As I was lying in bed last night I was thinking about how much fun we've had workamping at this small private RV park. We've met and laughed with two ladies in a big class A who have decided to downsize, so they held a come and get it free open house last weekend. We understand great things were given away, including a small wet/dry shop vac, Eddie Bower jacket and a very expensive outdoor mat among many other things. We had a Mississippi River barge captain come thru with his Honda Gold Wing towing the smallest popup camper I we'd ever seen which was so cool. We've had a lot of Swiss families with exceptionally well behaved children. We get a ton of bikers from all over the country and all over the world riding from the Canadian to the Mexican borders Who tent camp here. We've seen rigs we never knew existed and 10 of us toured the tiny 1-hour-owned casita type mini camper. We get first time RV-ers and share their excitement. We get an occasional visit from RV-Dreamers which we really enjoy.
The great majority of RVers are wonderful people, we get an occasional one who takes arm loads of books from our exchange library without donating any or the ones who don't clean up after their dogs but they are in the tiny minority.
Something I was concerned about that I asked Linda about at the 2012 Fall Rally was if the owners of big expensive rigs would want to socialize with us travel trailers or fivers. Linda enthusiastically replied that we're all sharing the dream and that's what we have in common. We're young, we're old, we're active and disabled, we're solos and couples and families, we're social and loners, we're gay and we're not, we're English speaking or not, we're black or white or Asian or Native American or a combination, we're in large in fabulous motorhomes or tiny pop ups and everything in between.
A very funny (to me) story I heard from some campers who had stopped at a nudist RV park with their dog. They were walking their large dog who had to sniff each person she met in a very delicate place! The visuals are hilarious.
Sherry
PNV said
08:35 PM Aug 23, 2013
That's funny! Now I have the perfect excuse for not going to a nudist RV park. Thank you for your post.
Dog Folks said
03:59 PM Aug 24, 2013
Here are some of our favorites:
1. Riding around the park in the morning. Enjoying the cool air and shade.
2. Greeting campers, and helping the ones that ask.
3. Smelling everyone cooking breakfast over the open fire.
4. Later, the smell of campfires on a cool evening.
5. Talking with campers and hearing their stories.
6. Hearing the laughter of children as they play.
7. Just watching everyone enjoy their hobby of camping.
8. Sharing the excitement of a child catching his/her first fish.
9. Knowing that we have found just the right hosting “job” for us.
10. Flexible hours of activity and sleeping well after a busy day.
If I had known that retirement was going to be this much fun, I would have done it when I was young!
GENECOP said
05:20 PM Aug 24, 2013
Great post thanks for it......
WestWardHo said
04:31 PM Aug 25, 2013
Dog Folks, love your last line!!!
Sherry
laears said
05:18 PM Aug 25, 2013
Thanks for this post, the motor home is bought the plan is made, but the work of selling everything is still ahead and donating. The exit date is Spring 2014 but where to start...Your post gives me a reason to get start, can't wait to try this new life style!!
Life is but at Dream!
Loretta said
06:29 PM Aug 25, 2013
We got our job purely by accident. We were unable to find a park while in CO and I knew that we were to meet other "Dreamers" in SD. I wanted to make sure we had a place before we got there. I called one of the girls that was working at this park to ask if there was a space for us for a month. I didn't realize that the Sturgis Rally was taking place in August. She said that the park was filled and then called back and asked if we would consider workamping since the park was down two couples. We were intrigued at the idea never having done this before. We accepted and could not be happier. We have met the nicest people and the owner is super nice and generous. We enjoy meeting people and seeing where they are from and where they are headed, giving them ideas of what to see and do. Like Sherry we have seen a myriad of motorhomes and small trailers. We even had a couple who build their own Teardrop. There is so much to see and do in this area that you can never be bored. We met other "Dreamers" at the park and had a nice pot luck. It is wonderful when you can put a face to a name of someone in your 'family'. We enjoyed this job so much that we signed ourselves up for a winter job in Benson AZ. We are looking forward to meeting others.
Yes, the smell of breakfast cooking in the outdoors certainly is a great way to begin your day.
cherylbrv said
11:08 PM Aug 26, 2013
How much money is it possible to earn workamping?
WestWardHo said
12:17 AM Aug 27, 2013
Cheryl, there are a multitude of answers to that question that I'll leave to the more experienced and knowledgeable. Whether one works part-time and what jobs they do, whether you work at a campground or Amazon or well guard.
Sorry, can't be of much help.
Sherry
Jack Mayer said
07:37 PM Aug 27, 2013
The typical workamping job in a commercial campground is going to pay between state minimum wage - $10 (on the very high side). If you have specialized skills that are in demand you may be in the 8-$14 range but that is RARE. VERY RARE.
You may have to "give" 15-20 hours for your site and amenity package. Hours given will depend on the site value during the season you are there.
Personally, we only work jobs that do not require hours for the site (all hours paid).
Most workamping jobs are on the low side of the hourly range. Especially the first year. But many places give bonuses based on completing your contract, since the biggest issue with workampers from the campground perspective is people "leaving early". Bonus's will vary but are usually based on your hours worked: for example, $0.50 for each hour worked is one I have seen before.
So you can figure what you would make based on how many hours you are willing to work.
Believe me - it is not a career move.
cherylbrv said
10:42 PM Aug 27, 2013
Thanks for the words of advice. I'm figuring an average monthly budget of about $3-3500, predominantly insurance (health and vehicles). We're too young for SS, but DH can start taking his pension (not from 401K; that's a few years away as well). So clearly we will need to keep our jobs which we can hopefully continue to do remotely. Workamping is not a career move at all, at least not until we can fully retire or win the lottery!!!
scrappy said
03:31 AM Sep 13, 2013
There is a nudist RV park close to here. :giggles:
As I was lying in bed last night I was thinking about how much fun we've had workamping at this small private RV park. We've met and laughed with two ladies in a big class A who have decided to downsize, so they held a come and get it free open house last weekend. We understand great things were given away, including a small wet/dry shop vac, Eddie Bower jacket and a very expensive outdoor mat among many other things. We had a Mississippi River barge captain come thru with his Honda Gold Wing towing the smallest popup camper I we'd ever seen which was so cool. We've had a lot of Swiss families with exceptionally well behaved children. We get a ton of bikers from all over the country and all over the world riding from the Canadian to the Mexican borders Who tent camp here. We've seen rigs we never knew existed and 10 of us toured the tiny 1-hour-owned casita type mini camper. We get first time RV-ers and share their excitement. We get an occasional visit from RV-Dreamers which we really enjoy.
The great majority of RVers are wonderful people, we get an occasional one who takes arm loads of books from our exchange library without donating any or the ones who don't clean up after their dogs but they are in the tiny minority.
Something I was concerned about that I asked Linda about at the 2012 Fall Rally was if the owners of big expensive rigs would want to socialize with us travel trailers or fivers. Linda enthusiastically replied that we're all sharing the dream and that's what we have in common. We're young, we're old, we're active and disabled, we're solos and couples and families, we're social and loners, we're gay and we're not, we're English speaking or not, we're black or white or Asian or Native American or a combination, we're in large in fabulous motorhomes or tiny pop ups and everything in between.
A very funny (to me) story I heard from some campers who had stopped at a nudist RV park with their dog. They were walking their large dog who had to sniff each person she met in a very delicate place! The visuals are hilarious.
Sherry
That's funny!
Now I have the perfect excuse for not going to a nudist RV park.
Thank you for your post.
1. Riding around the park in the morning. Enjoying the cool air and shade.
2. Greeting campers, and helping the ones that ask.
3. Smelling everyone cooking breakfast over the open fire.
4. Later, the smell of campfires on a cool evening.
5. Talking with campers and hearing their stories.
6. Hearing the laughter of children as they play.
7. Just watching everyone enjoy their hobby of camping.
8. Sharing the excitement of a child catching his/her first fish.
9. Knowing that we have found just the right hosting “job” for us.
10. Flexible hours of activity and sleeping well after a busy day.
If I had known that retirement was going to be this much fun, I would have done it when I was young!
Sherry
Thanks for this post, the motor home is bought the plan is made, but the work of selling everything is still ahead and donating. The exit date is Spring 2014 but where to start...Your post gives me a reason to get start, can't wait to try this new life style!!
Life is but at Dream!
We got our job purely by accident. We were unable to find a park while in CO and I knew that we were to meet other "Dreamers" in SD. I wanted to make sure we had a place before we got there. I called one of the girls that was working at this park to ask if there was a space for us for a month. I didn't realize that the Sturgis Rally was taking place in August. She said that the park was filled and then called back and asked if we would consider workamping since the park was down two couples. We were intrigued at the idea never having done this before. We accepted and could not be happier. We have met the nicest people and the owner is super nice and generous. We enjoy meeting people and seeing where they are from and where they are headed, giving them ideas of what to see and do. Like Sherry we have seen a myriad of motorhomes and small trailers. We even had a couple who build their own Teardrop. There is so much to see and do in this area that you can never be bored. We met other "Dreamers" at the park and had a nice pot luck. It is wonderful when you can put a face to a name of someone in your 'family'. We enjoyed this job so much that we signed ourselves up for a winter job in Benson AZ. We are looking forward to meeting others.
Yes, the smell of breakfast cooking in the outdoors certainly is a great way to begin your day.
Sorry, can't be of much help.
Sherry
You may have to "give" 15-20 hours for your site and amenity package. Hours given will depend on the site value during the season you are there.
Personally, we only work jobs that do not require hours for the site (all hours paid).
Most workamping jobs are on the low side of the hourly range. Especially the first year. But many places give bonuses based on completing your contract, since the biggest issue with workampers from the campground perspective is people "leaving early". Bonus's will vary but are usually based on your hours worked: for example, $0.50 for each hour worked is one I have seen before.
So you can figure what you would make based on how many hours you are willing to work.
Believe me - it is not a career move.
There is a nudist RV park close to here. :giggles: