How to Make Money as a Nomad? (Spoiler Alert: We Are Not Retired)
This is a topic that deserves much more than four paragraphs, but for now, I’ll keep it short and personal. When I left Belgium in 2003, I had no idea it would be “forever”. I took a leave of absence from my teaching job, which allowed a previously unemployed educator to take my job, for which the government rewarded me with a stipend of $300 a month. That gig lasted a few years and I could pretty much live off it, as I toured North and Central America in a truck camper. When Mark first stopped working as an IT manager, interest rates of his savings account were high enough for him to get by on.
When we still found ourselves roaming about – on a 35-foot sailboat this time – in 2007 and were asked how long we’d be keeping that lifestyle up, we said: “Until we get sick of it, or until the money runs out.” Well, boats are expensive to maintain, so I quickly found myself picking up jobs whenever I could, physically and digitally. Over the next eight years, I cleaned boats, homeschooled children, created book lesson plans, wrote articles, walking tours (available on Amazon), and press releases, tended a bar, and started translating.
By the time we sold our boat in 2015, I was officially a “digital nomad”. More importantly, from 2009 until 2018, Mark and I ran a successful Marine WiFi business that put food on the table the initial years and eventually covered our yearly expenses. We’re always extremely busy.
Observations:
- If you really want to work, you will find something. Especially if you are creative and flexible.
- If you can put your skills to use as a freelancer to do online jobs or as a handy man to help out fellow boaters or RVers, you will have an easier time making money.
- Working makes a nomadic lifestyle even more challenging and exhausting!
How This Job Started
Fast forward to February of this year, when Mark had been “retired” for six months and I was occupied with random translations, a monthly editing job, and loads of unpaid work in the form of writing a memoir. We’d successfully interviewed for a job as pet sitters/apartment managers in Grenada (until the owners decided to do it themselves) and applied for two CamperForce positions at Amazon for the 2019 holiday season, after reading Bonnie Gibson-Cunningham’s detailed reports about doing so that winter. She produced a fantastic write-up about that experience here and here. I still remember her positive takeaway: “You get paid to walk 10 – 15 miles a day!” She was back in Campbellsville, KY this year.
Observations:
- This job sounded pretty cool: experiencing a new state, making money, and exercising (losing weight?) all in one.
- Being in a real campground would be interesting.
- I was looking forward to a community feel and maybe making new friends.
What is Amazon CamperForce?
Over the holiday season, the Amazon Fulfillment centers need extra help, stowing, picking, and packing (“fulfilling”) orders placed online. They hire seasonal workers and in certain locations, they look for RVers interested to join the CamperForce team. The requirements are that you live in a camper and are a US resident. For the 2019 season, the company paid up to $550 a month for your Amazon-approved campground, $15 per hour of work for the day shift ($15.75 for the night shift) and 1.5x that during overtime up to 60 hours a week, and upon completion, a bonus of $0.50 per normal hour worked and $1.00 per overtime hour worked. This is manual labor during which one walks 10 – 15 miles per shift and signs up for a four day on/three day off schedule – 40 hours a week. I recommend reading Bonnie’s entertaining and informative posts for more details about all this.
Observations:
- Everything always sounds better “on paper”.
- No two years are the same.
- This year, none of the CamperForce employees’ preferences were taken into consideration.
Not the easiest weather to live in a camper!
The Amazon Job
So, Mark and I applied for CamperForce in February and were hired after a couple of online tests. We managed to get spots in Campbellsville, KY, which was the only fulfillment center we were interested in for two reasons: our campground of choice, Heartland RV Park, would be fully paid for (most campgrounds charge more than the $550 a month) and it was in walking distance of the Amazon warehouse. If we wanted to commute, we’d take a better paying and less physical job!
The job place, a five-minute walk from the RV park
CamperForce in Campbellsville (fulfillment center SDF1) would start the week of November 3rd and run until the week of December 23rd. But, in June 2019, we adopted Maya… Realizing she has separation anxiety and not wanting to leave our sweetheart alone for up to 11 hours a day (we are people who do “everything” with and for our dogs), I pulled out of the job and looked forward to bonding more with Maya (she is extremely attached to Mark) and work from home. Having ten hours a day to myself sounded attractive and productive!
That was until – two weeks before the starting date – we were notified Mark was assigned the night shift! Nothing could change that. After a training period of 20 hours – four five-hour evenings – he’d be picking from 5:30pm until 4am, with a half an hour break for “lunch” at 10:30pm and two ten-minute respites in between. Amazon messed up his application, so he missed out on the first five hours of work. Not a good start. Mandatory overtime was assigned on week two: five nights in a row (Thursday through Monday), Mark worked ten-hour shifts. This meant one full day off a week, Wednesdays, as he didn’t come home until 4:15am on Tuesdays and went back to work at 5:15pm on Thursdays.
(Hover over photos to read captions and click on them to enlarge.)
Amazon provides Ibuprofen, gloves, ice packs, and inner soles in free vending machines. There is a permanent medical team on staff and safety comes first. That being said, the job is incredibly physical and monotonous. Ten hours a night, Mark scanned items, picked them off the shelves – often high (step ladder needed) or low (bending down or kneeling needed) – and put them in totes. Once full, these had to be pushed by cart and dropped off at a conveyor belt. And, the process repeated… in a huge warehouse. Seven weeks of this is a long time. Voluntary extra time was presented, so some peers worked 60 hours a week, and an extension of three weeks was offered. Mark declined. Both.
Mark pushing his cart with totes at the Amazon Fulfillment Center
Observations:
- Most fulltime employees smoke and rush outside during breaks.
- There are many water dispensers throughout the building.
- Styrofoam cups and plastic cutlery is what’s available in the cafeteria.
- Most employees LOVE Amazon – the work, the way the company is ran, the efficiency inside the warehouse – almost like a cult.
- There are four TVs in the lunch room: one channel is on CNN, one on Fox, one on HGTV, and one on ESPN (sports).
- You go through a metal detector on your way out of the building, not in. This is to prevent stealing. During training, the new employees learned about what to do if there was a shooting inside the fulfillment center. To Mark’s point: “You can’t steal, but you can get shot at work.”
- Spotted on a T-shirt: “Machine gun day at the riffle range”
- Mark picked some interesting things. Used penile girth enhancer anyone?
- This country’s obesity problem was portrayed in the overwhelmingly amount of humongous clothing items Mark picked. His “record” was a 7X shirt. He had to show the others! When T-shirts to employees were offered on a table, there was one row with S,M,L and two more rows with XL, XXL, XXXL and XXXXL, XXXXXL, XXXXXXL.
- Conversation a few days into Mark working for CamperForce:
Manager: “You’ve worked here before, right?”
Mark: “Nope. I’ve never worked for Amazon.”
Manager: “Not even at another location?”
Mark: “No.”
Manager: “Wow, you catch on fast!”
The Campground
Mark and I reserved our spot – based on easy accessibility to grass for Maya, privacy as an end spot, proximity to the fulfillment center (you could see it from there), and being away from the busiest roads – in March, eight months ahead of time, and confirmed that particular site (#75) two weeks before we showed up. As we checked into Heartland RV Park, we were told “our” spot had been assigned to someone else… We settled in #5, next to a big field-turned-swamp during rainy days and close to a very busy, loud “highway”. The WiFi never worked.
This was the very first time Mark and I stayed in an RV park with full hook-ups: unlimited water, electricity, and sewage at our site. Luxury! Plus, there were three washing machines and dryers, a Club House to hang out in (campers watched TV here and built puzzles), and hot showers. We never hooked Zesty up to the services at our site, worried about frozen lines and stagnant waste, but it was easy to fill the fresh water tank and dump the other tanks without moving.
Observations:
- Many campers have dogs and most engage someone off shift to walk them at “halftime”.
- Despite the many dogs and walkers frequenting grassy areas, there are irresponsible people not picking up after their pets. One couple even had an aggressive dog that attacked other dogs.
- There is not much of a social scene.
- The day shift people rarely see or interact with the night shift people.
- Conversation doing laundry one day:
He, with a heavy southern accent: “I detect an accent. Where are you from?”
Me, trying to understand his accent: “Belgium.”
He, with a Texan smile: “They have some nice guns in Belgium!”
The only point of interest along my daily walk
The Neighborhood
There were no trails in our area to hike with Maya, so I took her for a one-hour walk through the closest neighborhood every day, rain, snow, or shine. Once I turned off the main road, it was relatively quiet, apart from the many dogs barking as Maya passed through. It was not the most exciting of times, but this had to suffice on workdays.
Observations:
- People are very friendly.
- Many Kentuckians smoke.
- Every household has a handful of (running and non-running) cars.
- The vehicles are big and loud, especially the trucks and customized ones.
- People are very religious, as in “God created the world”-signs, sweaters, and conversations, “Have a blessed day”- greetings, and “In God We Trust” license plates and public school signs.
- Sweatpants are the preferred attire – at Amazon and elsewhere (stores, restaurants, sidewalks).
- There is an incredible amount of garbage along the road sides.
- Styrofoam and plastic cutlery are the go-to utensils for buffets, cafeterias, and take-outs. You wouldn’t think it’s almost 2020.
- The accent and slur are VERY strong. I miss half of every conversation, unfortunately.
Green River Reservoir
Limited Time off
Initially, Mark and I had grand plans. His proposed schedule had three days off every week; imagine what we could do… We planned to take off on two or three-day “weekends” and explore the entire state during this seven-week stay in Kentucky. Ha-ha! Or is it ho-ho?
As I mentioned before, we had one 24-hour period off every week. Plus, Mark was exhausted and sore. Plus, that was the time he could catch up on sleep. Plus, there were chores to take care of that required the van. And, we had plenty of issues in regards to orders, packages, Maya’s GPS-tracker, electronics, and a change in health care plans that needed hours on the phone, by Mark.
Yet, every Wednesday, we took Maya to a different forest or park to go for a two to three-mile hike, where she could finally run off leash and get the exercise she needed. Those became our favorite days. They started late, around 1pm, but included grocery shopping and a cheap dinner out or take-out food, once settled at our site again. If nothing else, we surely learned to appreciate days off again!
Observations:
- We will do our Kentucky sightseeing after Mark finishes this job.
- Mark will need to rest up before we hit the road again.
- We better have some fun once all this is over!
What Did I Do?
All Mark could muster on workdays was work, sleep, and eat. He also added a shower, internet time, and sometimes a bit of playing or training with Maya. We have come to the conclusion that night shifts might be the perfect job for people who don’t require a lot of sleep, as in six hours or so. When you need at least eight and are awoken often, this is not conducive to doing much else.
As for me… I had to adjust my schedule quite a bit and was mostly bummed about my lack of productivity. I had counted on ten hours a day to work myself, while in reality it was more like six, based on other chores and (depleted) nighttime energy and creativity.
I’d go to bed around 2am and sleep for a couple of hours before Mark arrived, needed downtime, and joined me before 5am. After being woken up by daytime activity and traffic a few times, I’d rise at 10:30am, check my emails and social media, feed Maya, take her for a walk, drop her off at Zesty, walk another dog, keep her company for a bit, and sit in the Club House with my iPad until Mark was up, usually between noon and 2pm.
I made tea and breakfast, which we consumed together. Dishes and a shower and soon enough, it was 3pm, at which point I had to take Maya for her “long” walk, in order to be back at 4pm, when I made Mark’s sandwich and started cooking. We always felt in a rush during the afternoon. We’d eat dinner at 4:45pm and Mark left at 5:15pm. Dishes, walking Maya again, feeding her, entertaining her, and time for me to start work around 6 or 7pm until midnight or 1am. Reading blogs, leaving comments, and writing my diary always took at least an hour a day as well. And, the cycle started over.
My real achievements include:
- Monthly editing work (twice) for Caribbean Compass
- Two translation projects, one of which lasted an entire ten days
- Creating one article and one anthology story submission
- Publishing nine blogs on Roaming About
- Researching book publishers
- Proofreading one book (and taking extensive notes) for an author friend
- Archiving hundreds of photos
- Staying on top of emails, social media, and blog reading and commenting
- Reading one book of a blogging friend in order to leave a review
- Applying for translation and transcription jobs with other companies – nothing panned out yet
- Querying my memoir to 40 more agents in order to reach my 130-agent goal this year
- Creating personal New Year’s calendars for my loved ones – Dutch and English versions
- Researching free camping options in Florida for this winter
Observations:
- We are not fans of night work.
- We are looking forward to hitting the road again and roaming around forests with Maya.
- We can’t wait to reach warmer weather!
Time to head south!
Will We Be Back?
No.
Observations:
- We met nice CamperForce people who we hope will remain friends.
- This was an interesting once-in-a-lifetime experience; not the bucket-list kind.
- We will keep looking for different jobs.
- There is much more to share, but I think you all agree that this was enough.
While this post is written in the past, Mark’s official end date is Monday, December 23rd, 2019.
Do you have any interesting job experiences to share? I’d love to read about them in the comments.
December 19, 2019 at 19:45
Hi Liesbet! Wow! It DID sound like it would be a perfect gig for you and Mark. But then again, you are both certifiable Nomads so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it was really hard to adjust to. Then throw in cold weather, noise, the night shift… Lots to contend with but good for you both for hanging in there and giving it a good try. And think how AWESOME it will feel when it’s over. That will surely be the BEST Christmas Present EVER!! ~Kathy
December 19, 2019 at 22:19
Hello Kathy! At this point, it’s almost over and Mark can taste that bonus. 🙂 Surprisingly, quite a few people pulled out this week. I think either to head south as it was freezing here again, or to make it back home in time to be with the kids and grand-kids over the holidays. And, you are so right, being able to take off and to take time off over Christmas will be bliss! The weather will be in our favor next week as well, since temps in the fifties are predicted, which seems unseasonable. We will take it to sight-see a bit.
December 19, 2019 at 19:58
Nomad life is not for the inflexible! Thanks for your honest and detailed post.
December 19, 2019 at 22:20
Hi Laurie! Thanks for reading and commenting. You know what the nomad life like. 🙂 Being flexible is key in this lifestyle – even when it comes to jobs…
December 19, 2019 at 22:42
Oh my goodness! I’m amazed Mark stuck it out. I’m amazed at all you got done. In the words of Jane Fonda ‘think how good you’ll feel when it’s over’. Happy Christmas to you!
December 20, 2019 at 00:06
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you both as well!!!
It’s a tricky thing, this job. Every CamperForce employee has four “points” to use for staying home or leaving early when not feeling well, etc. But, if one does that, one doesn’t get paid. And that’s what everyone is here for, the money. So, unless someone is really feeling ill, he/she goes to work, exhausted or not. 🙂 Yes, we will be so happy to hit the road again and live at a more mellow pace for a bit! I’ll try not to feel guilty about being unproductive again!
December 19, 2019 at 22:43
We often thought that if we had been eligible to work in the U.S., we might have done a stint at Amazon. And after reading your review, I think we still would have done it. I think you just need to put yourself in the right state of mind, and of course it helps that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
December 20, 2019 at 00:17
Hi Ruth and Kevin,
Thank you for reading and commenting. This CamperForce deal is attractive to a lot of RVers, hence all the positions always fill up. In Campbelsville, they filled up in one day for 2019!! We were on a “waiting list” and didn’t get in until August. I left that part of the story out.
It sure is an experience. I feel like I missed out, staying home and working at my computer, but everyone working at Amazon would prefer to do that instead of the physical labor. At least, that’s what they say… Mark and at least one other camper joined for the experience as much as for anything else. Based on these two people, the experience would have been enough after four weeks. 🙂
Maybe Walmart in Canada will offer CamperForce one year. Although, it would be way too cold over the holiday period to live in an RV for weeks or months. I don’t think they are on Vancouver Island…
Two times “yes” to your statements: being in the right state of mind is necessary and seeing the end as well. So many times, we’ve talked to the campers here, feeling bad about the full-time employees who do this job for decades and some of them even drive an hour each way to reach the warehouse. Pfff…
December 20, 2019 at 01:15
Wow, Liesbet… I’ll never be able to order anything from Amazon again without thinking of all the people who work so hard to make it happen. Although Paul and I don’t give each other Christmas gifts (I swear I wasn’t the one who ordered the penile girth enhancer), I do order things now and then. I hope Mark makes it through the next few days, gets his big bonus, and the three of you can head for a warmer climate. Kentucky looks cold!
December 20, 2019 at 18:42
Hi Janis!
Kentucky IS cold at the moment, but some surprise weather is leading us into the holidays next week, with highs of upper fifties. That will be amazing. How funny that last winter we thought fifties was too cold for us. Haha! Well, it still is too cold for us, but it beats twenties and thirties.
After tonight, two more nights. Yes, we are counting down. Unfortunately, the bonus isn’t that big. As a matter of fact, it’s so low that it’s not an incentive anymore for CamperForce people to stay. Some of them left already, to make it home in time for Christmas. But, anything helps! Luckily, we aren’t in a rush and we don’t have any family gatherings to attend.
Enjoy the holidays season, you two! I know you’ll give each other the gift of quality time and gathering experiences instead of stuff! 🙂
December 20, 2019 at 03:11
Liesbet, you and Mark are a force to be reckoned with. This was a tough gig, but you got through it with sheer determination. Freedom will feel even more sweet now. Merry Christmas and good health, adventures and fun for 2020.
December 20, 2019 at 18:45
Hi Gilda!
Funny you mention freedom, as I just commented to our neighbor in the campground that I can’t wait to be on the road and camping in nature again, as that is my sense of freedom and makes me be able to breathe! Despite the conveniences and “luxuries” of sitting in the same spot for a while, it is getting a tad claustrophobic and tenuous. 🙂 Hurray to that freedom and for you guys as well, as you set out on your own adventures.
Happy holidays and may 2020 bring you and yours the necessary fun and excitement, on top of good health and happy family moments.
December 20, 2019 at 09:01
Mark has the guts and you have the chutzpah to survive (and thrive) on the road.
Your experience and observations recorded here should be required reading for anyone contemplating this adventuresome lifestyle. I agree with Gilda: You are a force to be reckoned with!
Enjoy the holiday and best wishes for the new year!
December 20, 2019 at 18:48
Thank you for the wishes, Marian, and for being a faithful follower and commenter on my blog. Your words put a smile on my face, as always. Sometimes, I really want to write that book about “how to” live a life less ordinary – on the road, on the water, or as house and pet sitters. 🙂
Merry Christmas and enjoy the upcoming coziness, love, and peace of the holidays!
December 20, 2019 at 09:56
Wow lots of learning! As a nurse I used to work nights and never did well physically with it. No matter how tired i was I just couldn’t seem to get the same sleep in the day. Good for Mark to hang in and get through it and for you to adapt as best you could to the schedule. Wishing you both a happy holiday season wherever your road leads. Hugs to you both.
December 20, 2019 at 18:53
Hi Sue!
I never realized you worked nights as a nurse. One of Mark’s colleagues, whom we became friends with, used to be a nurse as well and had to do night shifts of twelve hours, so she thought this one would be a breeze… I’ll save you her reactions after three weeks of this. 🙂 Like so many other things we do in life, it was an interesting experience. And, we are so happy not to do this forever, like other employees and professions.
Enjoy the holidays as well! We hope you and Dave have a nice time with the family and cozy evenings at the fireplace (any fireplace) this season. Big hugs returned!
December 20, 2019 at 11:21
We started out our nomadic life with the same idea as you did – that we would do it until either we got tired of it or our money ran out. Of course, the money runs out way before you get tired of it.
When we started we had a bit of money in the bank and rental income from our house (which we owned outright). That money was never going to be enough and we started coming back from traveling every Spring broke so obviously we had to start supplementing our income. We got lucky falling into a yearly summertime house sitting situation which allowed us to live in the neighborhood where we owned our house moving from house to house every week or two to take care of peoples pets while they traveled. We also started doing odd jobs.
Greg did handyman work and I did some website work and whatever else came my way. One of the oddest jobs I/we did were to replace all of the old TVs in a friends house with digital ones, then cancel her cable. I did research on what TVs and antenna to buy for the one analog TV she was keeping. I went out and bought the TV, hooked them all up including connecting them to the internet, cancelled the cable and returned the cable equipment. I’ve also helped some of my hoarder friends hold yard sales full of mind boggling amounts of junk (I mean, treasures), help a friend start to clean and clear out her mother’s house when she was moving her to a care facility.
Of course, Greg ended finding a partner and quit the handyman work and started a successful painting business. And I waited tables for 3 summers. We now have extra money in the band!
Figuring out the money to travel has to be the hardest part for anyone who doesn’t have retirement income. Perhaps we were lucky. It just felt like we just put ourselves out there and over time it all came together.
Anyways – I have been looking forward to this post and reading about your experience. I wish is had gone better. But I’m glad you can check it off the list and I hope you have replenished your traveling fund enough to not have to worry about money for a while!
December 20, 2019 at 19:00
Hi Duwan!
I don’t think finding random jobs and making it all work has to do with luck. You both have skills (like everyone has one way or another) and you were creative, determined, and smart enough to come up with solutions about earning enough income.
Like I mentioned before, I feel there are two ways of approaching this nomadic life when not retired – either you work year round and (from) wherever you find yourself, or you alternate travels and working full-time from a base.
You were so successful, financially, because you opted for the months of working in a row and then the enjoyment of not having to work. We have always done it the other way, which can get extremely exhausting. For some reason, we still prefer that, as it keeps our back yard ever-changing.
I think what we are most worried about when/if temporarily settling and working for a better income is that most of our money will go towards accommodation and utilities. We can’t have that happen. 🙂
December 20, 2019 at 12:46
This sounds like quite an experience Liesbet and well done Mark to doing night-shifts! When one person works nights it affects the other person too and hopefully you can now recover and enjoy some of the scenery in Kentucky together before heading south to Florida. We wish you a fun and relaxing time and a safe onward journey. Merry Christmas to you both and please give Maya a big pat from us all xxx
December 20, 2019 at 19:03
Hi Xenia!
We are so looking forward to being on the same (daytime) schedule again and exploring a bit more of this state. Three more nights! 🙂 We will not take our lifestyle for granted anymore after these exhausting weeks and “lack of sleep” nights.
Thank you for the wishes and Maya wags in reaction to your big pat! Merry Christmas to you and your (furry) family as well!! Xxx
December 22, 2019 at 09:20
You’re staying in my neck of the woods, which is to say the Boondocks! Campbellsville is quite rural and remote, there’s not a lot to see and do in that area. I hope you have a chance to tour more of Kentucky when your gig is over, it’s a lovely state and there’s many more interesting places to visit besides Taylor County. And yeah, the southern drawl is tough to understand. My husband still has to translate for me!
December 22, 2019 at 18:16
Hi Richie!
Nice to virtually meet you and so hard to imagine that you are this close by. So funny you need a “translator” as well. Where are you originally from?
We have really enjoyed the short country rides we have taken on our days off, to the reservoir in Lebanon and Green River State Park, for example. We’re looking forward to visiting Louisville over Christmas and Mammoth Caves right after that. Unless our plans change again. 🙂
December 20, 2019 at 17:08
I have never heard anything good about working for Amazon. Well done to Mark for enduring it. My worst job, 6 weeks between school and university, was riveting handles onto paint tins. Sit me at that production line and I could still do it now.
December 20, 2019 at 19:08
Hi Anabel!
It sounds like nobody has ever heard anything good about working for Amazon. Mark’s mom was very worried (and embarrassed) that her highly educated son was doing manual labor in a warehouse… Just like my dear grandma was when she found out I was cleaning boats at some point in the past. Just another life experience for us! 🙂
Wow, I can imagine you would be able to assemble those handles on tin cans again, just thinking about it, going through the motions. Funny, as I had a “vacation job” (which is what we call it in Belgium) at a paintbrush manufacturing plant one year as well and we had to screw and glue handles on the brush part of those utensils!
December 21, 2019 at 03:26
Because of their bad employment conditions and their tax position I do my very best to avoid buying anything from Amazon.
December 22, 2019 at 00:06
Good for you, sticking to your convictions and principles. We find that hard to do sometimes, especially when their prices are the lowest and their conveniences the highest…
December 21, 2019 at 15:07
‘Freedom’ comes at a high price, Liesbet! Wishing you ‘time out’ at Christmas, and a fabulous year ahead 🙂 🙂
December 22, 2019 at 00:09
I guess you’re right, Jo! Freedom must have come easily to us in the past, as we never realized this “high price” and the restrictions of a real job… Our time out this week will feel fantastic. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
December 21, 2019 at 15:46
To me, the biggest bummer would be getting that night shift. If Mark had gotten to work during the day, I feel like it would have been a whole different ballgame. Crazy as it sounds, I think I’d try it. I like being physically busy, and knowing there was a finite end in sight would get me through, I think. Sorry your weather and surroundings were not better, but hope your next stop(s) make up for it. Happy Holidays and New Year to you both (and Maya)!
December 22, 2019 at 00:15
You’re hitting the nail on the head, Lexie! If Mark would have been assigned the day shift, not only would our life/week/time here have had some resemblance of normalcy, but we would have felt like we could accomplish more and sleep better. The shifts would still have been exhausting, and the starts early, but our rhythms would have been in sync with ourselves, each other, and nature.
I can totally understand you’d give it a try. That was our incentive as well. A new adventure. I can’t imagine doing this job “forever”, though. Mark has remarked on that often.
Happy Holidays and a fantastic and adventurous 2020 to you as well!! I hope our paths will finally cross next year.
December 21, 2019 at 16:56
Enjoy that hard earned freedom…coming soon! Please send a little Florida sunshine our way.
December 22, 2019 at 00:17
We will! Even more than other times. I can send you Kentucky sun next week, when the temps are predicted to be in the lower sixties on Christmas Day! Once they drop again, we’ll boogie down and hopefully, there will be nothing but sunshine in Florida. I’ll happily share some. 🙂
December 21, 2019 at 19:48
Wow, fascinating! I had no idea THIS existed! My hubby and I lived in an RV full time for 18 months and I quickly learned that all plans must be flexible when it comes to life on the road! I know I could not have done a night shift job! Thanks for this intriguing peek inside this little world!
December 22, 2019 at 00:22
Hi Andi!
Thanks for swinging by and commenting. Flexibility certainly is key, when living on the road (and the water) full time. And so is having an income. 🙂
I’m curious to find out more about your RVing lifestyle and can totally see why you picked Phoenix to be (for a while). We actually have RV friends who made Pioneer RV Park their winter base. We visited them last winter and I can honestly say that the desert attracts us and Southern Arizona is in our radar to settle for a bit.
December 22, 2019 at 03:55
An interesting read! Certainly not an easy life for you. Wish you well and hope you get easier jobs on the road.
December 22, 2019 at 18:11
Hi Alma! Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s good to experience manual labor once in a while. It makes us realize how hard it is (and feel bad for people who don’t have a way out) and encourages us to find alternative ways to make money. 🙂
December 23, 2019 at 02:16
I honestly didn’t think working for Amazon would be such a slog! Loved reading your anecdotes (“nice guns in Belgium” 😆) and observations. I’d love to visit to Kentucky but I know now, never to do it this way! x
December 25, 2019 at 20:39
Hi Gaby! This whole Amazon CamperForce episode was an interesting experience, another adventure, good to do once. 🙂 Kentucky has some interesting sites, but nothing like our favorite states out west! Merry Christmas!
December 23, 2019 at 02:58
Really amazing that you guys make it work! I agree that if someone really wants to find a job and be a digital nomad, they can. I was thinking of it for a bit while traveling in South America long-term but my heart was set on my next big adventure, moving to Portugal (that is happening in a week whoop whoop!). Let’s see what the future holds!
December 25, 2019 at 20:42
Hi Anna!
Thank you for reading and commenting. I always love to connect with like-minded nomads. Your upcoming adventure in and move to Portugal sounds exciting! Very different than the backpacking life. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on your blog, since I’ve been curious about the settling & working & travel again later combo.
December 23, 2019 at 16:55
You guys are legends of the nomads, lol. Holy cow, I admire both your tenacity. Never been to Kentucky, only passed through decades ago driving through. You guys need a nice warm timeout. Hope you have it. Happy holidays to you, Mark and Maya. <3
December 25, 2019 at 20:44
Hi Debby! Merry Christmas!
We are extremely lucky with the weather at this very moment – seventeen degrees Celsius on Christmas Day – so our hurry to get south has eased a bit. But, by the end of the year we will certainly have reached northern Florida! We are so happy to be back on the road and have some “normalcy” returned to our (still exhausted) lives. 🙂
December 24, 2019 at 17:22
Good read I was the Ford camper across from you also on nights
December 25, 2019 at 20:46
Hi Bill! Thanks for reading and commenting. We should have met at the campground, even though everyone was always tired or busy. 🙂
December 24, 2019 at 20:09
Thanks for sharing your experience with Amazon! We were in Campbellsville last year and in Chattanooga this year. We worked night shift both times and never got used to it. We don’t plan on making it a third year. We made a you tube video about our times there. Here is a link to the latest one https://youtu.be/fGrYIdIlVWI
Our favorite job and area to explore was Prairie Berry Winery in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We have a video on our channel about that experience as well.
Best of luck to you!
December 25, 2019 at 20:50
Hello Chris and Barbara!
I’m curious to find out the differences between the two fulfillment centers you worked at and why you didn’t return to Campbellsville for your second year. I hear you about not doing it again, though. The night shifts are so disruptive. But, apparently many people say they won’t return right after the job and then they change their mind later on, so you never know. 🙂
South Dakota sounds like a great place for a workamper job – it’s beautiful there – in the summer! I’ll be sure to check out your YouTube channel, once I’m rested up a bit. Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2019 at 10:23
Your post about working at SDF1 was extremely interesting and VERY ACCURATE. My husband worked for the last 7 years for Peak at SDF1. We stayed home this year to welcome our newest granddaughter in mid Nov. We enjoyed reading this blog together and remembering our experiences. He is 77. He found the physical part of the job doable but did end up mostly sleeping and working the last month. He has worked a variety of jobs and some years day shift and and some years night shift. We always stayed at Heartland in our Class A motorhome. We made friends with people who returned year after year. Our most important friendships in the area were from Campbellsville Baptist Church and Campbellsville University. Since I could not physically do the work required by Amazon, I was very involved with activities at the church. We actually missed being there this year. My husband initially did the Amazon Camperforce out of curiosity as to how it all worked and returned for the uniqueness of it all. He is retired and we spend about 6 mos of the year doing mission work and Amazon.
Your “observations” were right on. It is sort of a crazy experience. We are from PA and totally enjoy the friendliness of the people of KY and the small town atmosphere of Campbellsville. God Bless You both, Josie and Walter
December 25, 2019 at 20:59
Hi Josie and Walter,
Congratulations with your newest granddaughter, a good reason to skip doing CamperForce this year. I keep hearing that things have changed a lot here compared to other years and apparently not for the best. Most campers are not returning anymore. So, you’ll have the good memories to cherish. 🙂
Heartland was so convenient to working at SDF1, that we never considered other camping options. While my husband walked there in the beginning, our neighbor started offering him rides and as he got more and more exhausted, those were very much appreciated.
So nice you made long lasting friendships in Campbellsville. I think that is much easier to do when on the day shift. We became good friends with Dave and Karen, whom you may remember as they are very nice, friendly, and social. They’ve been there for seven years and got stuck with the night shift this time, which boggles my mind. They really missed the social gatherings and interactions they used to have during day shift years.
Thank you for reading and leaving this insightful and kind comment and Merry Christmas!
December 26, 2019 at 08:40
Just a surreal (and scary in some ways) experience. Of course Mark is a fast learner ;-). And they do love their guns in Kentucky, Maya adorable as always. Love your writing style. Had me along for the entire ride. What is your next adventure?
December 26, 2019 at 20:47
Hi Lisa!
This was an adventure of a different kind. Nothing bad happened really, so I hope this post didn’t come across as whining. Just a tough few weeks, due to the nightshift and mandatory overtime schedule. After a few good nights’ sleep, we will be our old selves again. 🙂
Our next adventure is of yet undefined, but what I can tell you is that we are heading to Florida soon. New Year’s Eve with boating friends in St. Augustine and Mark flying back to Boston for his check-ups from Jacksonville mid-January. After that… who knows? Puerto Penasco?
December 28, 2019 at 11:35
YES!!!!!!! #PUERTOPEÑASCO #WOOHOO
December 28, 2019 at 20:23
Don’t get too excited! 🙂 It all depends on whether we drive back west and when. We might have a better chance catching up with you and Fabio in New England, one summer…
December 26, 2019 at 14:09
Wow! I’ve never heard of this Amazon option. The night shift would definitely kill my personal time too. I’m sure I would be a zombie. I haven’t had a chance to look through your whole site, but have you looked into jobs at National or State Parks? They prefer to hire part time seasonal and I believe that some of them allow you to park your RV at their campgrounds. Not 100% sure on that though. Of course, the pay is probably not the best, but the surroundings can be amazing.
December 26, 2019 at 20:55
Hi Nancy!
My husband was pretty much a zombie towards the end of his shifts and certainly the end of his week. That’s a good description!
Thanks for pointing out the National and State Park job options. We are aware of them. The positions are called Workamping jobs, I believe. Camp hosts usually get their camping spot (with electricity, water, and sewer) in return for 20 hours of work a week or so. In a few cases, you get paid an hourly wage as well.
While the locations can be nice and incredible, we probably won’t ever take these positions for three reasons: we usually boondock (camp for free) and don’t require full-hookups or spots in official campgrounds, we’d rather make “real” money instead of work for our site, and we HATE cleaning bathrooms. 🙂
December 27, 2019 at 14:45
Hi Liesbet,
Happy belated Christmas…as well as wishes for a healthy and adventurous 2020! We’ve heard of the Amazon gig and rumors about it’s grind. It’s enough to deter us! To me, that night shift makes it even more of a challenge, both for Mark as well as for you making adjustments on the “home front.” And I would have been so irritated that the campsite was switched even tho it was confirmed. Perhaps a pointed review on their website is in order…
It doesn’t seem like an ideal way to spend 6 weeks, but “it’s a job.” And a little more cash in the bank to continue your roaming about.
December 28, 2019 at 20:14
Hello Nancy!
I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and that 2020 will bring you many adventures, happy times, and good health! 🙂
Amazon sure has made a bad name for itself and while we think – at least in this particular warehouse – safety was taken seriously and workers know what they are getting into accepting this job – it’s not easy physically and they work their employees hard! Also, we feel that they could “spoil” their full-time employees once in a while, since the company has so much money! A $100 Amazon gift card for Christmas, for example, would have been nice. Mind you, I don’t mean this for us, Workampers, but for the people who work their year round.
That night shift was the biggest challenge and we are so glad it’s over! What an experience; ideally it will never be repeated. It was just a job, indeed. 🙂
I’m thinking about leaving a negative review for this campground, as, really, there was nothing nice about it or its employees… Just an OK place to stay when wanting to walk to work. Apparently, many campers who made reservations were put on the spot by having to take another site. Weird – they shouldn’t advertise the possibility of reserving a site at all.
Also, when we tell the story about this switch in sites and the fact that Mark lost the first five hours of work, some people say they would have left. Thing is, while we are flexible (you have to in this lifestyle), we “counted” on spending seven weeks here and making a certain amount of money. So, we stuck with it… Luckily, the weather wasn’t as awful as it could have been, or as other years.
December 27, 2019 at 14:55
Wow, what a gruelling schedule for both of you. When I read Bonnie’s posts I was thinking, “Oh, that sounds like a lot of hard work, but a great solution if you just want temporary work.” After hearing about Mark’s experience… eh, not so much. Hope you’re both enjoying a well-deserved rest now!
December 28, 2019 at 20:18
Hi Diane!
Wow, thanks for reading our experiences and those of Bonnie – different people, different takes. Of course, having a day shift or a night shift (unrequested and while expecting a day shift) are two very different things! A lot of people think it is a great solution for temporary work, and it is, if you don’t have an education, like manual labor, and it’s during the day. Although, if you only need six hours of sleep, the night shift could be ideal as you still have time during the day to enjoy the daylight.
We are road tripping right now, so not much rest, but we are slowly catching up on sleep. Happy weekend!
December 28, 2019 at 15:13
Liesbet, considering the difficult night schedule Mark was working, which of course impacted your schedule too, I think you were very productive with your time. You accomplished a long list of writing and computer tasks!
Jude
December 28, 2019 at 20:33
Hey, you caught up already! My writing and computer tasks list is never-ending, so I can never do enough to feel happy and accomplished about that. Yes, I need to lower my expectations and goals and that way I will actually feel like I achieve things. I’m sure you know the feeling. Type A personalities we are! 🙂 Thanks for the compliment. I find that making lists does help with seeing the light at the end of a short tunnel.
December 28, 2019 at 19:42
Liesbet this post was fascinating to read about ~ firstly because I recently received something via email out how Amazon abuses it’s workers and does not provide for their safety. Good to read that this is not true.
Secondly I’m always amazed and impressed by what hard workers you both are and how resilient you are… Sounds like grueling work – just the hours alone are brutal!!! The lack of sleep and life disruption, yikes! You both are such troopers, doing what needs to be done and always resourceful. Yes a nomadic life requires resourcefulness and u guys win the prize.
I’m also amazed and impressed by how much you DID achieve in that time. I enjoyed reading about all your observations – lots of cultural American hard core stuff that has to have been challenging. Ha!
By now hoping you are both relaxing and enjoying. We were in Chicago and I was sick for almost a month and the freezing temps did NOT help. Man you guys are amazing!
Wonderful and happy New Year to you both!
Hugs
Peta
December 28, 2019 at 20:42
Hello Peta,
Wow, what a nice comment you just left. Thank you! We are not that amazing, though. I don’t want to put your expectations too high for if and when we finally meet. 🙂
I had friends send me negative articles about Amazon as well and what we’ve learned is that everything differs from fulfillment center to fulfillment center. The reason why we were only interested in the Campbellsville location was that it had made a very good name for itself among campers. It was the first warehouse to involve campers and – until this year – they really went beyond what they had to do to make everyone happy.
It was a pretty tough time, especially for our relationship, sleep schedule, and exercise for Maya. We could have left earlier, since the contract allowed it, but we are not quitters and as long as Mark was doing OK, we were going to stick with it. We have been through worse together (as my memoir will reveal one day). We are excited that it’s over, though. Not to sound like wimps…
We also knew that Kentucky might (would?) be a shock to our cultural senses. And, that became true. It was almost as if we were living in a different country, based on the priorities, traditions, language, and so on. You know what I mean. 🙂
Sorry to hear about your hard times in Chicago, what with the freezing weather and being sick. I hope you are both much better now and enjoying Japan to its fullest. I”m looking forward to reading your latest post soon.
Have a fantastic 2020 as well, with many adventures, good health, a steady income, and all the ups of nomadic living!!
January 21, 2021 at 14:22
Hello, Liesbet, So glad I stumbled upon your blog…. Thank you for the great writeup on Camperforce. I have a question. Do campgrounds selected by Amazon accept minivan-turned campers. I bought a used minivan and converted it into a campervan for part travel. Although I am young retired I do like to work here and there for the experience (and extra squander money. What attracts me to the Amazon gig is the ‘get paid to exercise.” I”m a hiker… hiked the 490-mile Camino last year…. but not much during this different year. Thanks for any insight on the minivan
January 21, 2021 at 15:54
Hello Karen!
Welcome to Roaming About! 🙂 Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. To answer your question: yes, minivan campers are allowed! We only stayed at one campground, Heartland RV Park in Campbellsville, Kentucky, but I know of many campers who live in vans who have worked throughout the country. All these Amazon-approved campgrounds offer full hook-ups and have bathrooms with showers.
“Getting paid to exercise” is a great way to look at this CamperForce job. My husband didn’t return last year, however, because he really didn’t want to work at night anymore and having to wear a mask made things harder, plus Covid reduced the few social contacts that were possible before.
If you’re relatively fit, this sounds like a great temporary job for you!! At least once. 🙂