Internet access allows them to travel

Angela Hoy edits and produces Writers Weekly, the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world. In addition Richard Hoy operates Booklocker.com, a print-on-demand publishing company. They can operate their business entirely online, but this means that to travel anywhere, they need an Internet connection. Once that became feasible in 2004, they began traveling.

The Hoys have an RV and homeschool their children so they are set to travel. And who wouldn't feel like getting out of Maine at this time of year? In fact, their next adventure will take them to Florida where they are visiting family and hope to see a rocket launch.

While they rely heavily on Wi-Fi in parks they also have a portable satellite Internet system from Maxwell Satellite. "If you are traveling around with one of these, just be aware that trees are the enemy," says Richard at WirelessTrips.com where they post information about their RV travels. They may find Wi-Fi signals in other locations like Starbucks and Flying Js plus have an antennae to pick up weak signals in parks.

The Hoys only travel part-time but it is the availability of Internet service that allows them to get away at all. More and more entrepreneurs are finding that the RV lifestyle is viable and take their businesses on the road with them. Jaimie

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

A fun place to volunteer

Tuesday we went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona on a trip to see wildflowers. This is Arizona's oldest and largest botantical garden, encompassing 323 acres in scenic Queen Creek Canyon. It was founded in the 1920s by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson to improve the use of plant resources.

I had last been there once before, in 1995, so it has been a long time. I love to see all the unusual species of cacti from all over the world, as well as walks through several habitats found in Arizona. It was early for cacti to be blooming but we did see a number of flowers, including Mexican poppies and desert marigolds. Giant yuccas were in full bloom. Their most unusual plant, the Boojum, native to Mexico, had green leafy growth and towered over other plants.

On the way out, I met Laura Carroll, a volunteer in the visitor center. As she rang up my purchases, I asked if she was an RVer. She was. She and husband Danny had seen an advertisement in Workamper News and have been here since January. They will leave next month for a job at Parry Lodge in Kanab, UT, also found through WN. Laura will work at the front desk, Danny will dress in cowboy regalia and greet customers, plus count money. Danny collected our money in the kiosk as we entered the arboretum parking lot. With his handlebar mustache, we can easily imagine him a perfect cowboy!



What Laura and Danny like best about volunteering at the arboretum is the fun staff they work with. Though they have vowed never to work in the same location twice - they want to see more of the country - they may make an exception for the arboretum and return.

Laura and Danny make their own fun wherever they go. So far their travels have taken them to Workamping assignments in two Florida state parks, one near Indpendence, KS where they are originally from and Admiralty RV Resort in San Antonio, TX. After talking with them, George and I can see why they are successful Workampers. They are upbeat and positive, two traits highly prized in this lifestyle. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak (photos by George 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

Substitute teaching- an opportunity for RV workers

Ken H. from TX sent this suggestion for RVers who want to work on the road:

"I have been substitute teaching in the public schools for over 12 years. There is a desperate need for substitute teachers in most schools. You can work a given day or not. I think fulltimers should check this out. If one were to stay in a place for several weeks or months at a time, the school would call them or you check for assignments online. Here in TX schools pay from $50 to $100 per day. 8 AM to 3:30 PM."

Thanks for the suggestion. Ken, in your area, what sort of educational requirements, if any, are required to be a substitute teacher? 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

Nomads - another way to volunteer

The Nomads are an RV volunteer group much like the RV Care-A-Vanners of Habitat for Humanity. NOMADS is a mission outreach ministry of the United Methodist Church. The NOMADS program is specific to individuals and couples with RVs wishing to be involved in Christian service. They can have projects in churchs, camps, outreach facilities, and retirementhomes.

Larry and Lucille recently participated in a NOMAD project where Lucille's parents live: Magnolia Manor, an independent living facility near Savanah, GA, a ministry of the United Methodist Church.

According to the NOMADs Web site, each project lasts three weeks, working four days a week - Monday through Thursday. Each workday begins with devotions followed by a quick meeting to plan the day’s tasks. Host agencies provide all materials for the projects, as well as parking space with water and electrical hookups and a sewage connection or dump nearby. NOMADS furnish their own tools and meals. Some host agencies offer housing for those who don’t own an RV. NOMADS do whatever the agency requests, including maintenance, repair, office work, sewing, painting and gardening. Construction skills are helpful, but all that is really required is a willing heart. Evening and weekend fun are team highlights.

Larry and Lucille worked with three other couples and parked their RV at Fort McAllister, a GA State Historical Park. Besides the two of them, the team included Jim and Mary Jo, from Marietta, Georgia, their leaders; Bonnie and Darwin from Rockford, Illinois, and John and Eileen, fulltime RVers who had just come from leading their own NOMADS project in Jacksonville, Florida.

According to Lucille, "The primary project Rich, the Manor's director, had us doing was painting most of the common areas on all three floors. And boy, did we paint – by the end of the three weeks, we had used at least 50 gallons of paint among the eight of us, most of which ended up on the walls."

It was a huge undertaking, particularly the 3rd floor common areas. There was more wall space and they couldn't work in the dining rooms at mealtimes. They also did a number of repairs and odd jobs. Prior teams had only gotten the first two floors painted. But Larry and Lucille's team were not only younger, but worked well together even though they had never met.

Said Lucille, "The staff and residents were so friendly and so appreciative of our work there. When we first arrived there, each couple received a huge gift bag of goodies (snacks, drinks, personal items) – we raided the bags during our breaks. One resident made us homemade butterscotch cookies; another invited us to her apartment for our morning break – Miss Teeny laid out a selection of warm coffeecake, cheese, crackers and other munchies as well as several juices; Mona, head of housekeeping, twice brought us desserts. The Manor’s director, Rich, invited us to his home for dinner one evening; every Wednesday evening we were guests of Richmond Hill United Methodist Church for their weekly supper and program; and the day before we finished our work, the Manor hosted a thank you reception for us in their parlor with over 50 residents and staff members attending.It is hard to describe the outpouring of gratitude and appreciativeness we experienced every day there."

Being appreciated is certainly one reward of volunteering. Knowing you are helping those who could not do it themselves is another. Lucille and Larry also made good friends here. Though they hadn't met before, those friendships will continue. Perhaps they'll even meet up on another NOMADs project again. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

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

Photos provided by Bonnie Bearrows.Top left: Larry & Lu, Darwin & Bonnie, Eileen & John, Mary Jo & Jim (leaders). Right top: Jim taping baseboards. Lower left: Larry and Lucille. Lower right: Mary Jo.

Workers on the RV road meet up

Forums are a wonderful way to meet people. Often you know them on the forums or have email correspondence with other RVers for years before meeting in person - if you ever do. It is fun to put a face with a name.

Today, David Baker, Web master and designer of the new Workamper forums and Web site, and his wife Patricia, met us in Pine. They brought their friends Don and Candy. The two couples originally met while working at a Thousand Trails park near Santa Barbara, CA. They've stayed in contact ever since and are both camped at the Thousand Trails in Verde Valley.

Jordan Engle, a new Workamper, saw on the forums that George and I had met David and Patricia at the Thousand Trails in Verde Valley. Wanting to meet us, he headed that way. We all met in the tiny town of Pine, AZ, up in the mountains below the Mogollon Rim where George and I have a homebase. Jordan left Vermont last month in below freezing temperatures. His RV is a tiny teardrop trailer! (See his blog.)

We had a nice visit and lunch at HBs in Pine. Then we headed in off in different directions. David will continue to work on the Workamper Web sites and he and Patricia are headed to Heber Springs, AR where Workamper is located. Don and Candy will spend the summer near Lake Tahoe. Jordan is headed to Whidbey Island, WA where he will be a campground host starting Memorial Day in a WA State Park. George and I will go west to Alamo Lake for a RoVing Rods gathering plus stop off in Quartzsite to do our yearly maintenance on our gold claim. This year we'll be traveling and writing about AZ. We've been wanting to visit parks like Canyon de Chelly, Chaco Canyon (just into NM), and the Grand Canyon.

It is fun to compare working and travel notes and get to know people who you've only met online. They become part of your network and meet ups add spice to your travels. It's a good excuse for a meal out too. Nearly everyone had the chicken and dumpling soup and pronounced it good. Only one couple (not naming names) had the blackberry cobbler with ice cream. The rest passed the calories by and enjoyed it vicariously. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak (Photos by George 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

The interview is tomorrow!

So you've done your research, have your list of questions prepared. What else do you need to do ahead of time?

• Make sure you have a quiet -and private- place to talk on the telephone- no barking dogs, no cars driving by, no one knocking on the door of your RV right in the middle of the conversation.
• If you are already working somewhere, make sure you have sufficient time set aside for the
  interview.
• Charge your cell phone battery.
• Review your notes and questions ahead of time. Have them printed out in large print so you can see them and check them off as they are answered. Leave space for notes.

Fifteen minutes or so before your scheduled time, be at the location where you plan to take the call. Get all your notes out, water to sip, make a last pit stop and review your notes one last time. Take time to think about working there and get excited! Even though it is a telephone interview, your enthusiasm (or lack of) will show in your voice.

Doing the interview standing up will help increase your energy. Look up, not down. Smile and use your hands. Speak with energy. All that will help convey positive qualities.

Use your prior research and preparation to find out all you need to know during the interview to detemine if this job is a match. And most of all, remember to sell yourself! Jaimie

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

Research before your job interview

Increase the chances of getting a job offer by coming prepared to your interview, whether the interview will be by phone or in person.

Employer
First find out all you can about the employer and setting. If it's an RV park, how many sites are there, what sort of clientele does it cater to, is it a destination park or for short visits, what are their policies, how much do RV sites cost? You may decide it's not for you based on what you learn and save both your time and the employer's. Or, the information may lead to more questions. For other employers, you can find information about their hours, facilities, type of visitor and dates of operation and perhaps employee policies.

Area
You can find out a lot about the area ahead of time. Find out things to do in the area, what other RV parks are charging, health services and shopping, normal weather, threat of tornados or hurricanes. If you are interviewing with an employer with no RV sites, check out RV parks in the area and their rates. Check with your cell phone carrier about coverage.

Before your interview, make sure you know how to pronounce the owner's and/or manager's name. Call and ask if you aren't sure.

Resources
These can help in your research:

• Check sites like RVParkReviews.com that share visitor experiences about the campground.
• Post at forums like RV Travel forums and Workamper forums.
• Obtain area planners and other information from the closest tourist bureau or visitor center.

There is no excuse for not having some knowledge about the employer and the area beforehand. That knowledge will save time in the interview, lead to more important questions you might not have asked, and make you sound more professional. Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak

How Startbucks Saved My Life

I just read How Starbucks Saved My LIfe: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill. Coming from a wealthy family and then holding a top job at an ad agency, Michael hadn't lived an ordinary life. His father was New Yorker writer Brendon Gill. Through his parents and his job, he met top politicians and celebrities. In his 60s, Michael lost his job and his family. On a fluke, he was hired to be a barista at a New York City Starbucks, in not such a great area. It changed his life.

What was interesting is that Starbucks provides benefits like health insurance if you work at least 20 hours/week. If you are a coffee lover, another benefit is a free pound of coffee per week (plus drinks on the job). They are, according to this book, very employee oriented. The district manager met with Michael to see if he wanted to work at a Starbucks closer to his apartment since he was commuting an hour and one-half each way. Eventually he did. They might be amenable to helping a "Partner" transfer to a different location, especially if you wanted to work in one place in the winter and another in the summer. It's an interesting possibility! See their Web site. They have a strong belief in diversity so age shouldn't be a factor.

By the way, today we stopped at a Starbucks in Camp Verde, AZ. Michael's photo was on the recruiting poster for Starbucks. They'll be holding a hiring event next week. Jaimie

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 workers on the RV road get job burnout?

Most workers on the RV road have left high stress jobs and now choose ones that are much more low key. Most chose not to work in management positions. If they wanted management, they'd could have stayed in their old jobs and made a lot more money!

That said, it is possible to experience burnout. According to an article in one of the free employment magazines, burnout is definied as

the stress and unhappiness resulting from the mismatch between
the needs of the person and the demands of the job.

The article goes on to say that people who try to please everyone are at highest risk, which means more women suffer from burnout than men. If you put in so much time and energy you are exhausted, it may come from the need to feel indispensible. That gives a feeling of power, but it does lead to frustration and ultimately burnout.

So what can you do to avoid burnout? Here are some suggestions that may help

1. Choose jobs that are fun or not so fast-paced. A small RV park will probably be less busy and thus less stressful than a large one.
2. Choose something you enjoy.
3. Don't get emotionally involved in the decision-making and running of the business. Just do your job to the best of your ability.
4. If things aren't exactly to your liking, remember this is a seasonal job, not a career.
5. Take walks, bike or swim each day to help you relax and get your mind off work.
6. Don't take your job home with you. It's not likely that it is necessary nor will it make a difference except to your stress level.

Probably the easiest way to avoid burnout is to remember, "This too shall pass." Remember too that this job is serving a purpose even if it isn't perfect and allowing you to meet your goals, whether they are making money, to be in that area, or to be near family. Jaimie

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