Can you Workamp with pets?

Have you ever camped next to an RV with a dog that barked the entire time their owner was gone? It gets annoying, doesn't it. And then there is the owner who lets their dog off-lead because "It won't bite" or who doesn't pick up after their dog. Employers have every reason to be leery of hiring someone who has a pet. Many campgrounds limit the size, breed and number of pets campers can have and even charge extra for pets. They've had bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners.

So what are your chances of finding a Workamping position if you have pets? They are good - if your pets are well-behaved and you are a responsible pet owner. This means your dog should not bark continually when you are gone. It means your dog stays on the leash except in pet parks or areas designated for dogs to run. You pay attention to what your dog is doing and don't let them go up to people unless they want to pet your dog. You pay attention to where your dog relieves itself and pick up after him. You limit the number of pets you travel with.

Never show up to a job with pets the employer doesn't know about. You could have a very short tenure there. I suggest that in your Workamper resume, you can add a remark that you travel with....... (two cats that never go outside, two well-behaved, quiet Cocker Spaniels, one friendly, well-behaved Golden Retriever, etc.) You could include your pet's photo and even a letter of reference from a previous employer about how well your pet behaves. Those will help reassure the employer that your pet will not be a problem.

The most annoying is hearing a pet barking whenever the owner is gone. How do you keep your pet from barking? Start when they are young to teach them when they can bark and when to be quiet. You don't want to stop all barking or they may not bark when there is an intruder, but they can learn to give one woof or to not bark unless someone is right in their space. What many working RV pet owners is leave the TV or radio or air conditioner on when they leave. The noise screens out many noises that could cause your pet to bark.

Pets can add much enjoyment to your life and travels. Walking a dog or sitting out with a cat on a leash can be a great way to meet people too. Not all employers will accept pets but keep looking and you'll find a situation that works for you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

"Digging" up the past

Homolovi Ruins State Park, near Winslow, Arizona, is mainly that - ruins. Most are buried, though you can see the outlines of houses and kivas. This is where the Hopi lived - along the Little Colorado River - before moving up to their current home on the three mesas. Before it became a state park and thus protected, a lot of damage was done by pot hunters who even brought in backhoes to dig up the ruin. Pothunters probably broke more than they found and are likely responsible for hundreds of shards scattered throughout the several ruin sites.

A group of archaeologists were doing a dig while we were there, led by a professor from the University of Michigan. Three students were participating for credit, the rest had grants to pay their way. They lived in RVs in the park campground.

It was hot out there on the dig, but all seemed dedicated to getting as much done in the two months of the dig as possible. At the end of that time, the sites would be reburied. One group was specifically looking for square pithouses; round ones had already been excavated in the past. They had surveyed underground by passing an electrical current through the ground to identify where there were likely structures. Every bit of dirt was sifted for sign of human habitation. They had already found a lot of pottery shards and jackrabbit bones.

If you would enjoy being part of a dig, for even a short time, a good source is Passport in Time (PIT), a volunteer archeology and historic preservation program of the USDA Forest Service program. PIT lists projects throughout the U.S. There is no fee to participate. Facilities for volunteers vary; some projects do have RV sites available. You might also volunteer at a national park. At Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, for example, one volunteer camp host couple volunteers for the archaeologist on their days off.

Shortly before we hit the road, Historic St. Mary's City in Maryland had a dig where the public could participate for the weekend. It was quite thrilling to sift dirt and find something besides rocks left on the screen. Almost like panning for gold! If you still like to play in the dirt or be part of unearthing a mystery, check out volunteering at an archaeological dig. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on all kinds of volunteer opportunities, see Jaimie's 2nd edition ofSupport Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com

Ain't Google something?

Yesterday I was contacted by a Jamie Bruzenak. She was astonished there was another person with the same name (even though we spell our first names different). She was searching Google for entries about herself and came across my name misspelled. It turns out her grandfather was George's father's brother so they are related. The spelling of Bruzenak was changed when the original Bruzenak came to Ellis Island so it is a one-of-a-kind name.

It's amazing what you can find on Google - and what others can find out about you. Have you searched your name on Google or other search engine? Many employers are doing a Google search of the names of candidates they are considering for employment. Would an employer be turned off by entries he found about you? Do you have photos of yourself that are less than dignified? Have you made a negative comment about an employer on your Web site or on a public forum or social media site? This sort of thing could give an employer a poor impression about you.

Do a search of Google and other search engines. See what comes up. If there is something offending remove it if you can or ask that it be removed. Don't let something from your past come back to haunt you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

RV makes beaders famous - to other beaders

Deanna and Greg Chase make glass beads and sell them at their Web site. For 4 1/2 years, they traveled in an RV and had a small photo on their Web site. At an ISBM Gathering, International Society of Glass Bead Makers, many people recognized them. They remembered them because of their "wacky" lifestyle.

If you are selling a product and have a blog or Web site, including information about your RV lifestyle and a photo of your rig could be the unique attention getter that makes people remember you. And isn't being distinctive what it is all about if you are selling a product? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Do you have what it takes to be an RV salesman?

The Winona Daily News interviewed Joe Breza, RV sales and service manager for Breezee's RV Center in Homer MN for a weekly column. In it he talks about what it takes to be a successful sales person at an RV dealership. Compared to selling cars, he says, "it’s the same but you also need to know the mechanics of how everything works and operates." Of his combined job, he says, "You got to be kind of a jack of all trades. I’ll wash RVs, I’ll dump them, I’ll be in the shop rotating tires or changing batteries and I’ll sell them new, on consignment or for rent …"

If you've thought about doing either of these seasonally or full-time on the RV road, read his advice. He does add that at least 80 percent of his work is paperwork and that it is not 9 to 5. Those might be downsides or part of the picture we don't usually see. Being the manager, he probably has more paperwork and longer hours than employees under him.

Areas like Phoenix and Tucson in the winter and Alaska in the summer are examples of places where RV dealers hire during the busy season. You can find other areas too that are busier one time of the year than another that will hire extra employees for RV sales or service. Salespeople usually work on commission so those jobs can be easy to come by. For the service area, you can get training, as Joe mentions, as a technician. Other seasonal RV workers I know have mechanics training or can do walk-throughs where they check the systems out for buyers and then show the buyers everything at time of purchase and how to operate everything.

One more possibility for working on the RV road! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on working in RV industry-related jobs, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com

RV workers see slice of America

I came across an article titled "RV park owners see slice of America" about the owners of the St. Paul East RV Park in Woodbury, MN. The article mentioned their most unusual guests - members of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus - and the fact they expected to house some delegates to the Republican National Convention - as well as the more typical RV park guest.

RV workers too see a slice of America if they are working in an RV park or resort or even a tourist attraction. They may not see the circus or delegates to a convention, but they do see a variety. RVers come in all ages. They include families, tourists from the U.S. and foreign countries in rented RVs. Some have pets, some travel with all sorts of toys. Some travel in new million dollar buses, others in pop-up trailers, tiny teardrops or ancient RVs that have seen better days. Those who do work near an event like Sturgis will get to see some real characters.

RV workers see both the best behavior and the worst. In the Workamper forums, workers on the RV road mention the RVers who don't clean up after their pets or let an aggressive dog run loose. They report on campers who leave unwelcome presents in the restrooms or who are nasty to camp personnel. That's the side we'd just as soon not see.

On the other hand, overall, RVers are a friendly lot. RV workers hear about many adventurers and different ways of living. If there is a problem or disaster, most RVers will pitch in to help, even going way out of their way to do so if illness or accident strikes a fellow RVer. Most are happy to share their knowledge, be it about places to go, a fix for a nonworking part or give a tour of their RV.

Yes, Workampers also see a slice of America - and of the world- as they work on the RV road. And, unlike the RV park owner, each season they can change to a new place and get a slightly different perspective, see a little different slice of life. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information working in many different places, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Tip for keeping more of your paycheck

Here's one way to keep more of your paycheck and keep your weight down too!

If you are working in an RV office or at an employer where snacks or sodas are available, make up your mind that these are off limits. Leave your money in your RV. Bring a bottle of water and perhaps some healthy snacks like nuts or carrot and celery sticks as an alternative. Your wallet will appreciate it and so will your waistline.

Sip your water throughout the day and you'll feel less like eating. If you have extra time at lunch, take a walk instead of staying around food, especially food you can purchase. You'll feel more energetic for the second part of your shift. Employee lunches, available in some resort areas, may be inexpensive, but you can probably eat for less in your RV and choose foods with less starch. If you eat at your place of work, brown-bag-it. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com