A job for a hermit

Our friend, Rob Brownell, has found the perfect job for someone who prefers a more solitary job. He mans a fire tower during the summer. This summer, like last, he'll be at Mount Ord in Arizona, north of Phoenix. He hauls his RV to the top of the peak (with a little help from the Forest Service) and has stunning views of the Mogollon Rim to the north and of the Sierra Estrellas and White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix. Pam, his wife, accepts short term assignments with the Forest Service so comes and goes. Rob was recently profiled in the East Valley Tribune. (You can see a slide show there too.)

You can find lookout jobs by going to the USDA Forest Service Web site and click on "Centralized Temporary Vacancy Announcements." You'll need to register, then do a search. On the search parameters, choose grades 3-9, series 0462, job - Forestry Technician (Lookout). To get a quick list of job openings, search at USAJOBS site run by OPM. Type in Forestry Technician (lookout).

If Rob sees more than a couple of hikers in a day, he feels swamped! He loves being in remote areas with few visitors. If you're like this or would like a change of pace, check out these types of jobs. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.