Wednesday, September 18, 2013

A Life on the Road

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A Life on the Road. Wow… ten years this month. Where did the time go! As you can imagine, full time rving can be, and is different for everyone. The beauty is, it’s whatever you want it to be. New places, new adventures, new friends, and a change of scenery anytime you want. Travel as mush as you like, or as little as you like. Work some of the year, play some of the year. Make new friends everywhere… but then as you travel, and they travel, ya never know when or where you will see them again. Reunions with Rving friends is a bit different… it may be months or years since you met, but it all seems just like a short time ago, and you pickup right where you left off… except for now you have different stories to tell. To sum it up… “Freedom” to go where ever you want, for as long as you like, do what you want to do, see what you want to see, and just loose track of the time, day, date, and sometimes even the month. Follow the weather… winter in the south (sweet), cool mountains in the summer, warm beaches in the winter, and just go where ever the wind blows you or your mood takes you. Freedom.

Freedom from the same old same old, week after week, month after month, year after year. So what changes? Everything! Where you work… that is, if or when you choose to work… where you live, where you shop, favorite places, new friends, old friends, and your adventures only limited by you imagination… and maybe finances. We generally work part time 4-6 months a year or fulltime 3-4 months a year… all in different locations. We were even seasonal cast members at Disney World in Florida from 2004-2011. Great experience.

Funny, when you met people in a conventional lifestyle… the conversation always get around to where are you from or what do you do? Well, we don’t have a job, we don’t have a house or apartment, went don’t even have a car [we have a big truck]… then comes the shocked look on their faces. After our explanation, we always get… “What a dream life, wish we could do that”. Kinda seems like the life that everyone dreams of… and that’s kinda nice! 

Our Rv of choice was a fifth wheel coach pulled with a big truck. It works better for us. If you travel less, and stay put longer in one place at a time, it’s more livable for us. If we traveled more, and stopped less, a motorhome would have been a good choice… but making that decision can drive you crazy with all the pros and cons of each.

All in all, the best decision of my life. At 49½ I had two basic choices. Work another 15½ years for full retirement… and who knows what physical shape I’d be in… or take to the road, and enjoy what would be for the next 15 years, the best times and the healthiest part of the rest of my life. Easy choice! Sell the house, buy the rv of our dreams, and drive off into the sunset. Well, okay, mostly to Florida. Again, the best decision I ever made.

Like any dreams, planning… have a dream, set a goal, develop a plan, work the plan, and don’t let any one steal your dreams by falling prey to their hang ups, believes, or life preference. Go for it.

You can rv as expensive as you like, or as economical as needed. Play a little, work a little, relax a lot. Stress free! Enjoy Life!

Want to know more… just click on the “label” in the index on Fulltime Rving for related entries.  Enjoy!

Pardon the expression… but it’s nice not to have to do the whole work thing 365 days a years, or be a financial slave to a house and all it’s expenses and taxes, not to mention all the work and maintenance. But It did serve a purpose, after 30 years of work and mortgages, it got us our rv and the freedom to travel and relax. What’s today? … Wednesday, okay. … what do you mean it’s September? … wow, okay. Part of this freedom is to almost never wear a watch… don’t know, don’t care!

Added bonus: Prolonged visits with family or friends… especially the grand daughters… which would not be possible if still working that “We’ll tell you when your finished at age 65 job”. Following the weather isn’t too bad either… no more frost, snow, ice, or cold aching bones. Toes in the sand, and palm trees for Christmas.

Life is what you make it… choose wisely. Dream a little dream… and go for it!

We have lived more dreams, and visited more places, met more people, made more friends, and have more adventures in the past ten years then in the first fifty years of my life. Lots of great memories over the first 50, but more varied and and condensed experiences packed into the last ten years. Amazing. And even more amazing and enjoyable to share them all with the Love of My Life… Shelly. Simply amazing!

It’s nice to get up in the morning and do whatever your mood strikes you to do. A Life on the Road… Rving.      

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Deer Creek

Here’s some quick photos… home sweet home…

one of our favorite sites

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clubhouse and bath house / laundry

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heated pool

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inside clubhouse

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some of the sites

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tennis and shuffleboard

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map of resort

located 2 miles south of I-4 on Hwy 27

Walmart 5 miles, Rt 192 about 10 miles.

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cabins that they have to rent

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another favorite site

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Deer Creek 8.28.07 (10) site we are on now

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Old Bay

Old Bay & Maryland, a tradition that goes hand in hand.

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Ideal for Crabs

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Great on Shrimp

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Wonderful in recipes

Crispy Crab Appetizer

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Crispy Crab Appetizer
1 pound fresh crab meat
3 slices of white bread, crust removed
1 egg beaten
1 tablespoon mayonnaise (I use Hellman's)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (I use Malle)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
1 tablespoon parsley

Make breadcrumbs in food processor so they are chopped up fine. In a large bowl, mix together egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and Old Bay seasoning. Add breadcrumbs and crab meat and mix by hand to avoid breaking up too many of the lumps. You may need to break up the very large lumps however so the crab balls will stay together. Shape into 24 balls and fry in batches in hot oil until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Serve with your favorite sauce or don't use any! These are so good!

http://oldbay.com/recipes/crab/appetizers/crispy-crab-balls?utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=recipe_0914&utm_campaign=2013_evergreen_oldbay

The rest of the story…

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c4 Recipes for everything

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Crab Cakes

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Crabs and Crab Soup

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shrimp old bay

 

 

Time Marches On

life clockLets review:

Ya Start in Diapers
( just feed me!)

Childhood – Fun & Learning
(usually the hard way)

Teenager - Know everything
(parents & adults know nothing)

Adulthood – Back to Learning
(realize ya don’t know it all)

Working Life – Still Learning
(avoiding the pitfalls)

Kids are Grown – Ahhhh!
(life’s fun again)

Middle Aged – Good grip on Life
(realizing your mortality)

Planning to Retire – Life’s Experience
(tired of working)

Retirement – Ahhh, Relax
(everyone shares what they know… Oh, please!)

The Age of Wisdom – Years of Experience
( but no one is listening, especially your kids )

Second Childhood – Life’s Fun Again
(who cares, do what you want to do)

Memory Fails Me – Who are you?
(where am I?… and do I really like asparagus?)

Oops… back to diapers.
(now you’ll be glad you can’t remember anything)

---------------------------------

Moral to the story?

Enjoy your second childhood!

It’s the best it’s gonna get!

Enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Find fun in everything.

 

Directions…

fghrtyui

Miracles…

mm I see a lot of stuff… I watch a lot of stuff… then given that I have way too much time on my hands… I then write about that stuff. So the views expressed here are not necessarily those of this reporter… bah,bah,bah….

Sometimes talking, writing, or reading about something different… well, it’s not always what you believe or don’t believe. So this is just something to toss out there… I may not believe it, you may not believe it, but never the less… something to think about… if only from the standpoint of what others are offering as a bit of thinking… outside the box… so to speak. 

FIRST THINGS FIRST… CONTROVERSAL? … 
I HOPE NOT… AND SINCE IT’S NOT INTENDED TO OFFEND OR CHANGE YOUR OPINION…
SO THERE SOULDN’T BE ANY CONTROVERSARY.

This is just a little something to think about… from a different point of view. This is not written to offend your beliefs or change them… your beliefs are yours to do with what you wish… as our mine, and everyone else’s. I assume you are secure in your thoughts and beliefs and therefore should not be offended. If you are not secure in what you believe, then perhaps you should not read any further, or if you feel that no one should have a belief different from yours, less you be offended, or distressed about a view other than yours…. it might be a good idea to stop reading here. If you are open minded to perhaps looking at things from a different point of view… or sometimes question what you are told to believe, by all means continue. 

mm (1) So what constitutes a miracle? Webster concludes that “It’s an extraordinary event which is perceived to be divine intervention, or an unusual event, thing or accomplishment, a wonder or marvel”. Wow. As mankind’s knowledge continues to grow, sometimes well beyond it’s wisdom, and technological advancements progress at the speed of light… I think back to even my own lifetime at how many advancements and changes have taken place… and what is common place today might have been considered a miracle even just 50 years ago.

Just stop to think of all the extraordinary accomplishments that have changed our lives in just the last 100 years and especially the last 50 years. Communication… radio, television, phones, cell phones, computers, internet. A mere 100 years ago we were barely beyond the “Pony Express”… and the telegraph. Now we can instantaneously talk to and see someone on the other side of the world. We experienced the change little by little and grew accustomed to it as it progressed. Just think how extraordinary this would look to someone at the turn of the last century. A miracle? Wow. Cars, planes, mass transit, an monorails… certainly seems like a miracle from the perspective of the horse and buggy. Advances in medicine and health care. Even the simplest health procedures today would have seemed like a miracle years ago. Weapons… well… perhaps here’s where wisdom really lags behind achievements… just think how today’s weapons would have appeared to look just 50 years, 100 years ago, or even when mankind’s chief weapon was a sword and spear. One modern war plane could have taken out the entire Japanese Fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor. Nothing short of a miracle. Not to mention going into space or landing on the moon. Yep… some common place things today could certainly have been considered miracles years ago. 

mm (2) You see, it all about perception. Today’s knowledge and technical abilities would have had an ever increasingly “miracle” persona the more you traveled back into history. The further back you’d go, the more of a “miracle” it would have been perceived to be. Perhaps to the point that with today’s knowledge and ability… 500 years ago, 1000 years ago, or even longer… these abilities would be perceived to be godly. Kinda like the Greek Gods etc. Oops… now there’s a nerve strike… remember… don’t get upset… this is not trying to dispel your beliefs… this is just an offering of a perception from a different point of view. Most would not think any differently of you for your beliefs and would only expect the same in return for exploring a different pool of thought… or questioning the status quo. After all, if all it takes is a few questions or different lines of thought to dispel something, then maybe it’s not too solid anyway… so not to worry. 

Lets go off on the tangent for a moment. This country was established with the idea of the separation of Church & Government. While there may not be a direct connection between the two, there are positive influences that the church has on the government and societies laws. If nothing more… the morals and teachings of the church influence the moral fiber of modern society and how we should all behave… and thus the laws that reflect that expectation of how to live. So the importance of the church and religion in society is monumental… less we all live in a society of lawless barbarians.

mm (3) Getting back on track with today’s discussions. Beliefs aside for the moment… and looking at facts and evidence to attempt to uncover the truth about mankind’s history… and all the things that happen in the past to influence not only beliefs, but also development and knowledge. There has been numerous pockets of evidence uncovered all over the world to support that achievements and knowledge was present that was way beyond the level that mankind could have achieved at those times. So where did it come from? Who was responsible? It wasn’t developed from mankind of that time… so what’s left to conclude? One would have to conclude that some entity or group of entities were responsible for all the unexplained ability, technology and knowledge. An scientific open minded person would concede the probability that in the entire universe, that life must exist somewhere else out there. It would also seem likely that given the Earths millions of years of history, and that of mankind’s more recent 20,000 year history… it certainly seems likely that someone, or perhaps many,  from “out there” has visited Earth in the past. There are too many unexplained sites all over the world… too much evidence that can not be explained with mankind’s past abilities. Too many records left behind by man as to what they saw and experienced… what they thought of it, and how they perceived things. Given that all religions are based on a being or beings, God or Gods, that came down from the heavens (the sky) and that they had powerful abilities and knowledge and were able to perform miracles and wondrous feats… well… it easy to see that advanced knowledge and technological abilities would make them seem to be gods. According with almost every religion of the world, the self imposed definition… God or the Gods, depending on the religion, were not from this Earth… pardon the modern analogy… but since they were not from this Earth, they are therefore alien to this planet. And there comes the rub. No religion wants to have the God they believe in to come under the term of alien…. even though they must be from someplace other then this Earth. It’s also interesting that the Pope made reference to something on the order of acknowledging the possibility or probability of extraterrestrial life existing beyond this planet, and leading to the thought that we have indeed be visited in the past by beings not of this Earth. Not entirely an uncommon belief among the masses, since a great percentage of people consider the possibility of this to be true, and can site numerous facts that have been discovered all over the world to support this.  

mm (4) Getting back to the history and all the ancient unexplained structures, advanced knowledge, and all the information that mankind recorded for future generations about what they experienced and what they perceived which led to their beliefs… well… thousands of bits of information that has to bring into question the origin of such advanced knowledge and abilities. Ancient man was exposed to beings not of this Earth… witnessed miracles and events of monumental achievements from beings that they perceived as Gods. Without going into details perhaps one should read books and watch shows about the topic. Search information on “Ancient Aliens” and discover facts that can not lead to any other conclusion and can not be explained away. This might be a good place to start. Google information via the internet. Has the Earth been visited in the past by beings not from this Earth? … yes according to ancient man and all the interpretations of the evidence… and yes according to just about every religion… “their God or Gods descended from the heavens”. 

So if you are interested in learning more about history, ancient man, and see and question all the evidence of ancient happenings and how they effected the development of mankind… well… that’s for you to observe, question, analyze, and draw your own conclusions. Questions and knowledge bring you closer to answers… but many answers bring only more far reaching questions.

The most scary questions?

What if the basis for the Gods in all the worldwide religions were based on ancient visitors? Just as those religions indicate in their writing and beliefs.

What will happen to religious beliefs if or when they return? Just as those all religions foretell. What will come to be known verses what has always been believed?

Will we realize that they are indeed divine beings ( God or Gods) or what if we discover that those that were perceived as Gods were just technologically advanced beings from another planet?

Yep… questions with potentially scary answers and perhaps even scarier consequences.

Some things we will perhaps never know… and maybe, just maybe… better off not knowing.

To say this is something to think about… well… this too is a understatement.

mm (5)One last thought. Most religions foretell that their God (or Gods) will someday return to save “us”. What if, knowing the history of this planet, and that some day the world as we know it will come to an end, and mankind will be wiped out like the dinosaurs. What if, the returning God to save “us”… turns out to be something different… what if “us” is not all of us, but  “us” is a reference to saving a token of mankind and what exists on this planet… like Noah with the Ark… and only two of each are saved? … to be taken to restart life somewhere else. Now there’s something to think about. But not to worry… what will happen, will happen regardless of thoughts, beliefs, or stressful worries. What shall mankind learn if the return of God, or the Gods, depending upon which religion your believe, removes the influence of all of mankind’s agendas, and the truth is finally revealed. Hopefully, mankind will have enough saving graces to overcome the the stigma of war, fighting, killing, greed, and lust for power… and mankind will have a hope of survival. Given the condition of the world as a whole, hopefully the powers to create or destroy will not think they need to start all over because mankind is a mistake. Will we be “let go” and have the same fate as the dinosaurs, or be worth saving?  Or shall all be judged, and only the righteous be saved? There is a level of “truth” in all we were taught and believe, but removing mankind’s “twist” on the truth to met his own agendas… there’s the trick. What do you think? Perceive to be the truth? It’s up to you, the freedom to believe as you wish. Most religions might discourage thoughts or questions of this nature. Perceived as a danger to teachings and beliefs… who knows… but it’s all for you to believe what you want. No one is twisting your arm or telling you what you have to believe… well… at least not me.  

This bears repeating… Think and believe what you want. That’s the beauty of religious freedom. And while this entry may strike a nerve ( although I’m not sure why) … again, its just a reporting of some different thoughts and facts as seen from a different perspective. You should be confident in your beliefs not to be easily persuaded to think differently or feel attacked or offended… and this entry was not an attempt to do so. Simply put… this entry was just to enlighten your thoughts and consider that there is other perspectives and information beyond what you have been taught or believe. What you do with it is up to you.  

Just be thankful that because of religions, we can mostly all live our lives beyond the barbarian stage. Now if only we as a society had a better way to protect ourselves from the lawless that seem to have a lifetime of repeated offenses against society… but that’s another story. Crime and justice, and the right’s, benefits, and privileges afforded criminals… even those that would not think twice and take others lives… why should we have any consideration for them then what they perpetrate on their victims. Victims that get almost no considerations verses everything that criminals are entitled to. But that’s another story for later… and one that you no doubt know only too well.

mm (6) Just like anything else… it’s what you believe… do you believe in ghosts or spirits? Good and evil? Mental thought processes or abilities beyond what we consider the accepted normal. DNA science is unlocking the genetic code, planning ways to influence it, and hopefully gain wisdom along with this knowledge. But like everything else in this world… aside from knowledge and hopefully wisdom, government, politics, science, and business… yes everything including some religions… they all have the human weakness of being influenced by mankind’s greed for wealth and more importantly power over others. The hidden agendas of man have, and always will, influence what we are taught, what we are told, and what we are led to believe. The term that power corrupts is one of the sure things we can count on, and the more power that someone, or some entity has over others, that more they are going to exploit everyone to not only keep it, but make it ever so much more encompassing.

So, like anything else, this is just something to think about… dismiss or investigate… it’s all up to you. It’s up to you, be thankful for the freedom to believe as you wish.

Asymptote?

What part of an inverse tangent

function approaching an

asymptote don't you understand?

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

The Letter “F”

The Hatter certainly had some fortuitous ideas...

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Today.... I'm thinking of things that start with the letter "F".
Family...Friends...Fun...Food...Flowers...Forests...Football...Fantasy...
Fairies...Fireflies...Fudge...Feathers...French Fries...and Foot Loops!
All good words that bring up "Fond" memories of things I love.

fruit  
Yep, the letter "F" certainly is "Fortuitous".

fhgfh

facinorous, falderal, floccinaucinihilipilification!

Look them up if you don’t believe me! 

Easy Reading…

One of the best ways to find things on this blog…

By topic, use the “Labels” on the right side.

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or browse by date and “Entry Title” (also to the right)

Hope you enjoy reading!

What would Walt think?

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At a young age, we enjoyed all the Disney shows. The Wonderful of Color, the Disney Nature Shows, Mickey Mouse Club, Disney Movies, and any of the Disney Specials. It was perhaps the foremost positive influence in my young life outside of family, friends, and church. Every Sunday… sitting in front of this new medium called television… watching Uncle Walt introduce that evenings show. The wonderful wholesome meaning behind all the shows... values that set the tone for our lives... lessons in what good people strive to be. I visited and enjoyed Disney World several times through out my adult life, and extensively after retirement... up to and including working at Disney from 2005-2011. Since 2004 we have been at Disney anywhere from 3-4 months a year to as much as 7-9 months a year. Seen a lot of changes just over the past 10 years. Many for the better, and some that leave you wondering. My perception of Disney from the beginning was that Walt's influence, while he was still alive, and for many years beyond, was always wholesome, and even though it was a business, it was always family entertainment first and foremost. Now, years later, and with no one that worked with Walt personally still involved at Disney, those wholesome values that made Disney what it once was, has somewhat switched priorities to be a business first and foremost and to make money. Don't get me wrong, they still provide innovation and imagination to all their projects, but it seems that that motivation, being a stockholder business, is to make more money and higher profits. Now, the main motivation to produce a great family product is to “make more money”, though they still do a great job, but Walt's original motivation of wholesome family entertainment first seems to have been lost. Perhaps it's the economic times we live in combined with the influence of being a stock owned company, driven to make more and more profits. Perhaps it’s my imagination or perception. Economic times seemingly being the worst since the depression of the 30's. I can't help but wonder what Walt would think about all the has has transpired. Certainly there has been lots and lots of good, especially the technological advancements and how the attractions have incorporated then into the concept of Disney Entertainment. But I wonder what Walt would think of the questionable changes... less value for more money... or even the perspective for the motivation to improve and innovate changes and new attractions. Perhaps it wouldn't even matter... wholesome intentions aside, economic influences many have even come to dictate to even Walt the intense need to make money. But I wonder just what he'd think about it all. When talking to others, some say he’d "roll over in his grave" if he could see some of what has transpired. Over the years like everything else prices continue to increase, and just like everything else value for the hard earned dollar is decreasing rapidly. Business does what is necessary to survive. We have seen lots of changes that are less in scope, shorter in duration, or eliminated completely over the years... but there has been new things added too. One of the changes (negative as I perceive it) to mention by name is the addition of the availability of beer in the parks. Magic Kingdom is still "holy ground" and beer is not sold there, but the other three parks, especially Epcot, and especially during the "Beer and Wine Festival"... oops... the "Food and Wine Festival" ... beer sales are strongly promoted ( like "I drank my way around the world t-shirts) and the people do drink, and drink a lot, making beer a big money maker. Some drink to an excess and the wholesome family atmosphere is tarnished by their somewhat drunken behavior and actions. We have seen some that have gotten a bit out of control and vocal as they drink, or should I say drunk their way around the world at Epcot. So what would Walt think? I might would normally say "Idoeno". But I can't help but feel I know the answer. But all of this is merely wishful thinking for things to be as they once were... and nothing really is ever the same as it once was. Today's economic society is “less value for more money”, and I guess even Disney, with any remaining lofty values that Walt held true, still has to bow down to economic pressure to remain in business. Everything changes, usually perceived as being not for the better... it's just the way things are. Sad but true. 
Economically, everything will get worse, buying power will forever decrease, and businesses will ever be driven to give less, for more money. Anyway... Perhaps we'll see you in the parks... I'll be the one carrying in my own food and drink. Boy, those smoked turkey legs sure look good ($10.25 each)... that would go good with a bottle of soda ($3). Well, at least we can still carry food, snacks, and drink into the parks... (shhhh!) Lets NOT give the profits gods anything to think about. Disney is currently changing the Fast Pass system and has extra benefits if they are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. It's all suppose to equalize sometime in the future, but for now, hotel guests have a big advantage over the general public. They can get their fast passes in advance, before entering the park. So if they are gone before the you get there... oh, well! They also currently enjoy premium fast pass prime viewing spots for shows, parades, and fireworks with the new FastPass+ system that is currently only available to hotel guests.  
 
[ additional info link  http://www.rvkamping.blogspot.com/2013/09/disney-fastpasses.html ]

 
Disney has changed a lot over the past ten years, it was easy to see some of the changes. Each year less and less holiday decorations are put up. We even talked to the some people that put up the decorations and got the reply that only about 30% of what used to be put up is not being used. We have noticed cutbacks and lots of changes that are less in scope, shorter in duration, or eliminated completely. But then again, you see it everywhere. Less value for more money. Like those canned vegetables that use to be 20 ounces, then 18, then 16, now 14½ ounces for five times the price. Everything is made with less quality and/or less quantity to help control the impact of price increases… both are economically failing. How about those 5lb bags of sugar… oops… I mean 4lb bags of sugar for the price of 5lbs. Is Disney between a rock and a hard place economically? Probably. For us, it’s all to a point of wishful thinking… we’d all like to at least keep the buying power we have enjoyed, and companies would to maintain value for the customers dollar… both are just a dream, that even Disney can not control. Companies do things they don’t want to do, consumers have to deal with “less for more”.  It is what it is. But we still question some of the changes… like beer fest. Like the song said… “The times, they are a changing”… and while some change is good… some things seem to be not so good. I guess its all about your perception as well as the “values” and “principals” that you cherish in life. Perhaps some things should never be given up for any reason. Because once started down that path, you are most likely go a bit further, bit by bit, until you are so far down that path that you loose sight of the principals and values that you once began with.    

So what would Walt make of all of this? 
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What do you make of this?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Workamping

Workamping… doing the math!
Workamping… it’s the jobs that keep most Rv Resorts and Campgrounds operating. Workampers are people with their own Rv’s that seasonally go to resorts and campgrounds to help with the day to day operations… keeping the campground running at a reasonable cost. So what’s a reasonable cost? Well most campgrounds generally operate one of two ways. Work for your site a set number of  hours per week, or work for your site plus paid hours over hours needed in exchange for the site. Generally, if the campground has normally empty sites (usually empty, not rented to guests) they will have more workamping couples working for site only (no extra pay hours). This keeps their payroll down or to a minimum. If the campground has the potential to rent site to guests, they generally like to have less workampers and extra work for the site plus more hours up to perhaps fulltime work, 40 hours a week, leaving more sites available for paying guest site rentals.
Having said that, and doing the math, the question is, what does it cost the campground? … what do you get? … what do they get? … and is it really worth it. It all depends on how many hours they want you to work in exchange for the site and utilities.
What does it cost the campground? Well, basically, if they have a site that would normally mostly be empty (not rented to guests, not generating revenues), you staying there would cost the campground about $3.50/day in electric. So it costs the camp about $25/week in actually expenses for you to be there. Lets say they get 18 hours a week in exchange. $25 divided by 18 hours of work equals about $1.36/hour (a) that it costs them, out of their pocket to have you work. Now that’s a good deal for them… having to only pay out $1.36/hr for labor… now you tell me. And yes, they can say that there’s site maintenance, uniforms costs, etc, etc… but basically, it cost them very little per hour to have you work. But keep in mind, the value to you! 
So what’s a good deal for you? In exchange you get your site and electric. Generally a average monthly rate to stay most places is $500-$600 per month. So lets use $600. As a worker you save $150 / week, and in exchange work 18 a week. And that comes out to about $8.33/hour for the work you do in exchange for the savings. Okay… not too bad for campground work. Generally for paid hours worked (over the exchange rate of 18 hours) it’s usually around the $8/hr mark, plus a bonus for completing the complete seasonal contract.
Another thought… If you work 18 hours / week in exchange for the site… at the average rate of $8/hr… then the site costs (hours worked in exchange for site) you about $625/month. So in actuality, the camp is getting you to work for your site and pay about the same price as any paying guest would pay for a monthly site. Okay… that seems pretty fair and even… except that you generally ( in some cases) get a site that is not as good as a monthly paying guest. You are working for that same $600/month cost, but getting a lesser site, certainly not a preferred site. And if you can live with that to be were you want to be, then it’s a good exchange.
On a good note… some camps only want 12-16 hours in exchange which is more reasonable. Some require no hours, and you get your site, and paid from the first hour that you work. So, do the math, shop around, and negotiate the terms of your workamper contract. Additionally most offer a 75¢ bonus at the end of your contract for all paid hours worked, or some offer a 10% completion bonus for all dollars earned! So shop around, get what you want, or keep looking! The right contract is out there for you. Could be a biggie: Some include free propane, some have propane at cost ( saves you well over half the retail cost) as part of your contract. Most give you free wi-fi internet.  And some have store discounts on merchandise. Some offer discounts for visiting family. Also, make sure that you have a good understanding of what duties are expected in exchange for your workamping job.. plus hours, days off, rate of pay per hour, and contract completions bonus. 
BUT BEWARE!!!
Basically anything around 18 hours per week is about even. Anything less is generally better. Anything over 18 is taking advantage of you as a workamper. 24 hours/week is bad… 30+ hours is robbery. But that’s just my perception for what it is worth. If you really want to, or have to be some place particular, you may be at their mercy for the terms of the contract. But that is up to you, and how much more you are willing to do, for less of a return for you efforts.   
Some workamper locations really want to “push” the advantage their way, and do one of two things or both. They give you an electric allowance, usually something lower then your needs, so you have to co-pay sometimes up to half of your electric bill. As mentioned above (reference the (a) ) … the cost to the camp would be lowered by half, and their expense for you to work would be about 70¢/hour for the first 18 hours of work. Not what I’d call a good situation for you.
Secondly, some camps want you to work more hours for the site! Some 24 hours, some more, and I’ve seen as high as 32 hrs per week. ARE THEY CRAZY… OR ARE THOSE WORKING THERE CRAZY? But I guess it’s all in what you need and want, and where you have a need to be.
At 24 hrs/wk ( based on $8/hr) the cost you are paying for the site in work dollars is $832/month… more then the guests pay for a premium site! At 28 hours/week = $970/ month. At 32 hrs/week it would be $1109/month. We actually saw a resort last year that wanted 30 hours in exchange for the site, and only gave you a $60 electric allowance. That equals you working 30 hrs x $8/hr (average pay) times (52 wks divided by 12 months) for a monthly rate of $1040. The monthly rate for guests was only $650… You be paying, in terms of work exchanged for site $400 more per month then the gusts pay for their monthly premium sites! Talk about taking advantage of workampers!   
Some camps do both more hours plus co-pay for electric… to me this is an insult. But, some people will do it… I’m not sure why.
Based on you working 28 hours per week:
The camps out of pocket expense for you to work is $3.50/day in electric (or $24.50/wk), divided by 28 hours worked is 88¢/hr, cost to the camp. Of course your benefit is the site, valued at $150/wk ($600/month). $150 divided by 28hrs worked equal about $5.35 / hr exchange benefit.  32 hours would be $4.68/hr exchange benefit. And if you have to pay ½ of you electric bill, about $50/month, then your exchange benefit for the 32 hours worked reduced by another $12.50/week, based on 28 hours, equals abut 50¢/hr for a net pay value of $4.85/hr benefit, for the 28 hours that you worked.

Wouldn’t it be terrible to do the math after you are working, and the contract is signed, only to realize that you are paying, via hours worked, much more then the monthly rate for paying guests.  So, do the math in advance. Get what you want and need, and enjoy a mutually beneficial arrangement between you and the campground or resort.
For more post about workamping… just use the “labels” tabs to the right at the top of the blog.”FullTime Rving”
Happy Workamping. Taking you to places you want to be at a reasonable cost!
FINAL NOTE: If you have a campground membership like Thousand Trails ( or another company )… the whole workamping terms are even more critical. Since we have two memberships, and can basically go between the two resorts endlessly… once we pay our dues we can use them for nothing extra. We have to pay the dues no matter what, and can camp there for free. Why workamp 18 hours per week just for a site with no additional pay or benefits… when we can stay at the membership parks for free!  At an average of $8/hr we would be wasting $624/month by working for no pay in exchange for site. So why work 78 hours per month for no gain? Unless you really wanted to be somewhere you wanted or needed to be. So contracts for pay above the 18 hours is critical in determining the benefits verses the work hours to be done. If I’m gonna workamp 18 hours per week for the site, with no real benefit ( since we can stay at our membership parks for nothing), then the hours above the 18 become critical to out weigh these 18 hours that are basically worked for not real benefit.
Just something to think about.  A good place to find workamping jobs across the country… www.Workamper.com 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Heading Home

Our visit with Brandi and the girls has come to an end and we are heading home to Florida. Left West Virginia shortly after 6am and here's today's travels.
     Beautiful sunrise... On the road!

     Through Richmond at rush hour...


   Hello North Carolina...


   Hello Pedro-Goodbye Pedro...
   Welcome to South Carolina


   Peachy... Welcome to Georgia!


  Night time stop over south of Savannah

 
   Tonight... Baltimore Ravens Football


   Tomorrow a short trip to Orlando
           ----------------------------
 Welcome to Florida - the Sunshine State
                 Home Sweet Home