first become seriously interested in tiny homes?

I became interested when I discovered the lifestyle through some YouTube videos 3 years ago. The YouTube videos I came across were inspiring and made me realize I didn’t need “stuff” to be happy. I could live with less, travel more, and live life with less stress and more happiness.

What type of tiny house do you have or are you working on?

I live in a Skoolie which is a converted school bus. I’ve been living in it now for 2.5 years.

Why did you go tiny? What are you hoping to get out of it for yourself?

I went tiny because I wanted to see the world. I wanted to get out of the mundane 9-5 lifestyle and live a life where I could wake up everyday not knowing what could happen. I wanted adventure, excitement, and exploration.

How long did it take you to finish your tiny house?

I set a tight deadline so I only gave myself 2.5 months to complete the build. To be honest, it isn’t completed yet. I work on it little by little when I’m on the road. I believe that a home is never finished though. I’m always looking at ways to improve, change, or add to what I have already come up with.

Did you do it yourself? Who helped? How much did it end up costing you to build it?

I did the build myself but it was partially built out when i bought it. The framework was already there but I did spend a fair amount of time making it look more “homey”. I probably spent around $1000 to build it out. I didn’t get too fancy because I wanted to preserve my money for backup when I hit the road.

How did you figure out where to put it? Do you keep it in one place or do you move around?

I stored it at my Grandmothers house since she had a nice plot of land in the middle of nowhere. I kept it there while I built it out. When I first bought it I did have to keep it at the apartment complex I was living at. It got a bit of attention for a while.

What’s been the most challenging part about your tiny house so far?

The most challenging part is keeping up with maintenance since it is a vehicle. I’ve had many breakdowns on the road that left me stranded with no one around to help. Fortunately I have YouTube to help me fix things.

What benefits are you experiencing from it so far?

I am experiencing the best life that I can live. Living tiny and living on the road has given me more freedom than I every imagined. I travel to exotic places, I go to National Parks, I meet amazing people, and I’m becoming a better version of myself. I’m transforming as a person and it’s been a beautiful healing journey. Anxiety and stress are dissipating. I’m thriving.

What helpful piece of advice would you give to others who are interested in going tiny? What mistakes could you help them avoid?

The one big thing I always recommend to people looking to go tiny, or more specifically looking to live life on the road, is to always have backup funds. You never know when your vehicle might break down and you need those funds for emergencies.

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.
{ 1 comment… add one }
  • Theresa Perdue
    May 11, 2021, 10:45 am

    Well. Hhmmm..🤔. That’s a long video. And that’s a great bus.👍

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