Kyle and Naomi Thacker are moving out of their house… and into a school bus.
Kyle Thacker had a history of never finishing things. Since he was a child, he has had a knack for picking things up, getting semi-good at them, then leaving them unfinished. But the “skoolie,” a widely-used slang term for a renovated school bus, was different.
While dating his then-girlfriend, now-wife Naomi, Kyle planned an Asheville, N.C. getaway in a “Romantic Bus in The Woods” themed Airbnb. The couple giggled all night, taking in the surreal atmosphere of the unusual set-up.
Days after, the couple found themselves knee-deep in a Netflix documentary centered around a German-American couple and their adventure across the U.S. in a retro-fitted bus. The documentary, titled Expedition Happiness, planted a seed of curiosity to further their own adventure.
“He joked around saying ‘we could do this,’ but I always thought it would fall flat,” Naomi says. “But then, he kept talking about it.”
Kyle’s research began. He learned all about the best places to buy a bus, as well as the best engine and tire types for long-distance travel. He even developed a list of all their necessities as a traveling couple, including a rooftop deck, security cameras, and a raised ceiling to accommodate for showering and his height.
Naomi can still recall the day he found it.
“I remember it was a Thursday and I was at an office job at the time. He was like, ‘By the way, I think we found a bus.’ I was still typing and not really paying attention, but then he said he already put in an offer. So the next day we took off and drove down to Vicksburg, Mississippi,” Naomi says.
For a bit over $4,000, the Thackers purchased a 2001 Thomas International school bus from the Yates family. Naomi remembers having no idea what they were getting into but knowing this was the start of a new chapter.
“It was daunting when we first got it because it was such a giant shell,” she says. “We had never driven a bus. It was hideous and dirty; just the bare bones of what you hope to be your home. I was ready for the ride and he really stepped up to make sure that could happen.”
With their newfound bus, it was time to make it a home away from home. SketchUp, a 3D modeling program, played a huge role in designing the bus, as well as outsourcing for plumbing and electrical needs.
As a videographer and photographer, Kyle put effort into booking gigs and marketing himself in order to pay for the necessary bus renovations. Naomi contributed to the process with work, research and constantly learning how to use tools.
With over 100,000 hours of videos watched, the couple gained knowledge about how to craft their new home, as well as the new community they belonged to. Attending their first skoolie convention, the couple found friends that they could truly relate to. They received feedback on what looked good, what could be better, and the do’s and don’ts of living in their bus. At home, though, they still received intrigued looks and pointed fingers.
“I believe that what we’ve done has indirectly impacted others in our lives,” Kyle says. “I’ve had someone reach out to me asking how to buy a bus. We don’t take credit, nor do we want to, but it seems like friends of ours are talking to me more about our trips and taking their own. I want to inspire everyone to be more spontaneous.”
Their travels started with long-weekend trips, but the couple is now making the leap of a lifetime: selling their house and officially living in their skoolie full-time. The reduction of 2,000 square feet to 200 was a big adjustment.
“For me, it’s getting used to a new routine. I’m very structured, so having to do something a bit different from the norm is difficult,” Naomi said. “Every night I take a bath and read my book; it’s ‘Naomi Time’. But now we have to take army showers and limit my routine. Just shaping my mind around that has been the hardest struggle.”
However, their shift to sustainability and minimalism proved to be a bit easier than they anticipated. After getting rid of about 80-90% of their closet, the Thackers learned to value what they needed over what they wanted.
“We’ve got two plates and two glasses,” Naomi said. “Everything has a purpose.”
The couple created spaces that allow for alone time. Kyle’s TV time still happens front and center of the skoolie, while Naomi has the option of joining virtual meetings for her book club. Although accommodations have been made to maintain what keeps them sane, both have their individual struggles with letting go and adjusting to their upcoming move.
“Doing this project, dealing with the amount of money, time and finances and taking this leap is leaving a bubble of certainty,” Kyle said. “Getting rid of a good-paying job, a great house, a backyard, friends and family is hard, and I’m still working through that.”
Before settling down and having kids, the couple wants to fully experience the beauty of the world. Their philosophy is to live and inspire others to do this before their children move out and retirement is near.
The only child they do plan to bring on this adventure is their furbaby, Trip.
“Some dogs whine or become anxious, but Trip lives for the bus,” Kyle said.
The couple agreed Trip had just as much presence in their home, always being the first to hop onto the bus for a road trip. Named appropriately, Trip’s skoolie additions include his very own seatbelt and the open road for an adventure of his own.
Kyle’s growing documentary plans to capture every single moment – the ups and the downs. Until then, his vlogs have told the story of their growing relationship and accomplishments with building their home on wheels, which they have named “Shutter Speed”.
“Right now, with van life and bus life, there’s a ton of accounts and stories about it where it’s the girl dragging the guy into the field or waking up with the blanket and coffee, basically saying their life is perfect,” Kyle says. “Frankly, I think it’s full of shit. I want to create a story that is unfiltered and so raw to show people they should just go for it.”
Just celebrating their first anniversary, the couple has a few final touches to put into Shutter Speed the Skoolie before taking off on their lifetime adventure.
With about $30,000 worth of renovations so far, the most expensive still stands: painting the bus. The minimum price they’ve come across is $13,000, but they’re considering making it a DIY project.
With their departure across the country taking off, the couple has prepared themselves for the not-so-perfect skoolie life.
“It would be naive to think that we’re not going to be frustrated throughout the first month,” Kyle said. “We’re both new at this, we both don’t have the answers, we don’t know what we’re doing in a lot of ways, but we just gotta be a team and be supportive.”
With heads-up pennies placed all throughout the base of their skoolie, the couple wants nothing but good luck and good times. Kyle believes they haven’t even “reached the tip of the iceberg” in what’s to come. To all the stressed 20 and 30-somethings not sure if they can do the same, the couple strives to tell their story of spontaneity.
“Just go for it. People always worry about what they can afford or what opportunities come their way, but things always work out the way they’re supposed to. Just live in it and go for it,” Naomi says. “Why not?”
Sources: Skoolie, IMDB, Instagram, SketchUp, Instagram, YouTube, Instagram
Images: Erik Henderson, Nathan Abbott, Provided by Kyle and Naomi Thacker
Featured Image: Erik Henderson
