Could they have picked a worse example? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

DorisandDave · RV-Dreams Family Member

Could they have picked a worse example?

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Far too often, journalists have a "slant" on a subject even prior to their research or interviwing their subjects (victims). Having dealt with natiional press within a particular market for 30+ years, it is quite easy to ascertain the true journalist who wish to discover a situation and share it with others as it truly is from those that are on a binge to share their opinion of the same scenario.

Just as in every profession or line of work fifty percent of those we encounter are below average. I would think the author of this piece had their mind made up that workamping was not a good thing and immediately set out to share that opinion.

Just like few books are a great read, the same goes for articles we encounter in the broad spectrum of journalism.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Interesting article. Last week I posted where "workamping" received national attention by Comcast. However, the word "bizarre" was used in reference to workamping. While I don't agree with their assessment that Workamping is Bizarre, it probably is considered out of the main-stream ... but again, not Bizarre. I believe the article was not necessarily bashing the RV lifestyle, but pointing out that many more people are no longer staying in one job their entire career and people in their RV can travel to jobs to find work ... although these seem to be low paying jobs. Also, it notes that due to the bad economy over the last few years, maybe it's more an affordable life-style.

What I was surprised about is the fact that the average workamper's age was 45-54. I was thinking that more retirees were workamping to supplement retirement income but if this statistic is correct, there's many more workamping as a way-of-life. Again, I wouldn't call it Bizarre, but simply a different lifestyle than staying in one neighborhood and establishing roots there.

We have a number of friends who are workamping now and they have told us they enjoy it. However, their "enjoyment" sometimes depends on the amount of money they need to make in Workamping. For example, is it for a free camp site, or for minimum wage for "golf money" or is it critical money to pay your bills.

While not workamping now, I'd love to hear from others on this topic if you agree or disagree with this article and, be specific on what you disagree with or agree with based on your workamping experiences.

-- Edited by Jake62 on Thursday 1st of September 2011 04:56:57 PM

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think it's a sign of the economy. What are the choices when a person loses their job and the bank takes their home? An RV starts looking pretty good when compared to living along the river or under a bridge.

If a person needs an income to survive they need to find a real job. The fact that they happen to sleep in an RV has nothing to do with it. And the people in this article did find jobs, so why was the article so negative? I've read a few articles similar to this one and they all have the same slant. Obviously written by someone who has no clue.

We are in the 45-54 age group, retired, and we do camp host jobs. We trade hours worked for our site and utilities. This allows us to see this great country that I spent 20 years of my life protecting. We chose this lifestyle. It wasn't forced on us. Big difference.

-- Edited by NorCal Dan on Thursday 1st of September 2011 07:42:37 AM

mlguy · RV-Dreams Community Member

Good find on this article. Good comments.

The main woman mentioned in the article is a free-lance writer. If she was in contact with the author of the article for a 6 month period, it was probably initiated by her in order to mention the book she is trying to sell (which he does) and to make money. The slant of the article is bad news which draws people like flies, and includes the topic of the day which is the bad economy. If her comments were actually representative of her living circumstances, it is obvious to me that the workamping life is just not their cup of tea. And, BTW, it is not the only option out there. It is obvious, like you made mention to, that these people do not need this to survive. They are both well educated enough to know this.

IMHO, I think she trumped up the negatives in order to make a more interesting article for the author to write about. The lifestyle was obviously her husband's idea... and he didn't seem too keen on beginning it when we find out that he didn't hook up or drive the rig till they began their maiden voyage. Also, if you visit her website, it seemed like she was living the life of Riley with a house full of books and publishing the odd article or book here and there when it appears that her husband talked her into this "new adventure". Maybe she is looking for book fodder, and this is her attempt to plant seeds for people to be interested in reading it? Hmmm...

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a few comments here (that's all it's worth)--look at the rest of the articles on the web site most are I'm a victim--or we are victims. Second, let them discourage people it's not for everyone--people need to realize it's not all rainbows and lollipops. Besides if they discourage people that leaves more choices for you and me. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it at all. As a matter of fact I think I'm going to take a nap right now.

Flyone

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've been reading forum postings on several RV forums for nearly 10 years. In the past several years I have noticed a change in not quite a majority of the posters. At first most of the requests for information or discussion threads came from RV'ers looking for a different lifestyle. Many seemed to be retired or on the verge and were looking for freedom from the day to day grind and material responsibilities. They were looking for a simpler way of life. Workkamping was viewed by these folks as a way to make some money or reduce travel expense to allow them greater flexibility in their travel and entertainment.

A few years ago, I began to see more and more questions coming from folks who due to the economy were looking for a lifestyle change that is less expensive and would allow them to live their lives without a constant stuggle to keep their financial heads above water. This need may have been due to illness, benefit reductions, job loss or just the aggressive price increases.
To these folks workkamping would mean the difference of being able to survive on the road.

It was a subtle change but recognizable by the questions and how they were asked.

I feel that anyone who chooses the RV lifestyle has made a decision which will improve their life experience tremendously.

Just my opinion.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 1st of September 2011 03:50:33 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Something that I didn't notice in the story (but it was probably there) was anything from those that spoke of there being more flexibility.

By that, I'll use ourselves for an example. We finally got our house sold back in May (after 3 years of trying) and we saw another advantage to being in an RV. Even if it wasn't workkamping, we were looking at the possiblity that Jo's job would be consolidated. We work for a state agency and the state has passed an IT consolidation bill.

Should her job be consolidated and she lose her employment, with an RV we can pack up and move anywhere. From the looks of things, she may be safe for a few years as it will take the state some time to get the consolidation done. (Government isn't efficient.) We will get to wait and see just what happens.

But, we are now flexible enough, should we have to move.

Terry

flickeringtorches · RV-Dreams Community Member

My take on the article is that it is written from the point of view of traditional employees in an S&B housing situation. The article's author specializes in bad news about the job market, so it's no surprise the article has a downer vibe.

I liked that specific numbers were used in the article so that readers who might be considering workamping on the strength of the article's illustration of how it works can judge for themselves if it's economically viable and hopefully just disregard the overall tone of the piece.

Class C Boondocker · RV-Dreams Community Member

I’m one of those folks looking for a lifestyle change. Moving out of the agrarian life style into the gypsies life style, by choice. This choice puts us at odds with the “normal” people. But I’m ok with that.

Our family has always been outside the cultural norm, first by raising our own food (see Bio). And now by boondocking across the country.

It was not a decision made out of desperation as the article suggests. I work in construction as an electrician. I have the choice to work locally, as I have for 15 years now. Or I can work on power plant expansions across the country.

These doom and gloom types are preoccupied with criticizing others. Personally if they ever patted me on the back in one of there articles I would become concerned I made a wrong turn in life.

And one last thought. I personally think it takes a great deal of courage to sell your house and move into a home on wheels. That kind of courage is rare , in our society.

Loretta · RV-Dreams Family Member

Class C: You will find alot of good information here along with great support. Good luck to you and may you enjoy your travels. We are now facing the scarey part of selling our home and being full timers but I know that once we get 'free' and on the road, life could not be better.

flickeringtorches · RV-Dreams Community Member

Class C: I was a full timer up until a decade ago, and from what I've seen online as I prepare to go do it again, everything is easier now than it was back then. Except for the price of fuel, it's a good time to go full time. I'm looking forward to it. I look at the empty suits I used to call coworkers, I look at all these people in society with their miserable phony lives, and I say, to heck with the "normal" culture. It's time to hit the road!

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

A little off topic but why is this topic so wide I have to scroll side to side to read it when none of the other's on the forum are that way?

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is wider because of the lengthy active link to the article in the first post. There is a site called "Tiny Url" that somehow will allow a poster to "shorten" their original link.

Or, at least I think the website is supposed to do that.

Thus:

http://www.alternet.org/economy/152220/%27workampers%27%3A_what_it%27s_like_to_wander_around_the_country_in_an_rv_desperately_looking_for_work?page=1

after using Tiny URL becomes this:

http://tinyurl.com/3jkgvz8

Terry

EDIT: Unbolding some words.

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 14th of September 2011 06:41:55 PM

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Terry.It was driving me nuts not knowing.