Should I stay or should I go?

[decodancer]

Here's the story.  I have a job that I enjoy, decent pay and no rent.  This is my fourth year here and I know a lot of people but no close friends as most are returning guests or seasonals I chat with ever so often.  Used to be really close to the manager but it seems that it's just a working relationship now and we never go places together like we used to.  My best guess is the major political differences with her husband and I took their toll and we just drifted apart.  Enter new daughter in law who suddenly is taking over many of my duties and my hours have been cut as well.  She's a bossy 19 year old who thinks she's in charge and walks all over anybody in her way.  The writing on the wall tells me I most likely will not have my position come October when it slows down.  My options are...

Keep my mouth shut and try and save some money and head to Florida in the fall.  My Mother and sisters are there and I have a part time job waiting for me but I really hate the heat and the traffic.  A nice place to visit but I really don't want to live there.

Go back to NY where I used to live and where my closest friends are.  I applied yesterday for an assistant managers job with great pay, full paid health insurance and lots of other perks. It's a company I worked for (different location) 10 years but even if I get the job, there are more than a few hurdles.  There are two campgrounds that are commutable but one is 45 minutes away and $1320 a month, the other is much closer and $900 a month but there is a waiting list of 40 people. Getting a rental apartment is possible but with three dogs is going to be very hard and I won't give up my pups.  I can stay with one friend temporarily but not more than a few weeks or we'll kill each other.

Find another workamping job. I've got a great work record and have little doubt that I can get a job but that means starting all over in a new town where I know nobody.  Who knows if there's going to be a bossy daughter in law there too.

I know many of you live to travel but I need stability and have no savings to fall back on.  If you were in my place, what would you do?

 

[OutdoorFT]

Just so Im understanding..why do you not have rent? Do you have an RV or other mobile dwelling? (Havent seen your other posts). Sounds like you need FHU...or else a campground would be unnecessary. I personally would look for another workamping job. I wouldn't be afraid to ask about the management during the interview. who you report to etc. Maybe thatll give you a better picture of who is running the place.

Sorry Im not much help. But Id look for a workamping job with FHU and possibly pay.

 

[djkeev]

Life lesson, keep politics out of your work place!
Same goes for Love.

Just shut up and do your job.

Sounds like you work at a camp of some kind? An on site property manager?
If adult children are coming in to the family business...... move along, unless you marry her you are going to be unemployed or seriously demoted. Blood runs thicker than any other relationship.

Dave

 

[decodancer]

Sorry, I forget that many on here don't know that I work at a large 200 plus site campground. I get my site and an hourly wage. It's not family owned but the on site managers run the show and do all hiring. Last year the assistant manager walked out mid season and I took over her job without the title or a pay increase. Over the winter I ran the campground while the managers were gone for six weeks which I did the year before as well. I went to Florida to visit family and when I came back, the daughter in law was working in the store/office with my boss. I was told that the owners were not hiring an assistant manager (I asked for the position) because the last two had not worked out but I would be full time. I did get a pay raise, still have keys to the office and do some of the assistant managers duties but now the DIA also has keys and is doing many of the jobs I did.

 

[djkeev]

More money......
DIL is doing part of your job.....
Which means that you are doing LESS work......

Hmmmmm........

Dave

 

[XFILE36]

Go to New York to be with your friends, take the job for $900, AND why not live in your van still rent free?

 

[olddude48]

 

[rvpopeye]

Tough question!
I think I would ride that train to the end of the line while keeping your relationship with the managers good (and put up with the "kid") .

If they decide to let you go at a later date ask for a (hopefully glowing) letter of recommendation stating your previous duties etc.

Then try to find a seasonal (summer WK job someplace cool for summers and another near your family for winter.

The winter one will be hard to find because CGs in Fla. hire way in advance or keep current staff for years.
EVERYBODY wants jobs there and there are only so many.
IE: WK jobs are usually work for site only , no pay.
Remember though that everyplace has a different deal so it's not impossible.
There are also regular seasonal jobs but those don't usually offer a site so is there a spot with family to park??

Another option might be winter season WK in the west and a month or so between the jobs to visit family in Fla.

Is the NY. job seasonal or would you be expected to be there in winter???

YMMV but you asked so my 2 cents worth.

 

[decodancer]

Nothing like a Johnie Paycheck song to bring a smile to my face. The NY job is a real year round job with super benefits but not at a campground. I'm in a 31 foot class C which is impossible to hide in busy Westchester county. The less expensive campground has a long waiting list or my decision would be easy. As far as the DIL doing my work, I'm paid hourly so making less even with the pay raise. We were understaffed but they've hired two new girls this week so now even more competition for hours and since my pay is higher... I think the NY job is my best option assuming I get it but would still feel bad about leaving mid season. I can just imagine the bad mouthing that will happen, I've seen it too many times.

 

[Lj Unlimited]

Don't feel bad or worry about peoples "talk". You need to do what is best for YOU.

 

[rvpopeye]

Yeah , that's why I said ride it out.

However if the NY job is what you really really want and it is offered ....

I'd try having a meeting with the managers and just say with all the new help you are starting to feel you are not needed .

Especially if your hours are cut down a lot and you are feeling the pay cut from less work time. (BTDT)

But you really love working for them and working in a campground and could they give you a recc. letter so you might find a
good similar job in the future and maybe come back if they are short staffed again.

CG owners do talk to each other at industry gatherings and keeping a good relationship will sure help you in the future if you ever want to get back into WKing.

Does that make any sense to you?

 

[SoulRaven]

I wouldn't worry about "bad mouthing" as long as I had another job lined up. The one thing I wonder, and not knowing you, it may not be an issue, is about returning to NY. I have left places and returned remembering the good part of being there and forgetting the bad part of, but now I have become wise to that, "If it was so great, why did I leave?" Also, places can change quickly and so can relationships, going back to visit is not like living some place full-time. Think that part over along with a long term plan of what you are looking for.

Can you afford the more expensive campground until the less expensive one has an opening? Did they have any idea when they might have an opening? Also, have you "done" a severe winter in an RV?

 

[decodancer]

I did speak to the manager Popeye and she says it will get better once kids are out of school and we get really busy. I still get the feeling that they are just looking for a reason to let me go. I even asked if she was happy with my work and she said I needed to be more focused. I left a light on in the office once and forgot to do a water test last week. Those were the only things she could come up and would have been no big deal before.

Yes, I've wintered in my rv in below zero temps so no problem. I left NY after 15 years because I really could not stand the vet I worked for for five years. She did things I consider downright immoral and I chose to leave before I slugged the woman. We are polite to each other when I go back to visit the tech but she dislikes me as much as I do her. Just to clarify, I'm an easygoing woman who gets along with almost everybody but do have a real issue with mean people. The downsides to returning are the higher cost of living, not knowing who my coworkers will be, and living in a populated area instead of out in the country like I do now. The upside are several really good friends, an opportunity to make lots of extra cash doing petsitting (my tech friend has way more than she can handle) and I can get back into community theater which I really miss doing.

Just writing all of this down is helping and reading your responses is making me think of things a bit differently. Sometimes it is hard to see clearly when you feel you've been treated unfairly.

 

[closeanuf]

If you leave today or you wait 2 years and leave I'll bet there will be badmouthing.  IMHO

 

[swankiewheels]

Here's the story.  I have a job that I enjoy, decent pay and no rent.  This is my fourth year here and I know a lot of people but no close friends as most are returning guests or seasonals I chat with ever so often. 

I didn't read your entire post but wanted to share one of my favorite thoughts:  If you don't have a reason to stay, you must have a reason to go!!!
Good luck in whatever you decide.