Since we moved into the MH fulltime October 1 Joan and I have been actively researching workamping opportunities. We submitted applications with several workamping organizations and individual campgrounds with job openings throughout most of the western states. Last week we received two emails asking if we would be interested in camp hosting positions; one just outside Yosemite National Park and the other near Mt Hood. We contacted the operations managers of both opportunities to discuss specifics. Both positions sounded great and we felt comfortable accepting either opportunity. We talked about it, slept on it and finally decided on Location, Location, Location. I called the operations manager in Oregon and we have accepted the position just outside Mt Hood National Park. YAHOO! Our first workamping job! We are really excited! And scared!
We have a call scheduled next week to discuss the details; when, what, etc. Until then we are trying to keep from over-reacting. We think we know what we're getting into but you just never know until you go out and do it. The normal 9-5 may not be everyone's perfect job, but it does have its merits: regular paychecks, benefits, and usually a routine you can count on. Workamping will be a whole new ballgame for both of us. We've always lived in Florida (so where do we pick for our first opportunity? About as far away and different from Florida as you can get in the continental US!). We have a good friend in Washington, but both of our families are spread across the southeast. Look out Skype, here we come!
We're thinking that we'll need to wrap up our current jobs early to mid March in order to be in Oregon by the 1st or 2nd week in April to start orientation. We don't want to rush to Oregon in 'Vacation Mode' traveling 400-500 miles a day. It's approximately 3300 miles from here to there so if we keep it at 150-250 miles a day, that will still take 2-3 weeks of travel if we don't stop to visit or see the sights along the way. Our original thoughts about a workamping lifestyle were driven by a desire to slow down and experience new things. We might as well start off on the right foot by taking our time.
RV-Dreams was probably one of the first websites where we really started to learn about fulltiming and workamping. We became avid readers and learned so much about the lifestyle. Attending the 2011 Spring Rally, the information shared during the seminars and all of the conversations we held with other attendees helped to reaffirm that we could do it. Thanks to all the RV-Dreamers and to Howard and Linda for helping us get to where we are now.
Location, location, location.....that's something we expect to change regularly from now on. There are a lot of locations that we want to see and explore. And RV-Dreaming will allow us to do just that!
Bill Adams said
10:08 AM Dec 1, 2011
Congratulations and keep us all up to date. I would suggest that you plan out a trip from FL to OR with the idea of hitting some major goals and not just a daily mileage goal. Have you always wanted to see the Grand Canyon? Yellowstone? Crater Lake? Is there a friend for family you would like to visit along the way? Figure out what your major objectives for the trip are, how long you think you would like to visit and then see how much additional time you have or how much more you need. This might mean driving 300 miles one or 2 days in order to have additional staying time at one of your goals. It would be terrible to get to Yellowstone knowing you only had one day to explore. Also remember that when you say you are going to leave point A and stay for 2 days at point B, that's really only one full day at your destination to play. A 2 night stay in a campground includes the night you arrive. I made this mistake on my first trip around the US and really cut myself short at many locations. Luckily, I did not have a time limit or a destination so we were able to make adjustments. This will not be an option for you once you have a drop dead arrival date. Have fun, there's so much to see and do between where you are and where you are going that you should have a wonderful time!
bjoyce said
10:36 AM Dec 1, 2011
Congratulations, also. We have made the Florida to Oregon trip many times in spring and the weather can affect the route. Normally you can choose to parallel or take I-10, I-20 or I-40, but spring storms can keep you on I-10 into West Texas and sometimes all the way to California. Campgrounds are not a problem these routes in spring once you get away from snowbird country, so you don't need reservations. Be flexible and you will be fine. I agree with Bill Adams, there are many places to see on the way. Cajun country, San Antonio, Arches National Park come to mind but once you realize how much there is to see you will build your own list. We will leave Florida about the end of March and are due to Eugene, Oregon about the start of May.
Edit: I meant to post our travels from our journal these are links to the first journal entries of our trips.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Thursday 1st of December 2011 10:42:40 AM
Waggin Tails said
08:33 PM Dec 1, 2011
Joan and Steve, Congrats on securing that all important 1st workamp gig. The fun is about to begin. Hope you have a great journey. As others have already suggested, plan it well. We have less than 40 days to get our RV organized with our stuff before we head out on our maiden workamp journey. Currently living in the RV in a park and are enjoying it immensely.
PIEERE said
07:20 AM Dec 2, 2011
Congratualtions! Yes, and visit as many places you can work inti the journey. I have been a rver since 1980, and started the workamper gig since 1994. Seen many places; but did it spontaneously; and missed many. However if you need this employment; make sure you get a written contract of your duties, pay and extras, before you leave. Nothing is binding; with a contract it feels a bit more secured. Not trying to burst you balloon; but I traveled 1500 mile for a workamping job, called the day before I left and was told everything was a go. When I arrived, the managers had me report to the Owner; who said his son had changed his mind about going off to college, so the positiion was filled. Found out later he had done this many times. Lady luck was on my side; and called another that I had contacted and someone had cancelled. I had to accept less money, and was offered more perks. The owner treated everyone well. I learned form then on to always have a backup plan. Pieere
Team Murc said
09:42 AM Dec 2, 2011
Joan + Steve,
Wow Congrats on the big news and your new adventure !
GiniaJ said
02:50 AM Dec 4, 2011
Oh, you will have so much fun and you can't beat Oregon for beauty, I hear. We plan to make it our choice of "location" soon.
You've gotten a lot of good advice here from people that know of which they speak. Take your time, see the sites along the way.
Get that contract if you can, also. Our first job this past summer (true work camping job) was in CO and we not only had a contract (of sorts) but had to do a background check, etc. It was a bit confusing as to when our position would end though and although we ended up staying to the end, we had THOUGHT it was a given and found it was not. We know better this next time as it did add some stress towards the last month.
Once you have that first job under your belt, you feel invincible. You also are more marketable, I've discovered. And there is some relief that you made it through that first job and any and all issues that it entailed (and there WILL be issues...it's impossible to avoid them when you are dealing with humankind) and you are official "work campers" now.
Have a wonderful, wonderful time. Keep us apprised. From one Newbie Couple to a Newbie Couple to Be.....Go for it and have a blast!
Since we moved into the MH fulltime October 1 Joan and I have been actively researching workamping opportunities. We submitted applications with several workamping organizations and individual campgrounds with job openings throughout most of the western states. Last week we received two emails asking if we would be interested in camp hosting positions; one just outside Yosemite National Park and the other near Mt Hood. We contacted the operations managers of both opportunities to discuss specifics. Both positions sounded great and we felt comfortable accepting either opportunity. We talked about it, slept on it and finally decided on Location, Location, Location. I called the operations manager in Oregon and we have accepted the position just outside Mt Hood National Park. YAHOO! Our first workamping job! We are really excited! And scared!
We have a call scheduled next week to discuss the details; when, what, etc. Until then we are trying to keep from over-reacting. We think we know what we're getting into but you just never know until you go out and do it. The normal 9-5 may not be everyone's perfect job, but it does have its merits: regular paychecks, benefits, and usually a routine you can count on. Workamping will be a whole new ballgame for both of us. We've always lived in Florida (so where do we pick for our first opportunity? About as far away and different from Florida as you can get in the continental US!). We have a good friend in Washington, but both of our families are spread across the southeast. Look out Skype, here we come!
We're thinking that we'll need to wrap up our current jobs early to mid March in order to be in Oregon by the 1st or 2nd week in April to start orientation. We don't want to rush to Oregon in 'Vacation Mode' traveling 400-500 miles a day. It's approximately 3300 miles from here to there so if we keep it at 150-250 miles a day, that will still take 2-3 weeks of travel if we don't stop to visit or see the sights along the way. Our original thoughts about a workamping lifestyle were driven by a desire to slow down and experience new things. We might as well start off on the right foot by taking our time.
RV-Dreams was probably one of the first websites where we really started to learn about fulltiming and workamping. We became avid readers and learned so much about the lifestyle. Attending the 2011 Spring Rally, the information shared during the seminars and all of the conversations we held with other attendees helped to reaffirm that we could do it. Thanks to all the RV-Dreamers and to Howard and Linda for helping us get to where we are now.
Location, location, location.....that's something we expect to change regularly from now on. There are a lot of locations that we want to see and explore. And RV-Dreaming will allow us to do just that!
Have fun, there's so much to see and do between where you are and where you are going that you should have a wonderful time!
Congratulations, also.
We have made the Florida to Oregon trip many times in spring and the weather can affect the route. Normally you can choose to parallel or take I-10, I-20 or I-40, but spring storms can keep you on I-10 into West Texas and sometimes all the way to California. Campgrounds are not a problem these routes in spring once you get away from snowbird country, so you don't need reservations. Be flexible and you will be fine. I agree with Bill Adams, there are many places to see on the way. Cajun country, San Antonio, Arches National Park come to mind but once you realize how much there is to see you will build your own list. We will leave Florida about the end of March and are due to Eugene, Oregon about the start of May.
Edit: I meant to post our travels from our journal these are links to the first journal entries of our trips.
2006: http://www.sacnoth.com/2006/Summerdale/Summerdale.htm starting in Summerdale, Alabama and follow into Central California.
2008: http://www.sacnoth.com/2008/NorthCarolina/NorthCarolina.htm from North Carolina to Eugene, OR with lots of zigzagging to avoid severe weather.
2010: http://www.sacnoth.com/2010/FloridaPanhandle/FloridaPanhandle.htm from the Florida panhandle to Oregon.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Thursday 1st of December 2011 10:42:40 AM
Congrats on securing that all important 1st workamp gig. The fun is about to begin. Hope you have a great journey. As others have already suggested, plan it well.
We have less than 40 days to get our RV organized with our stuff before we head out on our maiden workamp journey. Currently living in the RV in a park and are enjoying it immensely.
Joan + Steve,
!
Wow Congrats on the big news and your new adventure
Oh, you will have so much fun and you can't beat Oregon for beauty, I hear. We plan to make it our choice of "location" soon.
You've gotten a lot of good advice here from people that know of which they speak. Take your time, see the sites along the way.
Get that contract if you can, also. Our first job this past summer (true work camping job) was in CO and we not only had a contract (of sorts) but had to do a background check, etc. It was a bit confusing as to when our position would end though and although we ended up staying to the end, we had THOUGHT it was a given and found it was not. We know better this next time as it did add some stress towards the last month.
Once you have that first job under your belt, you feel invincible. You also are more marketable, I've discovered. And there is some relief that you made it through that first job and any and all issues that it entailed (and there WILL be issues...it's impossible to avoid them when you are dealing with humankind) and you are official "work campers" now.
Have a wonderful, wonderful time. Keep us apprised. From one Newbie Couple to a Newbie Couple to Be.....Go for it and have a blast!