I thought it was kinda cool.
I know Dallas does this on occasion but apparently, there is quite a contingent of folks like us who do this. My guess is some of you do.( ???)
I was kicking it around to pull a trailer around if/when I get to do something like this and have my welding equiptment, blacksmith equiptment, copper working equiptment and art stuff with me to try to make a buck here and there. That sounds like a lot of stuff but not really.
Anyway, just curious.
Chaz
There was a radio program about the Tuesday before Christmas on the UPS campers at a big sorting place in the mid-West US. They arrive in phases from early September until about late October and work the Holiday rush to around Christmas. They interviewed a woman living in her S&S at a campground near the USP place. Apparently, there are hundreds of them. That's pretty different from a craftsman traveling with tools and equipment but I found it interesting.
One member here works at an Amazon distribution center during the holiday rush. It sounds like Amazon treats the employees pretty well including a retention bonus on the last day. It sounds like some workers only work long enough to pay for the holidays and just quit showing up thus the retention bonus to stay through the entire holiday rush period.
Workamping is specifically when you are working with at least some of your compensation being RV accommodations. It could include anything from hosting campgrounds, working at national/state parks, guarding gates on oil fields, care taking property, working harvests, etc. The Amazon fulfillment center jobs are also workamping, as all of the facilities that hire on us RVing nomads include your campground on top of your hourly wage (they now call the program 'Camper Force').
In the 2009, we worked a month during peak season at the Coffeyville, KS location - and it was fascinating. We wrote about the experience here:
http://www.technomadia.com/2010/02/workamping-at-amazon-com-was-it-worth-it/ (http://www.technomadia.com/2010/02/workamping-at-amazon-com-was-it-worth-it/)
A lot of us full-timers either rely on or mix-in workamping. Aside from the Amazon gig, we've also given seminars at RV Resorts and installed WiFi networks at RV Parks in exchange for a spot for a bit.
Google 'Workamping' and you'll find lots of resources.
Working while your travel is not necessarily 'workamping'. Our base income comes from running our software development company as we roam - which is just considered working, not workamping. And for sure, there are hundred of thousands of us earning an income on the road in some form or fashion to afford our full time travels - we've encountered carpenters, artists, dancers, balloon animal artists, blacksmiths, tattoo artists, computer geeks, writers, lawyers and more.
If you can ditch the sticks-n-bricks home base & expenses - the cost of traveling full time can be cheaper than stationary living. We write a lot on our blog about how to make it happen (http://www.technomadia.com/excuses (http://www.technomadia.com/excuses)).
Best wishes,
- Cherie
What Cherie said...
We spent our Amazon in Campbellsville, KY again this year for 2 months. We ran out of time for them due to our other "jobs". We consider Amazon our annual "get back in shape" without paying some gym teacher.
We get our base from computer support, then suppliment that with other stuff.
The pay ain't so great, but it allows a few weeks ("months?) to work on the bus in Florida over the winter.