Michelle B.’s Journey, 60+: Traveling in Periwinkle The Bus with Baghera her Polydactyl  Cat

Michelle B. (60+) has been a traveler and camper all her life. Her love for the open road began in her teenage years when her family, along with her aunt and cousins, would camp together on Cape Cod. “It started with a big tent, then a pop-up camper, and eventually a trailer. Later, I set out on my own, but that lifestyle was always in my mind.”

Finding the Perfect Bus

Despite her passion for travel, her two marriages didn’t align with that dream. After her second divorce, she moved to Maine and eventually returned back to New York to her mother’s house, ready to embark on her next journey—this time, solo.

Her initial plan was to live in a tiny home, but realizing she’d need a large truck to move it, she reconsidered. “I knew I wouldn’t stay in one place forever, so I thought, ‘How about a van?’ But Mercedes and Dodge vans were too pricey. That’s when I started looking at buses.”

Rather than a full-sized 40-foot bus, she set out looking for a bus closer to 28 feet in length, something larger than a short bus, and enough room for a kitchen, bed, and bathroom. She searched auction sites and local school districts until she found the perfect bus in Virginia. “It had low mileage, a current inspection, and only eight seats since it was a handicapped bus.” After hours on the phone with the seller, she placed a bid and won.

To pick it up, she took two buses to a friend’s house near the seller. After a two-and-a-half-hour tutorial on her new home-on-wheels, she hopped into the driver’s seat with no prior experience and began the several-hour journey back to New York. “They let me keep the plate that was on it, and when I got back, I mailed it right back to them.” That was six years ago.

Much of the conversion work was done herself, guided by Googling info and YouTube tutorials. One surprising helper? Her ex-husband. “Two reasons: One, he had started doing a lot of that kind of work after our divorce, and two, I knew it would piss off his new wife—who happened to be my former best friend, also named Michelle.” Her suspicions were correct. “She literally dragged projects out into the driveway to work on them when I parked in front of their house with my bus and he was inside helping me.”

Life on the Road

Hitting the road before her bus was fully finished, she continued working on it while traveling. Friends and family along her route lent a hand, and just recently, with the help of some friends, finally hooked up her plumbing—though she rarely uses it, having grown accustomed to living without running water. Instead of a traditional RV toilet, she repurposed an antique commode. “Originally, I bought a Luggable Loo, but my mom suggested using the antique commode we had in the parlor. It’s wooden with an enamel bowl. I line it with plastic bags and use adult diapers I find cheap at Goodwill.”

We discussed how the adult diapers can take up a lot of space, which naturally led to a conversation about the challenges of managing belongings and the ongoing process of decluttering. Minimizing her belongings has been an ongoing challenge. She still has a storage unit that once cost $60 a month but has climbed past $100. Her goal is to clear it out, selling items like her antique doll collection. 

Her next challenge was her clothing, and she tackled it by creating a “uniform” for herself. She found the perfect solution in loose, stretchy romper-style jumpsuits with spaghetti straps, which provide comfort and coverage for the excess fluid in her legs. “No more bras. I threw them all out,” she declared, replacing them with stretchy, tank-style tops. The jumpsuits are lightweight, come in a variety of colors, and pair easily with her one spare sweatshirt for warmth.

Her top advice for aspiring nomads? “Purge first. No matter how much you get rid of, your vehicle won’t fit everything you own. I’m awful at simplifying, but definitely try.” She suggests taking an honest inventory of what you truly need versus what you think you need. She is okay with keeping a lot of tools, but realizes there are many things you just don’t need on the road.

Safety and Security as a Solo Traveler

Safety on the road is another priority. “I once pulled into a Cracker Barrel but felt uneasy about the area. I left and drove 20 miles to another one where I felt better.” Her rule: “If you don’t feel safe, move. There’s always another option.” As deterrents, she keeps baseball hats on her dash and a pair of men’s boots sitting on the stairwell. She also has a security camera setup that alerts her to movement outside the bus at night.

While Cracker Barrels are a favorite stop, she also stays at Harvest Host locations and well-known truck stops. When she had an issue with her air brakes at a truck stop, several truckers offered help. “I didn’t feel the ‘ick’ at all. They were kind and helpful.”  Other than that, a lot of time is spent at places belonging to friends and family, otherwise known as “moochdocking”.   

Staying clean on the road is another adventure and looks much different now thant it did before taking this journey. Thanks to her senior status, she has a free membership to Anytime Fitness, where she showers. She also buys and uses baby wipes by the case and uses a collapsible bucket for sponge baths in addition to a special body cleaning spray. “One perk of gray hair—it doesn’t get oily like it used to!” 

Michelle is an active member of Skoolie Swarm and SkoolieUP, frequently attending events. She isn’t shy about striking up conversations with fellow travelers, especially those with unique rigs. Her own bus, “Periwinkle,” is a recognizable conversation starter. 

When it comes to breakdowns and repairs, preventative maintenance is key.  When she is visiting her mom, she schedules Periwinkle for some Preventative Maintenance to keep her running smoothly.  She is a HUGE proponent of Coach-Net and has had to use their service a couple of times, recommending to get the Tire Rider, as tires for bus can run around $500.  Although she has had a few breakdowns recently, she keeps a good attitude by just focusing on the fact that this needs to get fix and then I’ll be on my way.  

Handling Breakdowns and Budgeting for Repairs

While Michelle is on a fixed income (Social Security) she highly recommends having savings stashed away for breakdowns.  Her recommended amount for bus owners is at least $10,000.  She has had three costly breakdowns in the past two years.  So although one breakdown may not cost that much, if you get a few in a row, it can really knock down your savings.  

A dear personal friend, Michelle’s enthusiasm and grit are contagious. Her laugh is unforgettable, and her stories are even better. She’s known for her quick wit and her ability to turn any challenge into an adventure. If you see her or her cat, Baghera, don’t hesitate to say hi and let her know you read about her on She Travels Simple.

You can follow her journey on Facebook as “Periwinkle TheBus.”