Monday, May 21, 2012

5/21/2012 Answering Questions

A reader wrote in a few days ago and asked what would happen if we decided not to work through a whole season. Well, so far that has only happened once. If you remember, our very first workamping job in Fountain, Florida did not turn out that well. That was just a bad situation all the way around. An office manager that only allowed me to collect the mail from the mailbox, run the vacuum and pick up pinecones. Bob on the other hand was expected to make a major renovation to a men’s shower room which included moving water lines, putting in a door to the outside where there wasn’t one, tile work and rebuilding an out of plumb wall. After a few weeks we left that job. We felt bad until we found out we were the 4th couple in a two month span to hit the road. This is why our house has wheels!


This reader also thought our job this summer sounded like a lot of work. We’re not seeing it that way. Yes, it’s more hours than we would like to work but you have to think about where we are. Workamping jobs that are near major attractions like the beach/ocean always command more hours because these positions are sought after. Another change for us will be working separate shifts. Since someone has to be at the docks when all the boats get put in, someone also has to be there when they get pulled out. Ours shifts will be from 7 to 12 in the morning and from 1 to 6 in the afternoon. We’ll alternate shifts so that neither one of us has to work all mornings or all afternoons. If one of us has something to do (a deep sea fishing trip or a girlfriend day) the other will work both shifts. Overall, the job seems pretty easy.


Have we had jobs we would have liked to leave early? To be honest this has crossed our minds. Only because hitch itch sets in and we have a strong desire to be on the road again. We haven’t followed through on it, but yes, we’ve thought about it.


We have found that we don’t like workkamping commitments that are 5 or more months long. Its too long to be in one place. This summer we’ll be here from Memorial Day till one week after Labor Day. Next winter we have a two month commitment in the Florida Keys giving us plenty time to stop in Savannah and Charleston on the way down and travel and explore Florida before and after our workamping stint. That two months will give us some time to rest, do anything to the 5th wheel that needs to be done and to put some money away to play with later.


Another reader asked what our favorite places have been. We would both answer Alaska as our most favorite. That state just has so much to offer as far as things to see and do. We both fell in love with Arizona and New Mexico. I would have to list Utah right up there too and I know Bob would put Oregon high on his list.


This same reader asked what else we would like to see. We would like to finish our States Map so a trip to the northeast to visit Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut would be in order. We also have to go to Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Now let’s not forget Hawaii, I know we can’t take the RV there but I’m making plans for this one too.


As for individual cities or attractions are concerned I would have to say we would like to visit Williamsburg, VA for one. I’d like to see the Biltmore in North Carolina and Niagara Falls in New York. I’d like to go to Washington D.C. but I think Bob would balk at that one. Bob would opt for some time in the Outer Banks of NC for some great fishing. I could do that one too. There are really too many to list here. When you have two people who like to travel like we do our lists would really be endless. We’re always anxious to see what’s around the next bend and over the next hill.


For right now? We’re content to live at the beach for the next three and a half months.


Another question was how do we get our mail? What little mail we get is sent to our legal address in Texas. Yes, we became Texans and hold Texas driver’s licenses, voter registration cards, the whole nine yards. When we are going to be in once place for several months I make arrangements for it to be sent twice a month. Usually to General Delivery to the local post office.


If you have questions about our lifestyle, please, feel free to ask.


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