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Heavnlivn

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Both wife and I are retired from the Federal Aviation Adm good jobs good pay, good retirement. Our plan was to travel, see the USA and stay out of cold weather. We never considered working again. We have worked at Disneyworld during our winter stay. I lasted 4 seasons 2 or 3 days a week the wife still works there a couple of days a week. It is low pay and poor working conditions but it provides some discretionary funds for summer travel and gives one something to do. I enjoyed the people and the park but not the organization.

 

We found that there are a lot of jobs out there for Rv'ers.

Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky

SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter.

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I kept my "red card" qualifications when I retired. I do make a point of taking a fire assignment fairly early in the season to make sure that I keep my incident qualifications current. After three years without being on an incident your qualifications are taken away from you and as a retiree they are almost impossible to get back at that point. Fire seasons in the Wenatchee area generally start at the end of July and finish at the end of September most years.

 

This past year I did get an assignment in September, but had to turn down three assignments as we were in the Yukon and Alaska.

 

We also have a vacation home that we rent. The busy time of year for that is Thanksgiving through New Years.

 

That pretty much means being around Wenatchee in August and September for fire season and then mid-November through mid-January for rental season.

 

So right now I am watching it snow and the temperatures in the teens!! I am looking for a weather window so I can drive to Arizona starting Thursday morning.

 

As others have said, the money is real helpful. It does put a crimp in the year when there are months when you have to be in Wenatchee. I am trying to get a schedule so that we travel more during the shoulder seasons, but with hunting and fishing times there are just not enough months in the year!!

 

Thank God, I am not working anymore!!

Vladimr Steblina

Retired Forester...exploring the public lands.

usbackroads.blogspot.com

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Contract programming. I used to do web design as well but programming side took off leaving little time for that. We also volunteer as camp hosts and visitor center interpreters. Money is always helpful but the hosting gig provides us with the much more desired interaction with people.

Berkshire XL 40QL

Camphosting and touring


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  • 3 weeks later...

SO is this with Southern Cross in Ga..there is a guy that post here at times pepthedog who was a traveler doing gas line inspections around the country. He did a post on his blogg http://airstreamtalesandtrails.blogspot.com/2013/07/walkin-line.html

telling this story.

 

thanks

 

 

 

For the last 18 months, we have 'Work Camped' - but not in the traditional sense of receiving a "free" campsite as all / part of our compensation. Instead, we travel the country inspecting Natural Gas Pipelines as contractors - assisting Natural gas Companies with meeting their Federal / State mandated inspection deadlines. As a result of our employee arrangement, we receive a per diem (to cover campground costs), Mileage Pay One (for our motor-home as we travel the country), Mileage Pay Two (for use of our vehicle during daily travel within our destination area) and Internet Pay (to ensure a reliable connection via mobile networks) - in addition to an hourly wage. Since we function as full-time employees, our position includes Health Insurance and 401K (However, we choose not to contribute to the 401K). Over the last 14 months, we have ONLY spent that which we have earned - allowing our 'retirement income' to remain untouched (as it grows). We have visited 25 states in this time - often staying at Moose Lodges or Elks Lodges (with full hookups), rather than campgrounds or RV Parks, in an effort to reduce costs. We work 40 hours each week delineated any way we choose (five "eights", four "tens" or 40 hours in three days - the choice is ours). While, our arrangement might not suite everyone, for us, it provides a more than livable wage supporting a very active lifestyle.

 

Many similar opportunities to ours exist. One simply needs to think 'outside the box' when searching for these things.

2005 Airstream Classic 31D , pulled with a 2003 F-250 7.3L, CrewCab with a Propride hitch for stability.

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SO is this with Southern Cross in Ga.

 

Yes. It is Southern Cross. No. I'm not PepeTheDog, but that guy is still with the company - and he's our boss. As it turns out, Southern Cross is experiencing tremendous growth and needs 90+ people for a new project. If interested, let us know.

 

Todd

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  • 2 weeks later...

hey todd,'

 

I was emailing with Kevin for a while before he got the "new position" when he posted on airfourms.com workkamper the opportunity he was doing and was letting the community know about. At the time they, Southern Cross, was looking for folks to join the "traveler" program like what he was doing at the time..

 

Our current plan is to go full time in some 3ish yrs, one kid in college to graduate in 3 yrs. I try to stay in contact with Kevin to say hello and see how he and rest of crew is doing now in atlanta.. He mentioned a lot of traveling, not in airstream, for work and the new stuff they are getting into with elec meters and such.. Sounds like a lot to do going forward.

 

So do you have any news on project and such with the company.. also has the pay, weekly per Diem, and travel rates changed?

 

what are current rates for this ?

 

thanks

carl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes. It is Southern Cross. No. I'm not PepeTheDog, but that guy is still with the company - and he's our boss. As it turns out, Southern Cross is experiencing tremendous growth and needs 90+ people for a new project. If interested, let us know.

 

Todd

2005 Airstream Classic 31D , pulled with a 2003 F-250 7.3L, CrewCab with a Propride hitch for stability.

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So do you have any news on project and such with the company.. also has the pay, weekly per Diem, and travel rates changed?

 

Current Rates:

 

$200 weekly 'per Diem' (campground fees)

79 cents a mile for moving your RV (this changes yearly at 25 cents above the IRS Vehicle deduction)

54 cents a mile for daily driving (exactly as the IRS Guidelines dictate - also changes yearly)

$11.00 per hour starting wage

 

Supposedly, negotiations are in place to increase the 'per Diem' rate, but we will see.

 

Looking forward to seeing you come aboard in three years!

 

Todd

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thanks Todd...

 

from your experience are most jobs 40 hrs a week and is there any over time to be had?

 

seem like the hr rate is higher I remember seeing or hearing $10.50 so that is good.

 

250 for per Diem wouild be nice.. :)

2005 Airstream Classic 31D , pulled with a 2003 F-250 7.3L, CrewCab with a Propride hitch for stability.

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  • 2 months later...

Like Kirk, we took an early retirement {so to speak) when we sold our specialized trucking business the beginning of 2015. We already had our 5er and the HDT, so we were all set to begin our travels as fulltime RVers workkamping along the way. But we quickly learned that 95% of the workkamping positions out there for us (the inexperienced ones getting into the workforce) were in no way going to help sustain us financially, even though we both draw meager government retirements. No sooner had we disposed of the stick and bricks, a wonderful job offer right in the city where our house was came my wife's way. One that a person would be an absolute fool to turn down.

OK, 1-great job for the wife, no permanent house in the area, great fulltime RV to live in at a resort/campground. That will will work! So that's exactly what we did. I found a part time job doing data entry for the same company my wife was working for that I could do at home in the RV. GREAT! Now we're better set financially, and if need be, I could take the data entry job with me anywhere we chose to move. Then it came, the offer for my current fulltime job with the state managing one of their state trailheads and campground. April of 2015 is when it came and I I would have been a fool to turn down simply because we originally planned to travel as fulltime RVers. Once excepting that job, the deal was pretty much sealed that we had just made ourselves "Stationary RVers".

So what do we do for the state and do we love it? I'm gonna answer the second part first by saying, "Heck yes, couldn't be much happier!" Like any job, this too has its few inherent issues, but overall it is the most fun and relaxing one I've ever had in my life! I work four 10-hr days and have 3-consecutive days off and I'm paid for a forty hour work week every week. There is no sweat equity for a campsite plus utilities in this arrangement, even though both are provided at no cost to us. In return, I simply check our guest in/out of their campsites, clean the campsites between guest, guide them to the entrances of our trailheads, and answer any questions they have regarding our property, etc. As far as cleaning restrooms and mowing, that is contracted out, so we simply monitor our restroom and shower house on a regular basis and pick up as needed. Although we have to open the front gate at 7:00am every morning without fail, and close it again at 7:00pm, our work day does not feel like we are working a 9-5 job, as I can work and rest any time of the day that I choose because there is no set time (other than the gate) that something has to be done by in the list of our daily chores.

Edited by Gary Hage

Lead Campground Host at Ross Prairie Trailhead and Campground on the Cross Florida Greenway

Retired business owner

Author

2013 Redwood 36FB Fiver

2001 Volvo Vnl 420 HDT Toter

!958 Harley Davidson Sportster XLH [survivor bike]

Proud dad of Abby the Boston Terrier

100_3094_zpsxdkzvegd.jpg

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  • 6 months later...

We Volunteer at National Parks, state parks, church Camps, etc.  Talk to people, check campsites, give tours, etc.  We have also this year "Work Camped" at an RV Park, working in the office.  "Boy!  What an eye opener."  We get a campsite, electricity, laundry money, and $ 500/month for 25 hours.

As I said it is an eye-opening position.

The rest of the time we just bum around. :D

Traveling America in "God's Grace"

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I retired in 2001 from a strange, but wonderful job teaching theatre sound design, special effects & electronics.  I now spend my time wandering from place to place, taking photographs & keeping a journal of my travels, much in the southwest.  While I love both "jobs", I have to say the current one is the best!

150150.jpg.30f49e1e712c4af11a1e8f523a24f5d1.jpg

Travel photos RV Blogs Journals & Travelogues at:
http://www.lakeshoreimages.com
My Travel Blog - Jon's Journeys

 

 

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In general not much.. We were both retired in 2006 and hit the road. We traveled the country  and landed here in central Florida  in 2010  for the winter months. We  both worked seasonal at WDW Orlando not because we had to but because we thought in would be a fun thing to do. It was for awhile then it wasn't. We no longer do anything except enjoy the warm winters and travel during the summer.

Helen and I are long timers ..08 F-350 Ford,LB,CC,6.4L,4X4, Dually,4:10 diff dragging around a 2013 Montana 3402 Big Sky

SKP 100137. North Ridgeville, Ohio in the summer, sort of and where ever it is warm in the winter.

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Well, I wanted something to do that was different and fun.  We drove to Las Vegas and I enrolled in dealing school in August.  Been working as a blackjack dealer (mostly part-time) at a very local (small) casino since mid-September.  Will do this for a bit until I come up with a new and more entertaining challenge.  One of the dealer at this casino is 85 years young.  He doesn't work on Monday or Thursday once the summer heat is gone.  Why?  It interfere's with his golf game.

2019 Jayco 5th Wheel 28.5RSTS  2017 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2L

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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 5 months later...
On 7/11/2016 at 3:46 PM, ToddandHeather said:

For the last 18 months, we have 'Work Camped' - but not in the traditional sense of receiving a "free" campsite as all / part of our compensation. Instead, we travel the country inspecting Natural Gas Pipelines as contractors - assisting Natural gas Companies with meeting their Federal / State mandated inspection deadlines. As a result of our employee arrangement, we receive a per diem (to cover campground costs), Mileage Pay One (for our motor-home as we travel the country), Mileage Pay Two (for use of our vehicle during daily travel within our destination area) and Internet Pay (to ensure a reliable connection via mobile networks) - in addition to an hourly wage. Since we function as full-time employees, our position includes Health Insurance and 401K (However, we choose not to contribute to the 401K). Over the last 14 months, we have ONLY spent that which we have earned - allowing our 'retirement income' to remain untouched (as it grows). We have visited 25 states in this time - often staying at Moose Lodges or Elks Lodges (with full hookups), rather than campgrounds or RV Parks, in an effort to reduce costs. We work 40 hours each week delineated any way we choose (five "eights", four "tens" or 40 hours in three days - the choice is ours). While, our arrangement might not suite everyone, for us, it provides a more than livable wage supporting a very active lifestyle.

 

Many similar opportunities to ours exist. One simply needs to think 'outside the box' when searching for these things.

How does one get into this line of work?

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5 hours ago, weredoingit said:

How does one get into this line of work?

Contact Southern Cross Utilities                  (909)803-4410                          info@southerncrossutilities.com

 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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13 hours ago, weredoingit said:

How does one get into this line of work?

As Kirk Wood suggested, contact Southern Cross Corporation directly. The best time of the year is January through March as things scale up each Spring and slow down a bit every winter. Good Luck to you! IF you have questions, feel free to post them, and I'll do my best to answer.

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  • 4 months later...
  • 3 months later...
On 2/27/2019 at 12:51 AM, RacingVenture said:

I'm trying to research in basic internet marketing, IT, and in my plans to run the team or to organize the agency, probably on a remote basis, I think it will grant me relatively freedon in terms of physical place

I know you posted this awhile back but was curious how your research turned out?

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I have not made the leap to the RV lifestyle yet, in part because I have to find some viable income streams to supplement any work camp opportunities.  Anyhow, I have found some websites that have legit online jobs in all types of categories that include everything from Tech, Legal, Administrative, HR and then I found a couple of other websites that might be lower level but still better than minimum wage.  Just sharing so others who may be interested can check them out.  Some jobs are freelance, others are FT with benefits but ALL of them are online.

Hopefully this helps a few people.

https://www.toptal.com/

https://www.workingnomads.co/jobs

https://www.fancyhands.com/dashboard/#/ 

https://www.zirtual.com/jobs

https://join.itutorgroup.com/#/

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  • 2 weeks later...
7 hours ago, evanssophiya said:

Hi!

I'm new on this forum! Decided to start with introduing

I'm a writer. Not popular yet) But it's enough for the present go to travel for all summer with my child and husband. We always look forward to summer and the time when we become RVmens😀

You're a writer?  Really?

Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie.  Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die.  Albert King

 

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7 hours ago, evanssophiya said:

I'm new on this forum! Decided to start with introduing

Welcome to the Escapee forums! Feel free to join into any of our discussion areas. There are several participants in the forums who write. I do a little bit of it myself but only as a sideline and mostly for Escapees. 

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure

            images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqFswi_bvvojaMvanTWAI

 

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