The Bus Of Destiny

This feels like destiny.

When I was a little girl I didn't dream of being a princess or a mom or a bride. I didnt dream of being a professional career-woman or about having nice things. I dremt of saving the world. I dremt of going everywhere and meeting everyone. Hoping that would somehow teach me how to fix things for all of us.

I could quote a thousand songs, or novels. I could quote some or another countercultural or movement historical figure. I won't. Don't worry.

I'll just say that this may be the culmination of my entire existance thus far and it is definately a once-in-a-life-time chance.

If you don't know me, this is a breif summery of who I am-
I am 28. I craft things and I write poems and I make art and I cook. I garden and I volunteer and I babble on and on about 'mutual aid' and I drive. I drive back and forth accross the country trying to figure it all out.

Now, this bus. Where does this bus come in?

A few years ago I spent the better part of 6 months volunteering full time with Rainbow Rapid Response and Occupy Sandy. I found my place in the world in the back of a U-Haul box truck with a propane flat top grill bungee chorded to the wall. I watched as a natural disaster decimated a place I care a hell-of-a lot about and then as people from accross the country each independently volunteered to do whatever it was that they could to help. I watched 'mutual aid' work,

After a short stint on the line at a 4 star restaurant I left to travel the country and figure things out. One after another I found like-minded people along the way. We all started talking about all the other people and all the other places. We started talking about creating a network of sustainable and alternative communities, various projects and events and the volunteers that make them thrive. We eventually dreamed up an armada of busses that performed certain tasks as they made their ways around the country from community to community, feeding people and acting as a free library/teach in center as they went.

That is where this bus comes in.

So now a little about this particular bus.
The current owner described it as '58 in name only'

-Silver 92 Detroit non-turbo engine (diesel). Installed 4 years ago and currently has less than 10,000 miles.
-Mountain 4-Speed transmission (with button for reverse which is used in second gear).
-125kw diesel Kohler powerplant generator.
-Complete 12 volt system on auxillery batteries (8 batteries total)
-electric (peterbuilt) wiper conversion (originally air)
-NO SPLIT RIM TIRES.
-full air ride. air brakes.
-basically everything has been rebuilt over the last 10 years.
-Seperate air conditioning unit included that sits atop bus (but looks ugly so he keeps it in the under carriage storage compartment)
-OH, the 'basement' FOUR HUGE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS ...wait for it... with custom fabricated roll out steel slides for easy access AND custom installed hydrolic hinges (from the hood of a semi truck)
-The original bathtub from 1958.
-a new toilet,
-50 gallon tank with hot water heater.
-greywater system and black water system.
-gas lines and on board propane hook up. ..
-very very clean
-original paint and original interior
-Titled as a 'motor home' and does not require a CDL to drive

There is so much more I am forgetting.

Inside, there is a seperate 'bedroom' space with it's own seperate door to the outside. It is the perfect size to convert to the library/music space/community space. Just sayin'.

ALL the NICE THINGS come with ALL their meticulously kept paperwork, repair manuals and parts catalogues.

I really must be dreaming.

So, yes. I want to live in this bus, I want it to be my home. I want to travel around the country in this bus volunteering on farms and feeding people free food and giving them books and hosting musicians to play. I want to transport people and gear and tools between one effort and the next. I want to make art in it and cook food in it and make every trucker at the truck stop smile every time I pull in.

I want to use it as a conversation starter in reclaiming the future.

Love always.
-Allie Dreads