Retirement is a period of rest, independence, and enjoying the fruits of hard work.
Many people look forward to reaching this stage in life, as it signifies finally having time for oneself and pursuing one’s passions.
The prospect of retirement after a lifetime of toil is appealing.
The freedom to do what one wants is a significant advantage of retirement.
There will no longer be hurried efforts to meet impossible deadlines.
It’s an opportunity to sleep more, take time for breakfast, and fill the day with what brings the most joy.
In retirement, one can do what one desires: reconnect with old interests, see the world, or spend more time with loved ones.
When Clayton Balabanov reached retirement age, he had a dream of a lifetime to fulfill and explore the world.
Together with his wife Teresa, they had planned to spend their retirement years traveling the picturesque roads of the United States and Canada, according to internal sources.
Unfortunately, the search for a suitable camper for purchase proved futile.
Clayton expressed his disappointment and shared the difficulties in finding a camper that met their needs.
He mentioned dissatisfaction with campers produced by manufacturers, as they needed to be more sturdy for year-round use rather than just for occasional vacations.
As a result, the couple embarked on a DIY project to renovate a camper.
They intended to transform an old truck with a trailer into a spacious and sustainable camper.
Clayton’s idea was to turn a truck with a trailer into a living space that reflected the comfort and quality of their existing home on Vancouver Island but was also eco-friendly.
He explained that they wanted to incorporate solar energy, water recovery, and other ecological features to reduce their carbon footprint and offset the truck’s fuel consumption.
Clayton began five years ago to restore a truck, describing it as a „real construction site.“
Financial constraints prevented Clayton from buying a new truck, pushing him to accept the challenge of rebuilding a used model.
He spent a year refurbishing the brakes, engine, and various mechanical components of the vehicle.
In addition to the truck, he also purchased a used trailer on eBay.
This blank canvas allowed him to use his creativity and bring his vision to life.
Clayton emphasized his motivation and noted the isolation of the place where he worked.
He relied on a reliable whiteboard to outline his ideas and continuously made adjustments.
Transforming the truck with a trailer into a livable space was a challenging endeavor, and Clayton and his wife faced this challenge by investing time and energy into the project.
Clayton dedicated countless hours to the transformation, working diligently almost every day for five years.
„I did most of it myself,“ Clayton said proudly of his hands-on approach. Even the curtains were made personally.
Due to the unique nature of their custom renovation, Clayton believed it would be challenging to find a contractor who understood what they needed, explaining, „It would take more time to explain than to do it ourselves.“
Material sourcing was another challenge, especially due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clayton mentioned that his wife Teresa was responsible for this task.
The DIY renovation of the camper also had a significant cost of about $180,000.
To transform the truck with a trailer into a comfortable living space, Clayton and his wife added essential features to make it resemble a home.
They integrated comfortable seating under a lounge area, where they cleverly installed a bunk bed to maximize space usage.
The kitchen features a refrigerator and a microwave for their culinary needs.
Even solar-powered induction stoves are just one of the many practical features of their modern kitchen.
What makes their camper unique is the spacious and fully equipped kitchen, exceeding the typical size of most apartments.
Clayton emphasized the importance of creating a comfortable living space for their future years.
„At 75, I don’t want to struggle in a small kitchen just to prepare a simple meal,“ Clayton explained.
But their creativity didn’t stop there.
The couple also created spaces for an office, a garage, a living room, a bedroom, a library, and a bathroom.
A striking feature is the magnificent spiral staircase, which provides an aesthetic appearance and saves precious space.
He expressed satisfaction with the staircase: „It looks great and takes up less space than regular stairs.“
Clayton also built a „cinema“ inside the trailer, so the couple can enjoy their favorite shows and movies together.
Equipped with a 75-inch 4K TV and a surround sound system, the cozy space offers an on-the-road cinematic experience.
Thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service, they can even stream videos from popular platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in remote locations.
Clayton said it’s a way to relax in the evening and enjoy a great movie for entertainment.
Meanwhile, Teresa found comfort in the library corner of the trailer.
The armchair and bookshelves have become her refuge near the top of the spiral staircase.
Since the installation in their truck with a trailer in September, Teresa has read 42 books.
A hot tub has also been integrated into their Nomad Monster’s bathroom.
„Teresa loves books. She decided that will be her main form of entertainment,“ Clayton said.
Among the comforts of their truck with a trailer, Clayton and Teresa integrated a hot tub into their Nomad Monster’s bathroom.
The bottom of the bathroom has a hot tub, providing a luxurious moment of relaxation.
Given the minimal price difference, Clayton explained that a jetted tub was a logical choice.
Even though the dining area might be moderately large, Clayton highlighted its functionality.
He shared an experience where he invited guests for tea, and three people comfortably sat at the dining table.
Despite the challenges encountered in renovating their DIY mobile home, the inaugural journey of the Balabanovs in their „Nomad Monster“ was eventful.
The broken radiator pipe of the Nomad Monster was fixed with duct tape.
Issues like leaking roofs, problems with the solar battery, and blown fuses presented obstacles.
An incident where the upper radiator pipe burst in Nebraska was recorded on video in October and uploaded to YouTube.
Clayton called it their journey where „everything breaks.“
However, they are determined to face adversity, learn from what didn’t work, and perfect what works in their DIY mobile home renovation as they travel across Canada.
Reflecting on the considerable time dedicated to building the truck, Clayton admitted he could have approached the situation differently.
He acknowledged that the five years spent on the project could have been spent on the road if he had chosen a smaller and less complex option.
Nevertheless, he said he appreciated it.
Clayton advises those considering a similar project to start small and expand gradually.
He believes that building a mobile home from a truck with a trailer requires extraordinary skills and significant resources, involving a considerable time commitment.
Despite the challenges encountered in renovating their DIY mobile home, the couple is excited to explore North America in their „Nomad Monster“ camper.
After selling their house and taxi business, they are committed to making the mobile home their permanent residence in the foreseeable future.
Clayton and Teresa’s retirement plans include adopting the nomadic lifestyle, living in the camper, traveling through the United States and Canada, and exploring scenic locations with their motorcycle.
„You only live once,“ Clayton said. „It’s guaranteed we will die, so let’s make the most of life between now and then.
That’s what we do.“