Workamping Introduction

What is workamping?  Many people ask me this repeatedly, so here's a very brief introduction. More on the nuts and bolts later.

I love workamping but it's not for everybody. 

There is no one-size-fits-all workamping opportunity. 

Workamping is living in your motorhome or RV (Recreational Vehicle) at or very near the jobsite. Typically, owning and living in an RV is the number one requirement for the situation.

It must be fully self-contained in many instances,  even though some or all utilities are typically provided along with a camping site for the duration of the workamping agreement.

There are basically three different types of workamping:

Paid situations where you are required to live in your RV on or nearby a jobsite.  The RV camping lot is often provided at no cost as part of the pay and there is a separate salary check.  The work could be specialty, temporary, seasonal or even long term.  

Volunteer situations are with a government agency or non-profits that ask you to volunteer your services at no pay. You are required to live on or nearby the jobsite in your RV. The RV lot and utilities along with other perks (sometimes) are provided  in exchange for your volunteer services.  

Bartering with corporations or privately owned businesses that operate for profit. You exchange X number of hours per week or specific services.  In exchange you receive camping and utilities instead of a paycheck. 

If you are looking to get rich or accumulate wealth, look elsewhere. Workamping is not for you. However if you love the RV lifestyle fulltime but need extra funding to maintain your nomatic survival, then workamping could help you bridge the gap. While many situations will not pay any cash, having your lot rent and utilities paid for one month or many months can certainly knock a dent in your budget. 

Every workamping situation is completely different.  Some are quite casual arrangements, others are a strict adherence to a specific job detail.

Some require a couple, with both people working, others are suitable for a single. Some allow the couple to decide how they will handle the work load, so that it may be possible that only one person is working for the spot, even though two are living on it in one motorhome (or fifth wheel or travel trailer.)

In a later column I will tell you more about workamping. While there are numerous places to check for workamping possibilities, here are two free sites for you to peruse.

Volunteer for Government
http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/


Workers on Wheels
Work for RVers and Campers Blog

http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/work-for-RVers-and-campers-blog.html

You can search the internet for numerous more workamping listings. Beware, that some sites charge you fees but most do not. Many State Parks have websites set up for workamping too.

Frankly, I don't believe the sites that advertise workamping as a total vacation. Either you are working or vacationing.

In my opinion, a working vacation is like wearing shoes while barefoot.

But there is certainly nothing wrong with loving your work so much it feels like a vacation.