Working the dream life for 17+ years.
Workampers have been all over the media lately and RVers are buzzing about the Harper?s Magazine article called ?The End of Retirement: When You Can?t Afford to Stop Working.?
This week a few hot debates occurred in the We Love Workamping Facebook Group, mostly in agreement with my view that this article is pure sensationalism and misrepresents the full-time RVing lifestyle. One group member wrote to the author to share his own story, and she responded to his email with the following:
Does Jim look like a decrepit, old workamper who’s down on his luck?
Sadly, the image of old, broke and destitute full-time RVing workampers is now being promoted all over TV, radio and the Internet.
It’s been 56 days since we’ve had a cocktail. Our closet is crammed with all of our favorite booze, because we stocked up at Costco in Las Vegas before we came out here to the sticks. But we haven’t touched a drop.
What does this have to do with full-time RVing? A lot. I’ll get to that.? Meanwhile, we’ve been on the wagon, living like Mormons.
No gin and tonics.
No margaritas.
What kind of RV sites do workampers get? See photos from our many workamping RV site accommodations over the years!
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy workamping at Vickers Ranch because of the opportunity I get to do some creative woodworking projects? Yeah, I thought so, maybe once or twice. Well, here’s one I’m particularly proud of.
Last year, I arrived at the ranch in time to help install and finish a similar mantle my boss made. This year, I had the honor of doing the dirty work. So I thought I would share how to make a custom log fireplace mantle like this one I made at my favorite workamping job.
Read on for tips, lots of photos, and plenty of fun with power tools!
It’s turning out to be another happy workamping summer at Vickers Ranch!
One of the best things I like about workamping on the ranch, besides working with my crazy wife and a bunch of other fun folks, is the opportunity I get to be creative—with access to the tools I need to do just about anything.
Sure, ranch work is hard, but between repairing screen doors, troubleshooting toilets and washing Jeeps, I get to create fun projects like these handmade log slab benches…
Thousands of remote, offbeat destinations line the back roads of America, all leaving imprints on your heart as you roll away to somewhere new. As full-time RVers we get the chance to revisit those magical places whenever we want, but life can get in the way and oftentimes the opportunity never seems to materialize.
But when the cosmic road map finally aligns your present journey with an old favorite destination from the past, well that’s a sign you just can’t ignore.
Recently while headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, we jumped at the chance to drive Highway 60 to get there. That two-lane route is a little out of the way to Sin City, but taking the slow lane would allow us to make a pilgrimage to The Pie-O-Neer cafe in Pie Town New Mexico.
This magical spot perched atop on the Continental Divide won us over way back in 2008 as we traveled with Jerry, and just like our sweet boy, it’s been in our hearts ever since.
We waved goodbye to Waylon Jennings’ spirit and booked it out of Littlefield, Texas early one morning, high on caffeine and anticipation of our destination: the sweetest spot in New Mexico, about 3 hours southwest from Albuquerque.
We needed to get there before the Pie-O-Neer Cafe closed at 4pm but were so excited we managed to arrive by 1pm. What a joy to see that the cafe was exactly as we remembered it! The moment we stepped onto the cozy front porch and opened the door, the heavenly scent of homemade pies wrapped its arms around us like an old friend.
In case you missed it, we have published a new page to help answer any questions about workamping you may have!
After working as workampers at various different jobs, and writing about our workamping experiences, for more than seven years, we have added a Workamping Page here in the LiveWorkDream blog!
Ever wonder what workampers do? Well, that depends on the type of workamping job.
Utah is one of the prettiest, most awe-inspiring states in the country with so many free, gorgeous places to camp.
A few weeks ago, we stayed in this lovely free spot for a week, only seeing the occasional off-roader. It was lovely and peaceful, even during the busy Memorial Day weekend.
We were only about 15 minutes outside of Panguitch, a sleepy little town that caters to tourists. The last time we had been there was in 1995, when we looked like this:
We escaped the madness and debauchery of Las Vegas weeks ago, but are still suffering from a lingering hangover brought on by staying in a city with the constant din of sirens, shouting crazy people and endless traffic. Thankfully we managed to stay cheap in Vegas with our Passport America club membership and other cheapskate methods. Here’s how we did it.
Before we rolled into Vegas (without guns blazing), our main Arctic Fox window spontaneously shattered during our stay in New Braunfels, Texas. It’s crazy, nobody knows why it happened. So, in addition to Jim speaking at the 2014 Blog Paws Conference in Vegas, the other reason we had to stick around Sin City was for a replacement window that was supposed to ship to the local Northwood dealer (the manufacturer of our Arctic Fox), within the first two weeks after our arrival.
Reflections on being young, working-age, full-time RVers, digital nomads, location independent entrepreneurs and permanent road trippers in a 24′ Arctic Fox 245N fifth wheel.
Visit Waylon Jennings memorial at Waymore’s Drive Through Package Liquor Store and Museum in the Panhandle city of Littlefield Texas near Lubbock.
A review about why we both love and hate cheap camping at Landa RV Park on the Comal River in New Braunfels Texas.
The Very Large Array (VLA) in Socorro New Mexico is one of the best free roadside attractions for full-time RVers and traveling geeks for great technology photos.
Gurantee RV shares how to prepare and plan the financial, emotional and logistical details for going full-time RVing as young, location-independent entrepreneurs.