article in Harpers about older people roaming country in RVs looking for work

[zhelud]

Unfortunately, this article is behind a paywall:
http://harpers.org/archive/2014/08/the-end-of-retirement/

But the title is kind of misleading- it is actually about people who are 55+ who neither have a regular full-time job, nor enough money to retire, who live in RVs and travel around the country doing temporary jobs (often very physically demanding ones) such as crop picker, Amazon warehouse worker, park concessions staffer, etc.  The article was rather depressing and focused on the physical problems they face, the lack of benefits such as health, and the low pay for most of the jobs.

Apparently there are so many people doing this that there are whole staffing agencies dedicated to this older RV-based workforce. I had no idea- does anyone know someone who lives/works this way?

[Another Reader]

There are lots of folks of all ages that do this and blog about it.  The spin is hugely inaccurate, judging from the title of the article and your comments.  Some of them live in $500k RV's on bus chassis'.  Lots of retired folks are work campers and summer volunteers at parks.  Yes, a lot of folks can make enough in 8 weeks at Amazon to pay for much of their "Mustachian" lifestyle.  Here are a couple at different places on the spectrum.

http://www.wheelingit.us/

http://jimbosjourneys.com/

[FiveSigmas]

Thanks for the links, AR. I read the same Harper's article (and was just about to start a thread before I noticed zhelud's). It's good to hear a different perspective on things.

Funnily enough, the author of the Harper's article makes an appearance in one of Jimbo's posts:

http://jimbosjourneys.com/2014/01/26/amazon-friends/

Even from Jimbo's account, though, Amazon camperforce seems like it can be pretty grueling:

http://jimbosjourneys.com/2012/11/13/life-in-fernley/

(Then again, so's running a marathon or studying a difficult subject, or many other things people do for fun and fulfillment.)

I think one lesson to take away is that working very hard and living in sometimes difficult conditions can be rewarding and even enjoyable if you feel it's a choice, but it's a pretty lousy existence if you feel you're financially forced into it (and/or have sub-par health).

[MrsPete]

Wow, I didn't know such a concept -- or a website -- existed.  I'm interested. 

Actually, 3-4 years ago we took a wonderful driving vacation among the Western National Parks, and one of the best moments of that vacation was a tour we took at one of the lesser-known state parks.  Our guide was an older man -- probably in his 70s -- and we thoroughly enjoyed his company.  As we drove from spot to spot, he told us that he lives in Texas but spends his summers in Wyoming giving tours.  He was a good speaker and very knowledgeable, and both of us said afterward that we could see ourselves doing seasonal work of that type after we retire. 

Looking at one of the websites, for example, I saw that an Alaskan campground is hiring people to work as campsite hosts.  It pays a stipend plus a free campsite.  As long as it's not mid-winter, I'd jump at the chance to do that!  I've never been to Alaska.

I would not want to work my fingers to the bone in an Amazon warehouse, and I would not want to NEED the employment, but I would be very willing to work a while in this place or that so that we could purchase a luxury or two without dipping into the savings account.

[Nords]

Apparently there are so many people doing this that there are whole staffing agencies dedicated to this older RV-based workforce. I had no idea- does anyone know someone who lives/works this way?

Years ago, Home Depot used to arrange location swaps for its snowbird employees.  They could work in one Home Depot during part of the year and another Home Depot during the rest of the year... or just go seasonal for holidays and big sales. 

I haven't followed the program, so I don't know whether it's still running.