Anyone who works a normal 9-5 regular office job knows that it can feel a little draining at times.
Especially for artists who need uniqueness and adventure to feel free and comfortable to create.
It’s sometimes hard to find that though, and still be able to afford to meet all your needs.
Housing prices have skyrocketed all over the country and people are having to work harder and harder just to maintain their lifestyle.
One woman though, wanted more from life; she wanted freedom and adventure while still being able to take proper care of herself and her dogs.
Rita Marie Carr had always thought that going into an office every day was the only way to live.
Then, when that pandemic hit and she was able to work from home, she realized that she now had a lot of freedom and knew she wanted to do some exploring of the great wide world.
Without telling her company, Rita hit the road in her Jeep Wrangler and worked as she traveled.
She quickly realized that that was the life she wanted to live, no more stuffy office buildings and small apartments, Rita wanted the open road.
So, for 6 months, Rita drove across the country in her Jeep and got to have many great adventures, all while still earning a living through her company.
But Rita is an artist at heart and knew she didn’t want to be tied to the confines of needing an internet connection and the hours of a 9-5 job.
After 6 months of living like that, Rita knew it was time to leave her company and focus on her art… but it was hard to do that from the back of a Jeep.
Rita decided to purchase and renovate a Ford minibus that she named Wilbur, so that she and her dogs could live more comfortably as they travel the country creating beautiful works of art.
When she first got the bus a lot of work needed to be done on it to make it exactly what she needed, and Rita did all the work herself.
She told Tiny House Giant Journey:
“The total cost of the bus was just under $9,000.”
She built an art studio right in the bus where she spends most of her days working on her paintings.
Beside her art area is a cute kitchen with lots of storage for all her food, including a couple of hammocks hanging from a shelf where she stores all her produce.
She also wanted a reminder of where she came from, so Rita took a metal bucket from her parent’s house and drilled a hole in the bottom that connects to a drain and is perfect as a sink.
There wasn’t much counter space for preparing her meals, so she built in an extra fold-up countertop that gives her tons more surface area when it is needed.
Beside the kitchen is Rita’s bedroom/living room area.
She has a futon that she keeps as a couch during the day and can fold down into a bed at night for her and her pups to sleep comfortably.
On the outside of the bus is a shower area, more storage, a bike rack, and solar panels on the roof… oh, and she painted the whole bus pink!
She also still has her Jeep and hitches it to the back of her bus whenever they want to hit the road again.
Now, Rita travels the country in her home and spends her days doing what she loves, creating beautiful art.
Meet Rita and join her on a tour of Wilbur in the video below!
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