Question: what does your extended family think of your bus?

grantgoold · May 26, 2010, 06:34:23 AM

I care very much what the extended family thinks as long as it is positive!

Otherwise not so much!

The only person I am really concerned with is the BOSS, or anyone else helping financially with the project (no one!)

Grant

PCC · May 26, 2010, 06:39:03 AM

I thought I was the only one !!

My mother thought that it was a foolish idea (and told all her friends and family), BUT now that they are beginning to see what I saw when I first saw my first bus, and after building a few of them (carry cash to get home if someone buys it from you in an RV park), they are thinking that maybe ??

Being able to carry groups of friends, and enjoy the ride together, or being able to take disabled people comfortably (my first bus was built for a quad), now I am living my dream as I work on my latest project.

But yes, I thought everyone thought I was out of my mind, so I never talked about it, just "hid it" next to my house.

Now I can come out ?? (and play!)

john9861 · May 26, 2010, 06:50:56 AM

I only pay attention to the ones who are willing to make a monetary or sweat equity investment in any of my projects thus I find myself alone in all of these endeavors. It has been interesting to see the reaction from some as they see the coach begin to take shape.

TomC · May 26, 2010, 07:56:32 AM

To show where I'm coming from-when I was around 6 or 7 years old, I remember looking at the Postman Cushman 3 wheeler with about a 5ft square box on the back and saying to the postman what a nice little camper that would make. Then in Junior high (middle school now) and high school, I drew dozens of motohome floor plans of various sizes just for fun. So basically, none of my close friends or family have been surprised at me converting a bus. Most are very curious to see my truck conversion when it's done, since they were surprised at the build quality of my bus conversion (I compare it to a mountain cabin). I'm a mechanical nut the just likes big mechanical anything. Good Luck, TomC

happycamperbrat · May 26, 2010, 09:17:09 AM

My family and friends are all over the board! Some people think Im nuts, some are not in the least bit interested, and some are very very jealous and wanting to help me work on it and want to do one themselves.

Greg Roberts · May 26, 2010, 09:57:50 AM

Extended family think it is amazing and cool and some have enjoyed trips across the US in the bus. Generally their eyes sort of glaze over at the size of the project and they are amazed at the features and so forth.

Back in 1995 I made a huge miss step by marrying a woman that had no faith in men and, for example, only believed in brick and mortar shops for cars and had to have a new car every 2-3 years because the old one surely could not be fixed. So when I expressed my desire to do a bus conversion she was completely non-supportive and certainly had no faith in my abilities. Of course I soon learned that she and I were not even close to being compatible and I also learned that she was not accepting of my handicapped (cerebral palsy and mental retardation) son. Who would have thought a school teacher would turn out this way. Between that and the bus, I had to pay my way out of that mistake with a down payment on a new house across town. Needless to say, soon after I went and bough the Eagle 20 and went to work. Life can sure be er.... interesting sometimes. So everyone in my life likes my bus now. He he.

Kenny · May 26, 2010, 10:13:08 AM

Funny comment my wife and daughter made to me the other day. They frequent "Facebook" and I raze them about it. So now when I'm on the Bus Bulletin boards they ask me how's "Busbook".

Madmike · May 26, 2010, 10:26:49 AM

Great Question! I will start from the top but there is a running theem

Wife- Hated the idea, argured with me every time i brought it up. Brought it home and she loves it. Even helped to work on her. Complains about every dime though.
Brother- Loves it! Flew up to help me drive it back, helped me work on it and is welcome to borrow it any time he wants.
Mother- Can not phatom why any one would want one, she is don't ask don't tell but the vibe is you can't afford it.
Father-does not bring it up, but i owe him money so it will be fun when he see's it. He is understanding though.
Step Mom-What are they thinking? Waste of money they don't have.
Step Dad- Has no use, will only cost money.
Father In-Law- Gave me the bus, paid to have it tuned up, wished that I take my little boys on adventures that will last a life time. His only regret, is not being younger so that he could do the same. He has wished me well and even followed me for the first 100 miles to make sure I was ok with it. (this is a person that has moved to the top of my list when i think of the bus and life with it)
Mother in law- thinks the same way as her husband!
What is wrong with my side of the family???

bevans6 · May 26, 2010, 11:02:59 AM

Quote from: Madmike on May 26, 2010, 10:26:49 AM
Great Question! I will start from the top but there is a running theem

What is wrong with my side of the family???

Maybe you owe them money or something?

That was starting eat in our family, I talked my Dad into just giving my sister whatever he was going to loan her as she never paid anything back anyway. I am the executor of the estate, it's coming off the top when I hand out cheques when Dad is gone, till then everything is cool...

Sounds like the in-laws are a bonus!

Brian

robertglines1 · May 26, 2010, 12:53:36 PM

Most of my camping friends think we are rich (ha) but they don't realize they have more in their Dually than we have in our bus...not to mention the ones with sticks and staples or as a Canadian friend called them Le Toilet's I really like this post

Jeremy · May 26, 2010, 01:02:55 PM

Perhaps we should also have the companion thread: 'What do your neighbours think of your bus?'....

Jeremy

white-eagle · May 26, 2010, 01:08:10 PM

parents thought it was cool when i brought it home, and really liked it when i offered to chauffer them and my 90yo aunt to a family reunion. gave them lots of time to catch up, and more comfort than a car. My brother put in 50A and widened his driveway, my other brother left the swamp around his narrow driveway, and my sister now thinks i'm rich and won't give me free haircuts anymore. My grandson thinks it's cool (we're babysitting him this weekend-3yo), and my son offered his driveway to park in, but i don't think we'll fit. i think they all still think we are crazy though.

John316 · May 26, 2010, 01:19:26 PM

That is funny...Most of the family is fine with it. The rest have the "glazed eyes" "Wow" look...lol.

It is even more funny talking with others. We will pull into places, get out and start picking people's jaws up off of the ground, and closing them

ROFL.

Comments that we hear (after they told us we could get into somewhere).

"I had NO IDEA that it was THAT big...I was picturing a school bus."

"Wow, that thing is huge. How many of you drive that thing?" Our response..."One at a time (two in heavy traffic, one to work the pedals, the other to steer)"

"That thing is huge...So is it gas or diesel?"

I could go on, but those are some of the more funny common ones. We love our bus, though!

God bless,

John

WEC4104 · May 26, 2010, 08:24:44 PM

Basically my extended family already knew I was a lunatic, so the bus came as little surprize to them.

It was very funny that when I announced to everyone that I was buying a bus conversion on the other side of the country, my brother and father both had the same reaction: "You are crazy, you have lost your mind, when are WE going to go pick it up." Both insisted on accompanying me on this adventure, and we had a fantastic time. My brother remains the only other person I trust behind the wheel (not even my wife).

My wife does not hesitate to announce to everyone that it is the best purchase our family has ever made. ... right before she launches into a listing of all the places we have been, made possible by having the bus.