Some homes have five bedrooms, a jacuzzi, and walk-in closets. Others have hanging gardens, spiral staircases and kitchens with kilometres of granite counter tops.
And others are smaller.
Much, much smaller.
Like living-in-an-ambulance-small.
Bill Smyth and Logan Miller have converted a 1994 Ford E350 ambulance into their new home. After New Years, they plan to drive it to numerous ski hills across B.C. In March, theyB次元官网网址檒l continue to Mexico and when they drive back to Canada next spring, they aim to visit all the national parks along the way.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always known I want to do a long trip, it was just where and how,B次元官网网址� says Miller.
B次元官网网址淪pending money on hostels, rentals, or whatever else felt like a waste of our income that we worked so hard to get so it made more sense to put that into our own home.B次元官网网址�
They say they chose an ambulance because of the cost and potential for personalized space.
The couple bought the ambulance off Kijiji in Cranbrook for just over $6,000. After some research on the vehicle, they discovered it was originally from Beartooth, Montana and before that, New Jersey. It was also in New York during 9/11.
Thus, theyB次元官网网址檝e called their new home Beartooth.
Turning Beartooth into a home hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy. The couple have redone the ceiling with wood, put in laminate floors, wooden countertops, tiles, a wood burning stove, a sink, solar panels, and wallpaper.
Looking at it now, itB次元官网网址檚 hard to imagine that Beartooth may have once been engulfed by the dust and remains of the World Trade Center 17 years ago.
The ambulance is now bright, cozy, and stylish. ThereB次元官网网址檚 even hanging plants.
Miller owns an interior design company in Revelstoke.
B次元官网网址淚t hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy working with a space thatB次元官网网址檚 so small. There are so many things to consider,B次元官网网址� says Miller.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 want tiles too big that break when you go over a bump, you have to use a special grout with the flooring, you canB次元官网网址檛 use anything thatB次元官网网址檚 too thick because then your head space is wrong.B次元官网网址�
They even sliced a hole in the roof for the wood stove and chimney.
B次元官网网址淚t was very nerve-wracking,B次元官网网址� says Smyth with a laugh.
Impressively, the roof has yet to leak.
There are some laws when it comes to buying and using an emergency vehicle. For example, the words B次元官网网址渁mbulanceB次元官网网址� cannot be displayed and the driver cannot run the lights or sirens.
B次元官网网址淎s far as insurance goes, itB次元官网网址檚 basically insured as a cube van,B次元官网网址� says Smyth.
The couple says that people have a multitude of reactions to Beartooth, such as confusion, excitement, and intrigue.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people when weB次元官网网址檙e driving will pull aside and kind of question if weB次元官网网址檙e an ambulance or not. We get a lot of people noticing from behind that weB次元官网网址檙e not an official ambulance anymore. Then they try to pass us to see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on and who is driving,B次元官网网址� says Smyth with a laugh.
The couple says their upcoming travels will be an opportunity to experience different cultures and appreciate what theyB次元官网网址檝e left behind.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to have to be really conservative with our water usage as we only have jugs,B次元官网网址� says Miller.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of other countries have to do that on a daily basis. WeB次元官网网址檙e so lucky in Canada that you donB次元官网网址檛 think about it. It will be a good lesson on how to live with less.B次元官网网址�
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If Beartooth survives this adventure, the couple says they have others planned. Next fall they hope to drive back to Mexico and on to Central America.
B次元官网网址淭hat trip is a lot more open-ended,B次元官网网址� says Smyth.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have an end date. It all depends on our money and time.B次元官网网址�
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