Just like all trends that make their way to the Holy Land, skoolies have hit the roads of Israel as well

With real estate skyrocketing and permanent housing out of reach for so many, some people have decided to opt for life on the road. Can you really take an old bus and make it into a home? Meet the people who decided to think out of the box and move their lives into one

You can spot these vehicles in cities all over the US today, and they’re not just for antisocial misfits or free spirited nonconformists.
They’re called “skoolies,” school buses converted into a living space for singles, couples, and even families with children — those who can’t afford to buy a home, don’t want to pay rent, or just want the freedom of being constantly mobile.

And just like all trends that make their way to the Holy Land, skoolies have hit the roads of Israel as well.

With skyrocketing housing prices that make even buying something small or renting on the periphery impossible for many, some citizens have packed up their few belongings and moved into protest tents — while others have taken to the streets in another way.

From the outside, they look like old buses. But inside, the seats have been removed and replaced with walls, cabinets, home furnishings and appliances. The roof has been fitted with solar panels to provide electricity, and there’s even a composting chemical toilet and fresh water tank for cooking and a very quick water-conserving shower.

People assume that for skoolie dwellers, there’s no hefty mortgage, you’re always on vacation mode, you can park anywhere, and the entire town is your backyard. On the other hand, it’s thought to be extremely claustrophobic and a considerable initial financial outlay.

None of these assumptions (except regarding the mortgage) is totally accurate, though. You don’t have to be rich to do a bus conversion. After the initial outlay of the bus purchase, the conversion can run anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the fanciness and amenities. Still, full-time bus life is anything but a vacation. For example, you have to figure out where you’re allowed to park, where to find water and propane, and where to dump your waste water. But the biggest misconception is that people who live in buses are just plain weird, that they can’t handle responsibility or manage the “real world.”

So, who are the people carving out their lives in these refurbished buses, and what led them to forgo their permanent homes in favor of one on wheels?