The wife and I are working at a park in Florida about 25 hours a week. We get free sight, fre electricity, free cable, free propane, 25% off camprgound store supplies, and have some great managers to work for and with. We are not looking fo a salary since we are both still working. I work full time for Fedex and the wife works part time as a surgery nurse. I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. We made this our home and enjoy it. I guess if I was retired and needed some source of income (even if it was not a lot) I would still be looking for benefits with the salary.
Don / Brenda
Full-timing / Ocala, Florida
2002 Saturn (toad)
We work 3-5 hrs @ for FHU and management expects not only what i call normal work, they expect us to wire campsites and dig ditches for nothing. No benefits and owners who have no iterest in what is happening to the campground. So all the other jobs i see look like nice work campared to ours. Out for the season and maybe no more
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
DataStorm
HAM WB6N (Terry)
2005 Teton 39' Frontier Grand
2003 Freightliner FL60
Life Member Good Sam
Escapees
Geocache..."RVcachers" RV net Blog
I am neither a work Camper or Volunteer Camper YET, but the wife and I hope to be in a year or so. That's why I'm here. I find this discussion a lot like those for and against parking at Walmart. I have always been facinated by those that think everyone should be paid equally. It seems to me that If two parties make a deal that works for both it's a win win situation. The next guy can make his own deal (better or worse).
George Stanton
Anticipating retirement
Full-Timer wannabe
Camping with DW of 40 years and three Therapy Dogs (SmallDog, Oliver & Ted)
gestanton wrote: I am neither a work Camper or Volunteer Camper YET, but the wife and I hope to be in a year or so. That's why I'm here. I find this discussion a lot like those for and against parking at Walmart. I have always been facinated by those that think everyone should be paid equally. It seems to me that If two parties make a deal that works for both it's a win win situation. The next guy can make his own deal (better or worse).
I'll tell you what it reminds me of. I'm a photographer -- mostly portraits and weddings. I work out of my home and have low overhead since there's no commercial space expense. I also work mostly on referrals and keep my advertising to a minimum. It's a small operation -- just me. And photography has been my semi-retirement job. Consequently, I'm able to keep my rates fairly low.
I catch a little flack from other photographers because of my prices. It makes it harder for them to justify their higher rates. I understand where they're coming from, just as I understand why workampers who depend on an income resent those who work for below minimum wage. Why would an employer (campground owner) pay me $10 per hour when he can hire Joe, who is retired with a fat nest egg, $3 per hour to do the same job? Joe, and others like him who just want something to occupy their time, make it more difficult to find $10/hour jobs.
That's what it's all about. That's why unions were formed years ago, and it's why strikers don't care much for strike breakers.
Both sides have valid points, and I'm not taking sides. If I'm workamping in a few years for $10/hour and get fired to make room for a $3/hour workamper, I might. On the other hand, I might find that warm, sunny spot on the Oregon coast and be overjoyed to chat with guests 40 hours a week for a free place to park.
newk
You are correct, but only up to a point. We who volunteer are mostly doing things which just would not get done if there were no volunteers to do the work for nothing, or near nothing. We do it because we enjoy what we do, we support and believe in the work of the agency that we work with, and because of the new things that we learn and the experiences that we have.
Pam & I have done many things that we could never have done without the volunteer positions available. We volunteered at an air field where we had many opportunities to go flying, mostly in antique aircraft. At another location I was care giver for two baby alligators and learned more than you can imagine about those fascinating animals. We have banded song birds, done observations from an air-boat, helped with a bear study, taught school children about desert plants, and bunch of other things that most people never get the chance to experience.
Just where is it that you can get a paid position that will give such a varied experience? We do what we do because we love doing it, because we keep our minds active with the new things we learn, and are constantly exposed to new experiences. We gain a sense of satisfaction from the knowledge that the place is better because we spent time there. And then to top it all off, we meet the finest, most committed people in the world as we go and make friends with folks that we could never meet in any other way!
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On the other hand, I might find that warm, sunny spot on the Oregon coast and be overjoyed to chat with guests 40 hours a week for a free place to park.
