Pro's & Con's of "Work Kamping" or "Extended Stay"

[Superslif]

I'm a minimum of 6 years away from retiring. Well at least that far off to receive full retirement income. I always thought about doing the state park volunteer thing. But with the way todays economy is going to do what I would call "extended stay" traveling. I don't think I can ever "Full Time" it because I would have trouble letting go of most of my things. With extended stay, maybe going 2-3 months at a time to maybe one location or more. I have a few ?'s that have not been answered in acticles or blogs about Full Timing or Extended Stays. The first one: If your traveling to another state and say you plan to stay for 2 months. Now do you apply for a job without being a resident of that state? Say for the area your in, there were no work kamping opportunes open. So you settle at campground where you can pay by the month, but would like to find a simple part-time job nearby to supplement your living expenses. Is it worth it to even bother? If you did find a job, would it pay in the end because you would have to file taxes in that state, besides your home state. My parents stay down in South Texas 4 months during the winter for about $350 a month plus metered electric. But they don't need any income. So that suits them fine. I'm thinking I may need something small (job) so I don't drain my retirement income. Any input would be good....You might say why are you even thinking of this now. While still working now I'm able to take 5 weeks off during the summer. So I usually take them 2 at a time for a total of 50-60 nights a year. But wouldn't it be nice to go 6,7,8 or more weeks....that 2nd week now I sometimes forget that I have to return to work......You start getting into a non-work mind set where you can really start enjoy life. You actually have time to read the whole newspaper. Or like my father does (morning nap) & a (afternoon nap)... Thanx....

[MtManLee]

I don't think I can ever "Full Time" it because I would have trouble letting go of most of my things.
You can alway get you a storage shed and store anything you really could not part with.

If your traveling to another state and say you plan to stay for 2 months. Now do you apply for a job without being a resident of that state?
First off most states do not require anyone to apply as a permanet resident until 90 days to 6 months. Second if you are volunteering it does not matter and third if you are a full time rver you can stay a year and still not necessarily have to be considered a resident of that state.

Say for the area your in, there were no work kamping opportunes open. So you settle at campground where you can pay by the month, but would like to find a simple part-time job nearby to supplement your living expenses. Is it worth it to even bother? If you did find a job, would it pay in the end because you would have to file taxes in that state, besides your home state.
Again you dont worry about that tax problem and second I would not go to another state if I am just workamping unless I have a job already set up. Why go there and look for a job when you can be at home and do that on the computer. I have VIP'd at National Parks for three years and have had my jobs laid out usually a year in advance. Or if I was not going to VIP, I planned my workamping months in advance.

I'm thinking I may need something small (job) so I don't drain my retirement income. Any input would be good....You might say why are you even thinking of this now. While still working now I'm able to take 5 weeks off during the summer. So I usually take them 2 at a time for a total of 50-60 nights a year. But wouldn't it be nice to go 6,7,8 or more weeks....that 2nd week now I sometimes forget that I have to return to work......You start getting into a non-work mind set where you can really start enjoy life.
If you volunteer you usually only get a fullhookup campsite as you pay which if you think about it thats worth 500 a month. Second most places will not hire you if you cannot dedicate at least 3 months or a season to the job, two weeks to two months may not even begin to cut it.

[Superslif]

Thanx for the input.....getting back to the VIP'ing route. Now a days we camp about 90% of the time at state parks. (OH, PA. NY. VT.) I could easily see myself and the wify doing the VIP position. While in Vermont last summer I was asking the state park mananger about their VIP'ing programs in VT. She was ready to hire me on the spot. I guess they were really hard up for bodies. They had an opening they needed filled at the park we were staying at. Is there a nationwide database where VIP'ing positions are posted besides the few I see in sites like IRV2? Or do you need to contact the states you are interested in. We camp a lot in PA. I have talked to a bunch of VIP's in many different parks. Their minimium commitment is 2 weeks for new people (VIP's). Where Ohio's is a 3 month commitment. I do notice in PA. the regular VIP's you see season after season must live nearby because you will not see them during the middle of the week for the most part.

[Dolph]

You can find government volunteer positions at Volunteer.gov Some states require you to register your vehicle when you accept gainful employment. Check with the DMV in the state you are considering to see what their requirements are. If you are a volunteer this does not apply as it is not considered "gainful employment"

[MtManLee]

Dolph, that is for full time work exceeding 6 months. Volunteering, fulltime rving, working for parks or temp jobs or less than 180 days do not have to sweat it and if any one tells you other wise they are full of it.
I know people who go from state to state on construction jobs and work 6 months or less on most the jobs and even when they go over 6 months they do not have to get a license or anything else since they are there on a contracted job. Ask all those people who have been in Louisiana working for the past three years on contract and they are still registered in their own states.

[Superslif]

Thanx again, I was thinking I may need a small / easy job as far as needing a little income to tide me over. It all depends on how the economy goes the next 5-10 years. Right how I do get 6 weeks of vacation, at which we take 2 weeks at a time usually. So you can say I'm testing the waters. If 2 is nice 4 would be better and 8 would be wonderful. Or we could do the EBay thing which we have been doing since Nov. 00'. All depends how technology advances to do it on the road. Even how I'll hit a few garage sales to pick up deals to re-sell once I get home. I remember a few years back, while in VT. in Aug. a ski resort had ski helmets for $20 each. I bought them all 50 for $10 each. Bought about 15 pairs of new ski boot 10 cents on the dollar and resold them at home. I remember the whole back of my SUV was filled up with ski stuff. But in the end those items paid for the whole trip.

[MtManLee]

Once many many years ago I went to a military auction and they had a pallet of manual typewriters and I bought the entire pallet of about 180 typewriters for 15.00. Reworked as many as I could to a working order and sold them for 15 dollars each. I think I managed to get 100+ working enough to sell. Thought that was a great investment. LOL Been to a couple of storage sheds and police auctions where I resold the bulk of what I had bought and also made a killing. Been many many years ago since I was last into all that.

[Superslif]

Yes, I have been to a few industrial auctions. were I have bought 100 or 200 of something. A few months back I bought 1000 water supply lines for 4 cents each. EBay seller ~Superslif ~ I never know what I'll bring home....

[Dolph]

MtManLee, I still suggest that one checks with the DMV of the State where they are considering going to work.
For instance, this is from the CA DMV:

"If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

If you take a job here or become a resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days.

[MtManLee]

I lived in King City, Calif a few years ago gainfully employed full time for 18 months on a contract job, they did not require getting a Calif license, plates, moving or otherwise. That rule is for people who move to calif and get jobs. One has to read the fine print or call the nitwits in charge since those who work there know little or nothing. Calif also has a lot of other laws that are totally against everyone and everything else the rest of the US understands. Nothing new consider the state.

[rvgrandma]

We are Workampers and have worked in Oregon (home state), Washington, NH, Florida, Nevada, and Utah. Naturally the only state with income tax is Oregon, but we do have to pay income tax to Oregon on all our income no matter where earned.

Now, if you pay income tax to a state other than your domicile state, often your domicile state will give you credit for the income tax you paid to another state.

The only state I have heard of that gives Workampers a problem that are from out of state is California, especially in southern California. I have read post at WorkamperNews.com of workers who were turned in by the park owners they were working at. For that reason, we avoid California when looking for our next job although we have considered Northern California since it seems to be a totally different atmosphere up there.

There are a lot of jobs available on the East Coast you would probably love - some pay others are volunteers. Subscribe to WorkamperNews, check out Worker on Wheels, and this site.

[golden]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If you volunteer you usually only get a fullhookup campsite as you pay which if you think about it thats worth 500 a month. Second most places will not hire you if you cannot dedicate at least 3 months or a season to the job, two weeks to two months may not even begin to cut it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not entirely true. True about the "value" of the FHU, but many state parks, especially those in Oregon will limit stays to as little as one month. Generally speaking, the more popular the park and area, the less time you will be allowed to volunteer.

[Superslif]

O by the way we also have our share of "nitwits" here in the midwest too. Our states here have so much elbow greasing going on I have thought about buying stock in a grease company. Everything (corruption)is starting to surface. The last few years you would think the only way anything gets done is by paying off the right person in state or city governments.

[Superslif]

Back to the subject...In PA. their new volunteers are schuluded for a initial 2 week period. I guess that is to check them out. By the time I retire I would like to move up to a 5er for my RVing needs. If I had the room to store it at my home residence now it would be a good time to buy. Fact a great time to buy. In the future my new residence will have to include easy access for a larger RV. Right now I store my 24' trailer off site, but can bring it home and park it in front of the garage for a few days.