Pieere:

Sounds like you're about as tuckered out as my poor husband from Amazon. He's been at the Fernley, NV one since October. Not only is the work taxing (and he's a carpenter by trade and working construction is NOT easy), but so is the management. He's been frustrated for at least two months now by management and the increased demands (gotta make the numbers). The pay has been decent, but the rumored overtime almost nil and there were even days he was sent home due to lack of work on Amazons part. He will NOT be going back. That said (sigh) you sound like you've got some excellent plans for enjoying the next many months. Can't wait to see your photography from Champlain Valley (what a cool trip you have planned) so post them here if you can.

Relax, enjoy.

We're on to maybe gate guard back in TX, following surgery for me (fun). Take care.

-- Edited by GiniaJ on Saturday 17th of December 2011 10:34:55 AM

-- Edited by GiniaJ on Saturday 17th of December 2011 10:35:38 AM

Working as a Gate Guard in South Texas as I write this, been at the gate now for 7 weeks. We will be working until 1st of February or so and then do some tourist stuff. We have a more "conventional" work camping gig at the KOA in Terre Haute Indiana starting in April and going through September. This is close to our grand kids and we are looking forward to that!

Not sure what next winter will bring, gate guarding is not too bad, the $$ are decent but there are no "days off". The gate has to be manned 24/7 so one works nights while the other works days. I guess I always pictured us work camping in a park somewhere, not in the middle of nowhere Texas but like I said the money is decent and the work is not difficult.

Phil

Look at that!  Three gate guarders in a row.  We've been 12 miles west of Cotulla since early November and will be here until March 31st.  Then off to our first festival in AZ and then I think we are going to try to make the rally in Kerrville before the next festival.  

We still have at least 7 years to go until SS (if it's still there), so we find opportunities that pay well and we enjoy.  I don't think either one of us would like the Amazon gig.   So far we are planning on being back in TX for gate guarding next Winter, but I guess we should reserve our opinion until we've actually been doing it for more than 6 weeks! 

Enjoy your trip Pieere.  Sounds wonderful!

 

Doris

Connie and I will be not workamping much . . .although if we get bored we might do some volunteering or take a gig in an area we want to spend awhile in. She's a med tech by training and might take on some part time hospital lab work when/if we're in one location for the winter just to keep her hand and because she likes that stuff. I've been the computer geek for the past 20 years or so . . .can't decide if I want to do some consulting on the road or not . . .mostly I don't want to spend hours per day marketing and hunting clients when I'm supposed to be retired and loving life.

You never know though . . .maybe I'll get tired of hiking, kayaking, and bike riding.

Ckerr wrote:

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We're not of an age (or income level) where retirement is an option yet, so workamping is a must for us. We met at Amazon in Coffeyville last season and are now trying to nail down our next assignment.

Right now getting multiple offers so it is hard to pin something down. Just trying to find the right fit/location/money. It seems to us that the interview/hiring process for workamping assignments tends to be a bit loose... or maybe it's just us. At any rate it is an adjustment...

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 I know what you mean about the retirement Option. I am single and it makes it tougher to locate employ, right now it is important for me to be selective on wages, then location, fuel and Maint. costs, put a dent in how far to travel between jobs. Not quite sure your meaning about the interview/hiring and loose?       Be careful of Legacy Resorts; they own 14 in the US. Some under different Names, Go to the bottom of the page, to the fine print. Do research and also make sure when interviewed, You ask the Questions! Been there, done that; would have to be very desperate to go back.

Our situation is different than most for now, as we still operate a 9 month local business (school related),but we live full/time in our rig. Since its continuation is based on contract renewal each year (very competitive), we can never be sure. Besides, that keeps us static  longer than we want to be, but at least we have summer. As we will both be 65 this year and our full retirement age is 66, we need to work at least another year. Our other business which can be operated from the road, (I am a forensic consultant), is subject to wide fluctuation in volume as it takes in a very specialized area. It is sometimes good,as in 2011, but I can also go some time with nothing new. If the school business doesn't renew, we'll sell the equipment and hit the road this June, but in any event, need to keep active,as I know it is essential to well-being.(not to mention the $'s).

Since we are static in a very active RV park, I've spoken to lots of folks who seem to have no problem finding work other than Amazon, or with abusive employers. Gate-guarding, as long as you understand what it is seems like it's worth a try. I've seen other than oil related gigs for security.Doing seasonal retail has worked for some. Workcamper News seems to be the best source,forums like this one are of course invaluable, as actual experiences can be shared. Don't forget  to ask at places you stay. This summer, on the way back from the east coast, we mentioned that we plan to workcamp,and were offered on the spot employment, with decent pay,for good folks (we observed them for the week we stayed there). Unfortunately we had commitments to keep back here. If I have to do three or four things to live the way I want to, I'm up for that. Just keep a positive attitude.  Richard

Worked at Amazon in KY this past winter. Won't do that again. The hours are just too long for old, retired people. We seem to have no trouble finding work even tho it doesn't pay as well as Amazon.

Judy

Pierre, been trying to place you. We worked in rides at A-land and at Amazon, I was in the crissplant and my DH was in slamming. We worked nights and stayed at Heartland. We have a contractor postion with the Corps of Engineers this summer at Blackhawk Park near Desota, WI right on the Mississippi river. We will be doing fee collecting at the gate and will be inside a building. Won't be out in the weather like at Aland and only have to work 4 days per week.

Hope everything works out for you.

Judy and Bob

Pierre,

Your post brought back some memories. We used to tent camp at Yogi when attending a motorcycle rally at Cave City back in the 80's. We also used to camp at Beach Bend Park in Bowling Green (I assume this is the same place you are working?) when I was growing up (almost 50 years ago, YIKES). Camping was 10 cents per night and they had racing on Saturday nights at a little track there as well as the small amusement park. Fun times for sure!

We will be starting our first summer work camping gig at the KOA in Terre Haute Indiana right off I-70. It's not Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon but it is close to family and will "get our feet wet" in regards to work camping.

Phil

SK and Hutch: Vice-Versa; if you are near Bowling Green KY, I will be there until the end of Sept. Have fun with your new Opportunity! Pieere

We actually have a plan for the next several months... We're off to Branson, MO the end of this week where we will be managing a campground that needs some work. Then we'll head up to North Dakota to work at a campground for the summer. It's about 80 miles from where I grew up so it will be nice to spend some time there. Today we just signed on to work the sugar beet harvest in October also in North Dakota. After that we think we will head back down to Coffeyville, KS and work at Amazon for the holiday season.

Next mission is to line up something that pays someplace warm starting in January!

Last year, I turned down an opportunity to work camp with Amazon. I am very grateful that I found a more rewarding job instead.

I was not happy with all of the hoops that Amazon wanted me to jump thru. I appreciate normal procedures to insure that they don't hire serial killers, but about half way thru the process I knew that they had gone absurdly overboard. Probably as a result of one of their stuffed shirt, lawyers who couldn't identify an RV if his life depended on it.

And, when I researched the opportunity, I found some unfavorable comments from work campers - very few of which were pay related. Seems that Amazon compensates well, but one needs to be somewhat mindless and surrender to management's expectations. 

If one isn't in need of the money to maintain survivabilty, then work camping should be "somewhat" a fun experience. Give it one's best to the employer, but don't put up with BS.

 

 

No: amazon is not for everyone!  They do have many hoops to jump through! Keeps the honest ones' honest. People have been caught trying to take computers, gadgets, and even a few opening up product and sampling the goodies. Same outcome: terminated. I did what they asked and nothing more, no suggestions, just their puppet on a string. for a better than most paying job and site and utilities; I can deal with 7 weeks of 52 in a year.  

The best is all the fellow workampers that have become friends, even some of the regular workers are happy to have us there. We all have have many diifferent aspects to workamping and I believe it is a good thing. 

    Pieere

 

I would like to thank all of you for the various comments! I'm not trying to defend Amazon or any other employer. I hope not to take so much physically demanding jobs once my retirement income kicks in. Pieere

-- Edited by PIEERE on Sunday 25th of March 2012 08:59:33 AM

Hi yeah I guess  we've been workamping for the last 9  onths here in Hotter than H-ll AZ.  We love our job, here working at the entrance gate and collecting fees.  Right now its hot, " really hot ".  But we have no humidity so its more bearable.  Because we have lived in the area for about 7 years we're pretty used to the weather.  Fall through mid spring is fabulous, temps in the mid 70's during the day and around 40 at night.  Snakes and Scorpions hibernate(?) most of winter.  We have 28 miles of hiking trails, 3 playgrounds, campground has 36 sites with electric being put in now, horse staging area and competivetiv (spg) bike track.

When the Park Manager asked us how long we to commit to I told him sometime in Oct. 2013.  We have since changed hat to mid March 2014.  Beca8ce of the fact that he had no host at the gate in tthe summer he was kind of elated.  We have a great site that is covered (great with the sun beating down all day) WSE, propane, ice, laundry, and a truck/van to drive when on duty.  So anyone interested check out Maricopa White Tanks Park.   Oh BTW, there are 10 other County CG that have hosts.  Hope this heelps

We have been on the road for almost 2 years now and have taken our first workamping position this summer at Adventureland in Iowa. We have considered doing the Amazon thing and might give that a try at some point –but it will not fit into our plans this year.

Last winter we hoped to work for Disney in Florida, but they did not hire any seasonal workers.

Pieere –

We are in rides. It has been interesting; there are things we like and things that we don’t like. It is so much fun to see the kids and adults having a great time and thank you for the ride. On the other side getting cursed at for enforcing the rules does not make one want to come to work. Lots of the people working here are very nice so that has been a positive.We have had a few hot days and understand there are lots more to come – so we will see what we think then.

Overall we are not planning on coming back here next year – it will be time to travel elsewhere.

Good luck with doctors and your health.

BRDof3 wrote:

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Workinrvers wrote:

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Working as a Gate Guard in South Texas as I write this, been at the gate now for 7 weeks. We will be working until 1st of February or so and then do some tourist stuff. We have a more "conventional" work camping gig at the KOA in Terre Haute Indiana starting in April and going through September. This is close to our grand kids and we are looking forward to that!

Not sure what next winter will bring, gate guarding is not too bad, the $$ are decent but there are no "days off". The gate has to be manned 24/7 so one works nights while the other works days. I guess I always pictured us work camping in a park somewhere, not in the middle of nowhere Texas but like I said the money is decent and the work is not difficult.

Phil

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 Phil,

I hope the KOA gig suits you well. I work part-time for a local KOA, mainly because I enjoy the work and love to hang around the campground. As a fellow "outside guy" here's a toast to a good summer for you.

 

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 Thanks and "cheers" to you as well. We are enjoying our jobs the majority of the time, of course every now and then it's not all peaches and cream but thankfully those time are few and far between.

I have been cooking, parking, mowing, wrangled donkeys, helped re-tile floors, poured concrete, fixed a leaky pool pump and been an all around "gofer"   . I get to drive a golf cart as well as a fork lift, Gator, Bobcat and even give train rides to the kiddies occasionaly. Needless to say we are learning a lot and having fun at the same time. No complaints here  

 

Hi Dreamers - We have been full timing for 12 years and I still have a year to go before SS. So - it can be done. It is the BEST way to live. Expenses are low, so you don't need as much cash as you think as long as you get rid of that anchor of a house and mortgage and extra vehicles, etc, etc, etc...

So here is my two bits. Please think twice before you volunteer for a space. First there are so many of us full timers who really need the cash to keep on the road and if a campground or RV park thinks they can get someone for free...then why hire us? Also, do the math. For the same money, you could be getting paid and pay for your space and have money in your pocket too. The volunteers are given the same tasks as those who get paid. I'm not looking to argue, I'm just asking people to take a long hard look at "volunteering" and how it effects the rest of us. (I also believe in service to our country, so I am only talking about private businesses - not our local, state and national parks)

I spent 4 years in a park rebuilding the pool, new bath houses , redoing underground waste & freshwater and pampering campers as they come and go for lot and utilities........

Because I agreed to the first season and wanted to for the next 3.......So its a personal choice in how one goes about fulltiming....Im not rich , I live day to day. But if you feel cheated because someone takes a job for Enjoyment and not taking money or a small stipend your doing something wrong.....

Not to mention a frame of mind like that would cut back on work opertunities and your budget in general!!!

Hi Ron,

Just wondering how you enjoyed the Moab gig. I would love to spend a stretch of time in that area at some point. By June things must have been getting warm? Did you get to spend time at Arches et al? If so, how crowded was it? Thanks. Enjoy your summer.