Skoolie State of Mind: Alana & Steve Livin’ and Lovin’ on the Road

Introducing Alana & Steve

Hey, we’re Alana and Steve. A couple of creatives who’ve been living on the road full-time in our converted short bus for over a year now. Our journey into vanlife started before we even had a rig—sitting on top of the Wander Box at a meetup in Arizona, watching the sunset over Superstition Mountain. That moment hit us like, “Yeah…we need to do this.”

Steve had spent years backpacking through Southeast Asia, chasing excitement and cultural discovery. But the itch to explore the U.S. never left. Once we met and realized this lifestyle was both our dream, it was only a matter of time before “one day” turned into now.

The Bus: A Tiny Home With a Big Heart

Why We Chose a Skoolie

We ended up with a 2007 Chevy Express 3500 short bus—formerly belonging to a private school in Newark, NJ. We chose a skoolie mainly for the space. With two of us living full-time, we needed to be able to stand up, stretch, and not feel boxed in. Plus, cargo vans were shockingly expensive, and we realized we’d need to be real about our time, budget, and energy if we actually wanted to get on the road.

The Conversion Story

Originally, we planned to build it ourselves. But reality set in quick—neither of us had the time or space, and building from scratch is no joke. During our search, we met Gabe from East Coast Campers. He’d just gotten a new bus and offered to do a custom build with us. After seeing the gutted bus in New Jersey, we knew it was the one.

Working with Gabe was a collaborative learning experience for all of us. It was his first full-time build, so we were sending YouTube videos, bouncing ideas, and tweaking layouts constantly. We had big plans at first—full wet bath, all the bells and whistles—but once we saw the price tag, we started scaling back. No bathroom? Fine. We’ll do an outdoor shower with a swivel faucet.

Living and Learning

The whole planning process took about two months, and the build itself was done in about six weeks. Looking back, building ourselves would’ve taken us years. We’ve since learned what works and what we’d tweak next time. And honestly? We’re still down to do a future DIY build.

Life On The Road

A Typical Day—Working Remotely Full Time

We both work remotely in marketing—Steve runs a small ad agency, and I (Alana) do lead management. Inside the bus, we share a table setup with a removable Lagun mount, and we also work outside a lot under our awning. Between the bed, high countertop for standing work, and rotating through our four “office” spots, we’ve made it work.

Community & Creativity

Right now, we’re in Baja, Mexico, and the creative community here is unreal. We’ve been collaborating on content, connecting with other vanlifers, and constantly making new friends. Meeting like-minded people on the road has honestly been one of our favorite parts—there’s this instant unspoken connection. Like, “You get it. You’re doing it too.”

Our Off-Grid Setup

We can be off-grid pretty comfortably—our biggest limit is water. We’ve got 30 gallons of fresh water, 400 watts of solar, and 200 amp hours of lithium batteries. The water mostly goes toward dishes, cooking and the occasional outdoor shower. Power-wise, we’re good for work and daily life.

Lessons, Hacks & Real Talk

Vanlife Tips

• Test it out first. We didn’t—but if you’re unsure, rent a rig or go on a short trip.
• YouTube is gold. Most of our build decisions came from hours of research and other people’s lessons.
• Don’t over-plan. You won’t know what you need until you’re actually living in it.

Space & Cost-Saving Hacks

• Swivel faucet for outdoor shower = lifesaver.
• Skip the bathroom unless it’s essential—you can always find showers.
• A short bus hits the sweet spot: more room than a van but still parkable and versatile.

Wheels Fell Off—Literally

One of the craziest moments? Driving to Scorpion Bay in Baja when our rear wheels fell off. Yeah. Luckily, we stayed calm, pulled over (miraculously on one of the few roads with a shoulder), and within minutes, locals stopped to help.

A family helped search for the missing wheel (found deep in a cactus bush at sunset), and the town mechanic just happened to drive by. He jacked up the bus and got us back on the road with six out of eight lug nuts. Then they followed us into town to make sure we got there safe. We ended up hanging out at the family’s house days later—haircuts, instruments, and good vibes. That kind of kindness? Unforgettable.

And just the morning before this interview, we got a chance to pay it forward. A Jeep had driven too close to the shoreline and got stuck in soft sand. We immediately ran over with our shovels to help dig them out. Eventually, another vehicle came by and towed them free. It felt amazing to have another opportunity to give back, especially after all the kindness we’ve received on the road.

Relationships in Close Quarters

We’d been together for two years before moving in. Our biggest advice? Communication. We resolve conflicts fast, ask each other what we need, and give each other space when it’s needed.

Traveling together first (especially camping) is a great way to test the waters. If you think being in a small space with your partner 24/7 will drive you nuts, this lifestyle might not be it. But if you love it—it’s magic.

Looking Ahead

We're not in a rush to “settle down,” but we do want to find a place to eventually call home. Maybe that’s a piece of land somewhere in the States, or maybe here in Mexico. Traveling in the bus is part of that discovery process—scoping out spots that might feel right.

And yeah, there might be another build in our future. This has been an incredible chapter, but we’re always evolving.

Find Us Online

Steve creates videos on YouTube (Steve Yalo) covering vanlife and all types of travel—Europe, Cambodia, Sri Lanka (a fave!). You can find him on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook too. And I’m @alana_falzon on socials. I’m not making much content yet, but maybe that’s coming soon.

Also, shoutout to Gabe at East Coast Campers. If you’re thinking about a custom build—check him out.

Steve:

• Instagram: @steveyalo
• TikTok: @steveyalo
• Facebook: @steveyalotravels
• YouTube: @SteveYalo

Alana:

• Instagram: @alana_falzon & @feedme.freedom
• TikTok: @alana_falzon 
• LinkedIn?: Alana Falzon