Jaimie and Alice, the RV Sleuths: Recent Comments

Comment on Green RVing - an oxymoron?

2007-11-16T16:45:44Z

Good article! You might also be interested in an article I wrote awhile back for my "Travels with Andy" website... it's call "Saving the Earth at 8 mpg." :-)

<http://www.andybaird.com/travels/saving-the-earth.htm>

Comment on Ridin' the rails

2007-10-12T11:11:09Z

Fall in Colorado -- a most beautiful time. Helps to recall the train ride that I took perhaps 10 years ago. Thanks for the memories and the photos.

Comment on Looking for Natalie Goldberg

2007-10-06T11:20:40Z

Thanks for the update. (She's probably been here for years!) We may be in luck as we are now in Santa Fe. It's even larger than Taos, but you never know.... Jaimie

Comment on Looking for Natalie Goldberg

2007-10-06T11:17:51Z

I believe Natalie now lives in Sante Fe so keep your eyes open! She does the workshops in Taos, though at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House.

Comment on Finding work where you'd like to play

2007-09-17T16:55:34Z

Dear Stephanie,
As Jaimie mentioned, most full-time RVers head for the southern warmer states in the winter months: Florida, Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and southern Arizona and California. One of the great advantages in the southwestern deserts is the location of public lands administered by BLM (Bureau of Land Management). The costs are minimal to none but so are the amenities.

Many full-timers will outfit their rigs with solar panels, more batteries, and larger fresh water and holding tanks so they can camp without hookups for lengthy periods. Working RVers will often save their money so they can afford to live cheaply without income during the winter months. When you trim down your needs, you can live comfortably and use the solar power of the desert to fire your use of tv, computer, charging cell phone, etc. Jaimie and I both have lived successfullly in boondocking (no hookups) situations. Go to http://www.blm.gov/nhp/index.htm for more information about BLM campgrounds.

An excellent all-purpose site for information about public and private campgrounds is http://www.rvnetlinx.com.
There are several reciprocal campground organizations that enable you to park at campgrounds for modest fees with a relatively small initial investment. Check out http://coastresorts.com and http://www.resortparks.com.

I have gathered many of these links on a 2-page handout for a seminar I gave at Life on Wheels. Send me an email at youshoulda @ aol.com (remove spaces) to request the handout.

You are on the right track, Stephanie, doing your research now. Stay in touch with us.
Alice Zyetz

Comment on Finding work where you'd like to play

2007-09-17T13:58:58Z

So glad you find our website and blog helpful! The RV lifestyle is an adventure. In my opinion, working and volunteering add to your travels.

I'm assuming from your comment you want to go somewhere warmer. Florida, Texas and Arizona are popular winter destinations for RVers or "snowbirds." Work opportunities are not as plentiful as in the summer. Because of the demand, many RV parks want you to exchange a lot of hours just for a site- I've seen as high as 24 hrs/each/week in Florida. That said, there are paid work opportunities. They take more digging. I recommend a Plus subscription to Workamper News. You'll find ads for jobs in the magazine and on the daily hotline plus a community of Workampers who can make suggestions.

Besides working in RV parks, consider finding a low-cost RV spot, perhaps in a mobile home park, and then working outside the park. Home Depot is an employer that hires seasonal help or go to a temporary agency. You might also find work for one of the concessionaires at a larger national park: Death Valley, Everglades are two.

Use a campground directory to find campgrounds that are open all year round. Or, do a search for RV parks in a specific area you are interested in.

Good luck!

Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak

Comment on Finding work where you'd like to play

2007-09-17T13:39:52Z

I am an rv wannabe(rvwannabe.blogspot.com), meaning my dream is to travel full-time. I just wanted to say how inspired websites like yours are to me. Maybe I really can do it someday. But, I am wondering where RVer's spend their winters? I am from PA and all our campgrounds close between Labor day and Memorial day. How do you find the ones that are open year round? And is there still work available then.

Comment on Welcome!

2007-08-15T09:52:13Z

Thanks! We look forward to sharing our adventures and tips on the RV lifestyle we have learned from others and from hard knocks!

Irene- it's smart to prepare by getting all the knowledge you can before your leave.

Sue- thanks for the compliment! There are probably books already on this topic. Plus, these blogs pretty well walk you through it. Jaimie

Comment on Welcome!

2007-08-15T09:45:39Z

WOW what a great blog. I sure wish I knew how to do all that creative stuff. How about a book on that? Sue

Comment on Welcome!

2007-08-15T09:44:12Z

Enjoyed your story. Keep the blog going forward. Not in an RV yet -- 1.5 yrs to go b/4 that happens! Reading and preparing for that day as I write.