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

Converting a hobby to money on the road

Let's say you like to take photos, paint, write, do woodworking or have another pastime. Can you convert that into a moneymaker on the road? Possibly.


If you are counting on income from your hobby, start building your hobby into a business before you begin traveling. Perfect your craft and find ways to sell your work. The first step is to identify your market. Who would purchase your writing or your photos? Do you have contacts with galleries that might sell your paintings? Do you go to shows where you could sell your beadwork or woodworking?

Develop a marketing plan and begin implementing it. Look at how you may have to modify it if you are traveling. A website can be used and maintained no matter where you travel. If you sell you work in galleries or shops, can you sell them on consignment? Will you need to be in certain areas each year to participate in a show?

Network with others in your field. You may find others on RV forums, YahooGroups, or through local or national associations. People you meet can be a good source of ideas and may have suggestions or contacts who will help. Writing conferences can give writers an opportunity to meet agents and publishers.

You can also start a hobby on the road. It normally takes several years to build a business so plan on having other sources of income until your business produces what you need.

Working at a hobby while you travel can be fun. You're not only productive, it gives some structure to your day. As you grow your business, you'll be able to deduct some expenses. Your hobby may turn out to help pay for your travels. 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.

Developing a working network

Networking, or using contacts you've previously met, is probably the most effective way to find a job. Networking is also powerful when you are looking for a job on the RV road. How do you develop a network when you are traveling?

• As you travel and meet Workampers, find out about what they are doing and exchange cards with them or write down their contact information. Make notes on the back of the card or in your Job Notebook to refresh your memory: what kind of job they had, where you met them, any advice they gave you.


• Attend seminars or job fairs for workers on the RV road. Life on Wheels, The Rally, FMCA, Escapees often have seminars at their educational events/rallies. Workamper News will be putting on two job fairs next January: one in Florida, one in Arizona.


• Join an online community on working on the road where Workampers share information and feedback. I highly recommend Workamper.com. Participate in forums on working on the road such as those at RVTravel.com and Workamper.com.


• Other RV groups that have online communication may also be helpful. For example, we belong to the Boomer Birds of Feather group of the Escapees RV Club. Many of these younger RVers work and volunteer as they travel so are good resources.

When you are looking for a job or volunteer position in a particular area or of a particular kind, you can post at a forum or contact one of your network members who has experience that fits. If they don't know directly, they may know someone who does.

The other good use of networking is to check out a potential employer or an area. Talking to someone who has direct knowledge can be invaluable in finding good employers, avoiding bad ones and knowing what you are getting into.

The other RVers you work with can be the most helpful. Ask them about previous Workamping experiences. If you find a good one you might like to do, ask if you can mention their name. They might even be willing to contact the employer and mention they have worked with you. This sort of recommendation gives you an advantage over others applying for the same position. Use it shamelessly whenever you can!

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.