Change Is In The Air

Wouldn't you know that just when we have pretty much made up our minds to stick it out here, a couple really good options appear. The best one, and the one we will probably jump on, is an opportunity that was presented to us by Amazon.com. They are implementing a pilot program for the summer, starting around the end of June. This is a program where they invite previous workampers to come early to help out with the increased business volume that they have encountered. They will guarantee at least 40 hours per week, and any shift that we want to work. The difference is that there are no coaches to help like there are during the "peak" season, and we will be responsible for paying our own site cost during the pilot program - about $400 per month, including all utilities. With their attractive wage, it still nets out to almost double what we are getting here.

The second opportunity is in Branson, MO. That is a situation where we both would work the same shift, late afternoons from 2:30 to 9 PM during the week, and 2:30 to 10 PM on weekends, depending on days assigned to us. That totals about 32 - 37 hours per week, but it is salaried, and not hourly. Even though that would include a full site with hookups, laundry, propane and a nice store discount, it is pretty close to what we net if we stay here, working the limited hours we have been getting. It also includes discounts to the Branson activities, which we know are plentiful.

The Amazon.com move would offer other advantages to us. First of all, it is closer and would be easier for us to go to in a short time. Secondly, we would already be in place for the start of the regular "busy" season in October, when the bonus kicks in and our site is totally free. Even though it is revisiting a place, our short term goal for the last 2 years has been to make as much money as we can. That goal still exists for the next year or so before (we hope) we don't have to work at all.

We are still finalizing details, but we are thinking we will go to the Thousand Trails park that is local and spend perhaps a week there before heading to Campbellsville, KY. That would give us a free place to stay while we visit the areas we want to see before leaving - Williamsburg and Jamestown, and maybe even Washington D.C. We'll keep you posted on developments.

In the meantime, we need to put in our time here and decide when to let them know we are leaving. In addition to the problems of not getting enough hours, and the menial tasks we have been given, the offensive water odor was the final straw. The management brushes it off with an "Oh well, you'll get used to it" attitude.

We had a brief break in the weather yesterday as a thunderstorm passed through in the afternoon and the temperature dropped into the mid 80's. We actually turned off the air conditioner for a few hours. It seems like a repeat for today, as the forecast still calls for scattered thunderstorms and high humidity. Our journey appears to be poised for yet another adventure...