September 26, 2011

The Full-time RV life has some unusual features, one of which is a series of temporary part-time jobs in RV Parks.  These jobs are usually in a scenic place, and in return for working 15 - 20 hours a week the RVers get a free spot to park and maybe a little pay.  It’s a great way to really get to know a new area beyond the tourist sights and learn what makes it unique.  It’s a great opportunity to get things done that require staying in one place for awhile, such as RV maintenance or medical treatment.  It’s the only way to really get to know some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet - that alone makes it a worthwhile!  And the pay helps stretch retirement dollars farther.  

Amazon is a different scenario.  During the peak holiday they need temporary help, and they have learned that RVers are the perfect answer.  The work is between 40 and 60 hours a week and the pay is between $9 to $12 an hour, depending on the location and shift, plus the RV site is paid for.  Rvers usually take this job to cover a large planned expense, like big RV repairs or an extended vacation.  We met a couple in their 40s who do this yearly, and spend the rest of the year working for little or no  money in state parks.

Of course, there is another group of people who work here.  For someone who wants a job but can’t find one, if they have access to an RV or a camper, this is a chance to work full-time for awhile.  For a few months Amazon will pay their rent and utilities and give them an above-minimum wage, and in this economy that is a welcome respite for them.

Randy and I came to Amazon as part of the first group - planning to earn some extra cash to pay for some RV remodeling and make our retirement fund go a little farther.  However, we have discovered that this job is not for us.  10 hour days are OK in an office, but in a factory it makes for a very long day, and working 5:30 pm to 4 am doesn’t help.  We’ve met some great people in the park, but socializing doesn’t occur much because everyone is tired.  And there are some rules that don’t make sense for us.  For example, several hours of manual labor can make my wrist hurt so as a preventative measure I want to wear my wrist brace.  This is not allowed unless I have a doctor’s prescription for it.  But the main reason we decided not to stay is because the job we had is mindless.  There aren’t even prices on items so I can amuse myself by saying “wow, that’s a bargain” or “wow, who would pay that for this?”.  And the nature of the job does not allow conversations with others.  So what we have is 10 hours of mind-numbing activity, day after day.  We gave it a real try but this just isn’t for us.  So we are going back to St. Louis for awhile to change a few things in the RV and decide what to do next.