Just a quick introduction

[bullfrog]

You may find you are able to adapt or change your lifestyle to living simply and do work you truly enjoy. Your mental and physical health stand a much better chance living a much less stressful life if you are able to adjust. I have a family and was hesitant to risk their futures but finally realized you have to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Really in my case it took 6 or so years of struggle and 2 more years to adapt. I ended up with a pension but the real reward was two years after that I found a life I really enjoyed and eventually made more money that I did all the previous years. It makes you think you should have done it sooner. I started my pension when I was 53 years old.

 

[shadowmoss]

Check out coolworks.com for seasonal jobs. Looking at the listings can give you an idea what kinds of jobs are out there. Also workcamer.com (I haven't verified the links, they are from memory, so you may need some googlefu help) where there is overlap but maybe a few different things on the two sites.

 

[barleyguy]

Thanks. Though when I say "If I get laid off, I may take a year or five off", I really mean taking time off, not working somewhere else. Though I could do gig work, like seeing a short term thing or specific project I want to help with and doing that project until it's done.

Also, I guess it could be possible to find a job I love and actually _want_ to do that full time again, but I'd very particular on something that appealed to me.

 

[shadowmoss]

My thought in recommending seasonal work sites is that.picking up something for a fewbmonths might help keep the need of full time work later unnecessary.

Some corrections. It is workamper.com. Also,.the one I thought that one was is www.work-for-rvers-and-camlers.com which shows why I didn't remember it from memory.

As an example of non traditional listings, a few years ago there was a seasonal listing for a network administrator in Alaska for Princess cruise line. If I hadn't already been working in Central America at the time I'd have been all over that one.

 

[barleyguy]

So that's a good point. If I can work a couple of months a year to keep my savings from dwindling, maybe I'd never need to go back to full time. I hadn't even thought of that option. I was thinking of it more like "when I take a break from the corporate rat race, it may take me a year just to get my head together."

Again, good idea though. That princess cruise lines gig sounds like the type of thing that would be worth a short term gig. Wouldn't work with my dog, but something similar might. I've always thought my dream job might be "sound and lighting tech for little dinner theater".

 

[bullfrog]

It is really nice to be able to have the cash reserves to be able to pick up and go when doing seasonal work for extra income. It enables you to take some really flakey job offers many which turn out to be a poor fit in order to find a possibly pretty ideal situation or one that allows you new experiences you may find you enjoy.

 

[crofter]

The benefit of doing workamping is that you get your site included in your pay. Sometimes the site is valued at more than it is worth, since you can camp for free by boondocking. You do not qualify for the senior discount yet for camping in the national forest (age 62) so BLM camping is your best bet. Your rig is too large for some of the national forest camps anyway. You may want to lift it to get more clearance if you plan to go off road. HDR can tell you all about taking your rig off road. 

Some have advised going to AZ to wait out a future pandemic lockdown. Just be advised that there can be a high rate of transmission in AZ due to the number of full time travellers who pass thru or domicile in AZ. Also store stocks can be low in AZ during a lockdown for the same reasons so you should stock up before coming. Masks are required in southern AZ for these reasons so businesses can stay open. 

That said, there is currently a pandemic sale going on in southern AZ for RV spots in parks with full services including pools, laundry and public showers. I think there is a 3 month commitment and 5th wheels and smaller RVs are coming in here more. Once there is a lockdown, I think they hold up on admitting new travellers to the parks (what they did last lockdown). 

Have fun getting on the road.  -crofter

 

[shadowmoss]

Another correction. Geez, I need to proof read closer before I hit the post button. The site without the typo is:. www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com . I wish you well in whatever path you choose.