Many people dream of traveling the world and escaping the rat race of society, but one adventurous woman has done just that by hopping into a 2,500 pound school bus.
Alexa Belong worked as a flight attendant and lived in New York but was forced to return to her home state of Georgia when the pandemic hit.
In an interview with Fabulous magazine, Alexa said, “I moved back to my parents' home in Georgia when the world as we knew it started to crumble.”
During this time, Alexa rediscovered her passion for art, something she had studied in college but never pursued professionally.
She continued: “My mother always said that I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil and that I was drawing in the womb.
“I ended up making the mistake of changing my major to criminal justice, thinking, 'I'll get a proper job and do art on the side,'” she says.
“Like many artists, I was always told I couldn't make a living from art.”
While spending money on a brick-and-mortar art gallery was expensive, Alexa came up with a more affordable and appealing option: getting a “mobile studio.”
After speaking with her father, they searched on Craigslist and found an old school bus for sale for just $4,000 (£3,100).
They sold it quickly, reducing the price to $3,300 (£2,500) upon pick-up.
Alexa added: “What a bargain! I never expected to spend so much money. Next During my 9 month break, I built the coolest art project of my life so far.
“My dad can do anything. He can make, repair or modify anything.
“So he was the driving force behind my ideas and helped me make my dreams a reality.
“The original plan was to have a mobile art studio, but that changed to having a mobile home.
“I thought I could live there too.
“I made everything as cheap as possible. I'm really thrifty, so I used a lot of recycled wood and shelving.”
The budding artist set about transforming the bus into her dream home and gallery, naming it “Lady Lavender” and painting it a pretty purple color.
Speaking about the remodeling process, she said: “I bought a dresser at a thrift store and converted it into a sink and stove space.
“For the countertop and desktop, I used two green wood scraps from the same tree on my parents’ property.
“I wanted a bathtub instead of a shower, so I recycled an old vintage piece. subway Grandma's bathroom tiles.
Is it legal to live in a van?
If you're thinking about living in a van to save money or travel, you'll be happy to know that there are no laws in the UK preventing you from doing so.
However, you will need to ensure the vehicle passes an MOT and is fully roadworthy.
There may also be restrictions on where you can park your van and sleep.
For example, local authorities may impose restrictions on certain roads or shoulders, and spending the night there could result in a fine.
Also, some locations may not be safe to spend the night, especially at night.
Check out our Road Traffic Act guide for guidance.
“I have a simple composting toilet set up under my desk.
“I have a 2.5 gallon hot water tank. To conserve hot water, I now take quick baths. The air conditioner mini The split unit I ordered for $538 (£423) Ebay.
“It also has a heat pump. It works amazingly well and I would definitely recommend it to anyone converting a school bus. The outdoor unit is installed under the bus.”
“The bus uses shore power and plugs into an outlet. PowerIt really does look like an RV.
“We also plug a water hose into the side of the bus, just like we do with RVs.”
Alexa spent a further £3,500 on refurbishing the school bus, bringing the total amount (including the purchase of the bus) to £6,000.
Although it was a lot of work, the artist said the renovation brought back precious memories of his father.
She added: “The time we spent building together was very special and I will cherish those moments forever.”
The new bus allowed her to pursue art, supplement her funds with welding work, and visit places like Athens, Greece, and Florida.
Find a way or make an excuse. Create the life you want.
Alexa Veron
Alexa runs an art shop Instagram and Youtube In addition to running her channel and selling her work on her website, Alexa's Art Room, she also teaches from her Florida studio.
She hopes to eventually travel to art festivals and sell her work there.
She added: “I am now fortunate enough to be able to focus full time on my art and fulfill my destiny as an artist.”
“It's never too late to pursue your dreams.
“People see my school bus and they say, 'I wanted to do that too!' And I say, 'Go for it!'”
“Put your excuses aside and do what you feel you should do.
“You only have one life in your body right now, so make the most of it.”
“Find a way or make an excuse. You create the life you want.”