In the August edition of Harper’s Magazine, author Jessica Bruder wrote a cover feature about ‘The End of Retirement: When You Can’t Afford to Stop Working‘ focused on down-and-out retirees becoming “elderly migrant workers” trudging from one job to another across the country, being taken advantage of by employers like Amazon along the way.
Ironically, the article is behind a pay wall – not overly accessible to the downtrodden she’s writing about.
Since that article has come out, RVing blogger’s e-mail boxes has been full of requests for interviews asking for our take on the realities of working on the road.
The common story angles tend to be focused on how poverty is striking our nation, and many people are being forced out of their homes and retirement and onto the road in RVs seeking any work they can find.
These stories seem to be building on the Harper’s article, and an assumption that no one would ever intentionally choose this sort of full-time life on the road.
Sure – some people retire and go on permanent vacation in an RV. But anyone actually working on the road must surely be in dire straights! Really, who on earth would ever want to give up a fixed house and a stable job?!!
We usually don’t get very far when these interview requests come in, as we’re just not interested in lending our voices to stories seemingly set on promoting that vision. And of course, we don’t fit the mold these journalists are trying to produce a story around.
Jessica’s story in particular is hyper focused on one very small segment of RVers, and while we certainly have run into those down on their luck and in predicaments like the case studies she followed – they represent the vast minority of RVers out there. Her examples provide a poignant commentary on our society in general, and heck any of us could be one choice or incident away from being there ourselves.
But these scenarios exist in stationary life too. The RV angle just makes for sensational press.
It is so frustrating to see this sensationalistic nonsense drowning out the reality we see out here on the road.
Yes, some are able to choose a RVing lifestyle as a last ditch way to cut expenses to adjust to their financial situation better and avoid true homelessness.
But it is also true that for many dealing with tight finances or a lack of options – RVing is a consciously chosen positive alternative. RVing can be a cheaper and more variable lifestyle than living in a fixed location. Putting wheels under your house gives you more flexibility to go where the work is and adapt your living expenses to match your income levels.
And most full-time RVers really are out here by choice – even those still needing to make a living.
But these positive aspects seem to get glossed over.
Rather than a story portraying RVing and workamping as a great alternative to the traditional path, the press seems interested in showing it as the absolute last resort of the most down-and-out – forced out onto the road, their retirement dreams in tatters.
The reaction to the Harper’s article by some mainstream media is to paint a picture that most of us working RVers are in this poverty predicament and forced out on the road to find work. The idea that folks actually CHOOSE this lifestyle if they had other alternatives, seems to be treated as the anomaly.
During our eight years on the road, we have certainly crossed paths with folks in “no other alternatives” situations. But honestly, of the thousands of RVers we have met in person and online – those living this lifestyle with no other choice are a tiny minority.
Most of us out on the road have made a conscious choice to be out here. The advantages are vast – and not just financial.
Workamping jobs are a great way to help fund this lifestyle – not a new form of indentured servitude.
There are many RVers who have consciously given up higher paying career tracks to find sustainable work on the road instead, for the sheer adventure of embracing a life of travel and quality time with loved ones scattered about the country.
There are RVers of all ages who find ways to be self employed on the road, or working remotely for their employers.
And there are plenty of retirees on the road who earned & planned their retirement, and are enjoying the fruits of their investments. A lot have intentionally chosen to retire early while they still have their health, even if that means needing to supplement retirement savings with a few months of workamping each year.
Why wait until you are 65 (or older!), working and slaveing for a week or two off a year – if you can make life on the road work when you are 50 (or younger!), mixing in a few months of grunt work each year to afford an early break away from the rat race?
Most of the “elderly migrant workers” we have met wouldn’t give up life on the road even if you offered them a monthly stipend and a luxury condo on the beach in Boca.
The Amazon Salt Mines
For years since we blogged about workamping at an Amazon fulfillment center (now called ‘Camperforce‘) for the Christmas 2009 rush – every fall and winter we start getting interview requests to talk about the experience.
And it never fails, the story is focused on the grueling conditions and all the poor elderly folks forced to work in shackles in the mines.
That’s not to say the work isn’t physically demanding. It is. It pushed our younger bodies to the limits, that’s for sure.
But we had people twice our age working beside us and thriving, and with many actually viewing the physical work as an opportunity to stay active and get paid for it.
While we’ve not done a formal study on it, we have talked to a lot CamperForce workers then and in the years since. And you know what? In our experience, the majority of folks who take these seasonal jobs do it by… choice. And many keep happily returning year after year.
They really do tend to view it as an opportunity – not as a sad last resort.
Working a season at Amazon, or any of the other opportunities out there, is a great way to do some temporary work without too many hoops to jump through, little commitment and bank up some reserves to fund the next adventure. And you can make some great new friends in the process.
Because workamping positions like this exist, it has allowed more people to retire or hit the road earlier than they could otherwise, and to get out on the road sooner knowing they can supplement their income sources.
They don’t look at Amazon as a salt mine, they view it as a quality of life improvement.
But not in Jessica’s world… When asked how many “elderly migrant workers” there are, she points to the growth of CamperForce as proof that more and more people are reaching the lowest point.
From our viewpoint, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
But that sure doesn’t make for a good headline…
More of our posts & resources about working on the road:
- Mobile Income Sources for Non-RetiredRVers — Jobs, Careers and Workamping
- Affording Full Time Travel
- Ramblings: Tales from Nomads – Our video interview series with working on the road nomads
Catch us on Al Jazeera
We recently were asked to participate in a segment on The Stream on Al Jazeera America on this topic, and after our first round of talks it sounded like they wanted to present a more fair and balanced view of the RVing lifestyle. They pitched us as being part of a segment on ‘tech savvy mobile lifestyles.’
It wasn’t until filming day that they gave us the full line-up of guests, and we realized just how heavy the piece was going to be on the Harper’s article angle.
They opened with Jessica Bruder about her study of the elderly migrant workers, Jaimie Hall Bruzenak about workamping… and then had us bring up the rear showing how some folks work on the road by choice. Bob Wells of CheapRVLiving and Richard W. Johnson from the Urban Institute were also participants.
Other than Jessica and Richard, the rest of us had a very positive take on life on the road. Yet here’s the official show description we just found:
The Stream: There’s no place to call home
A cycle of low wages, poor pensions and expensive real estate is leading a growing group of aging Americans to become nomads in their own country. They crisscross from state to state in their RVs, looking for temporary work. These are not outliers. They’re average elderly Americans with no place to call home.
With a lead in like that, we are now unsure if the piece will have quite the balance we were hoping for, but hopefully our presence will add to the conversation that RVing isn’t all doom and gloom.
And we’re not too thrilled that they prefaced our segment as ‘well off RVers’. We’re far from being ‘well off’ – we’re solidly mobile middle class. If we were well off, then why has our average work week been about 60+ hours this year?
If you have a TV and get Al Jazeera America, catch us on The Stream on Monday 9/15 at 12:30p EST, Wednesday 9/17 at 12:30p EST, or Saturday 9/20 at 5:30p EST.
We don’t think there will be an online version to share, unfortunately.
But do let us know if you see the segment, and your thoughts on how it is portrayed. We’re really curious if the balance is there.
Update: We’ve had a chance to view the episode, and despite the skewed show description, the whole piece was well done and balanced. They stuck to exactly what we recorded, and feel our point of view came through to help wrap up the perception.
My husband and I are setting out full time in June and are excited by the incredible opportunity we see. We can work and take care of our selfs And we can travel this country! I can’t say I understand how anyone could view that as “bad”. What would be bad would be to wait and hope I can physically do it when I “retire”. Thank you for sticking up for those of us who seek the adventure and are willing to work for that privilidge.
Hi,
Thanks for all the information on your site and others!!
I’m about to move into an RV. It is a choice, but it is a choice that has been influenced by a divorce, high rent, and mid-life considerations. I would say my choice to do this, still not there but plan to have wheels up october 15, is a mix of reasons from all across the spectrum.
What I see here is “who cares?” I don’t mean to minimize how irritating the media can be. And I totally understand the heavy influence of social perception regarding this choice. But in the end, you are keen on what you are doing and you are doing it well. If somebody wants to believe you are down-and-out, that is their problem. There are plenty of others wishing and scheming to do exactly what you guys are doing no matter what the lame-stream media serves them up.
I do appreciate your thoughts Kim, but based on the responses we’ve gotten to this article – both here and in private, we hardly think it’s a ‘who cares’ sort of mentality. After years of blogging and having reflections back in person from folks inspired by what we’ve written, we absolutely know it is worthwhile to continue to share.
I wasn’t able to watch the Al Jazeera report, but I did read Jessica Bruder’s story in Harpers magazine — and I liked it.
To me Bruder’s article in Harpers was an empathetic story about some older RVers who were having a hard time on the road.
However, from what I’ve read online, most RVers did not like the article.
The main criticism seems to be that Bruder’s article wasn’t balanced — missing from it were stories of those RVers who were not having a difficult time on the road.
Why didn’t Bruder include successful, positive stories about RVers?
I think if she had done this, it would have been disingenuous. Imagine John Steinbeck getting criticised for not including more ”happy” stories about Okies in his book The Grapes of Wrath. Or the results of a county fair bakeoff included with a local lynching?
Can’t bad (or good) news stories just stand on their own?
But what really grinds my beans is that it appears most people didn’t even read the Harper’s article. Most online folks seem to have picked up their opinions 2nd hand — from others who may or may not have read the article.
What really got me were the reactions to Bruder’s article from a couple who ran a commercial web site devoted to selling memberships and stuff to full time RVers. Let’s call them Fulltimers R Us. Though the couple who ran Fulltimers R Us did not read the Harpers article, it didn’t stop them from railing against Bruder on their web site, other web sites, and their Facebook site.
Which brings me to Technomadia . . .
I think you guys actually read the article. Kudos!
However, the fact that you’re running a commercial web site muddies the water. I think part of the reason that you (and Fulltimers R Us) panned Bruder’s article may be a reluctance to possibly offend your viewers because they could be potential buyers.
Well.. first of all.. thanks for leaving a comment. However, this is our personal blog.. not a commercial website. (Our commercial websites are http://www.twostepsbeyond.com and http://www.rvmobileinternet.com – which yes, some of our offerings are relevant to full time RVers as well, as we have developed useful products based on our own travels.) But this particular space is primarily our personal blog telling of our own personal journey on the road, and since we are self employed, yes – our business life is naturally part of that story.
As we stated in our post above, we recognize that Bruder was covering one aspect of the RVing community. And that’s fine, on its own. What this article is about is the deluge of media requests we’ve gotten since from journalists and producers wanting to tell the story, based on Bruder’s article, that most RVers fit this demographic. And THAT isn’t a balanced representation.
Great article….I think we should sent it in to the the magazine to show the real side of flu time rv’ing….and include all our comments of course….
sorry that should have been send in….plus I wanted to add that when any one refers to me as being homeless…I just correct them and say no…I am not…I am houseless…
We saw the show the stream. Our thoughts they were slanted a bit more toward the guy that was living in the van and you’re suppose to feel sorry for him. It was a quick story line, but at least they told both sides of it.
I wouldn’t want to change our lifestyle. The freedom is something that’s unexplainable. We love being free to see the country.
Thanks
The NY Times did a balanced article awhile back. Below is a link to the article. I think Cherie or someone on this site posted a link to it back when it came back. Maybe I’m wrong, but I found the article because someone on some RV website posted a link to it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/business/retirementspecial/rv-life-getting-kicks-at-age-66.html?_r=1
Jerry
About that NY Times article . . .
Here’s a sample of the 5 couples interviewed for the NY Times article (only 2 of the 5 are RVers):
BTW, median US income is $50K (2012).
– The Martins from Paso Robles, CA (median income $60) described as “have not tapped their savings during their travels, alternating visits to expensive cities like London with more reasonable destinations like Lisbon.”
– Law & Carlton from Sante Fe, NM (median income $47K) who . . . “. . . spoke recently by phone from a campground in Stoupa, Greece . . . He explained that they roam the world . . . But they intend to continue what he termed their ‘endless holiday’ in a more comfortable and spacious recreational vehicle.”
– Mansfield & Gill from San Jose, CA (median income $80K) “sold their San Jose house (median income $80K). They drove from San Jose to Florida over five months, before cruising to Europe. ”
The NY Times article is about folks (the majority of whom appear to be fairly well-healed) who travel full time and not really about full time RVers. The article is the flip side of the recent Harper’s article.
Pretty ironic that a somewhat crappy movie (RV with Robin Williams) portrayed full-timers better than that article.
I should have mentioned in my earlier comment that our bus greatly facilitates attending the several music festivals, craft shows and paid demonstrations which generate the bulk of our customer contacts each year. If we lived in a fixed foundation house, we could still attend those things, but it would be more difficult and expensive. All these events require us staying on the premises, and without the bus and its amenities, we would have to maintain another layer of possessions, if only a tent and related gear. When we were young, we loved tent camping. These days, not so much. Since our bus is self contained and has independent (solar) power, as soon as we shut down, close some curtains and deploy an awning, we’re open for business. And we’re never more than a few steps from all the comforts.
This layer of utility, coupled with the fact that the bus and its subsequent improvements are paid for, make us more wealthy in terms of cash surplus at the end of each month than we ever were during the years we struggled with house payments on top of raising a family.
Thanks for saying publicly how many of us feel. I was baffled recently when someone said that I was “homeless” because I fulltime in my RV. My response was that I own my home even though it is mobile and has wheels. I have come to realize that in our society where bigger is supposedly better and people have bumper stickers saying “he who has the most toys wins”, getting rid of most of your “stuff” and your fancy house and car and living in an RV by choice is a totally alien concept. Most people don’t get the true freedom that you gain by not having the “stuff” ball and chain on your ankle and are able to move your location whenever you want to.
Thank you for speaking for many of us but sadly for most people who judge their lives and success by the stuff they own, they just won’t get “it” or our lifestyle.
Thanks for being the voice of reality for so many of us. I understand you are not saying that those “choice-less” folks don’t exist, because they do. But to portray the majority of working RV’ers as those forced to live in their camper is a lie. It’s all about the spin, not the balance of facts. Best thing I did when I retired 18 months ago was stop watching and reading the news 🙂
I have to admit, it was rather odd to be in the media.. when we view so little of it ourselves. Life has so much less stress for me when I just concentrate on the things that matter to me. 🙂
Thanks for hanging around Jodee, and your always positive voice here!
“Life has so much less stress when I just concentrate on the things that matter to me.”
This! I couldn’t agree more. Well said, Cherie. And a great post too, by the way
I couldn’t agree more, w
Thanks for sharing this piece. It bears on us directly, and we appreciate your perspective.
My wife and I full time by choice, but that choice was precipitated by the loss of our middle class home following the events of 08/09. We could have rented or built a small house and continued much as before, but the foreclosure happened as our youngest was leaving the nest, and we saw it as an opportunity for a more adventurous life style. Our primary income is my work building stringed musical instruments, and for that I have a fixed base shop on family owned land, but I’m also a musician/entertainer. Living in our 40 foot self-converted bus allows us to travel where and when we want, and I can always find places to play that meet our meager income needs. I’m in the planning stage for a portable shop. That might allow us longer stays away from “home base.”
Several of our friends and family nag us about “getting a real house”, but we wouldn’t go back to that for anything.
Life on road can give those who want it, a lot of amazing opportunities and flexibility to adapt. Sometimes it may be financial circumstances that prompt someone to consider the option, and quite often, we see the drive to continue on the road to be a conscious choice.
And for many, it’s a complicated story that isn’t as cut and dry as just being one factor that lead them to the road. The financial downturn was in part a reason I hit the road initially too. But just a part.
I guess I am the oddball, but I see, and meet, quite a few rv’ers stuck in parks barely getting by. When the work dries up, they reluctantly move on – if their rig is able. Of course there are also those that make a decent living on the road, in the energy and construction business, for example. I also have a few low income friends that would love to be work-campers, but are afraid to try. That’s the real story of rv nomads; the diversity of circumstance. Interestingly, I just talked to a store clerk appliedfor a seasonal job at Amazon
Mike – I have to agree with you. While living on the road we have seen a good chunk of couples and families both retired and working living in trailers not by choice. I would say that it is more of a crosscut of the typical American town. A good chunk of people living check to check, some with nicer places with a bit of debt and some living comfortably on what they can afford and then the small sprig of people too lazy to do anything but watch TV all day while their camper is falling apart around them.
I think the difference here is that if they didn’t choose to live in their RV, they tend to be sedintary rather than nomadic. I don’t think we have ever met nomadic people who didn’t love their lifestyle and would do whatever it takes to keep it going on the road. (Even if it means working for Amazon….oh the horror! Hahaha)
-Sean
We believe diversity is the real story too. And like we said, we have met folks who feel ‘stuck’ in RVs and having to move to find work. Just like any cross section of our society, there’s folks from all walks (err.. ‘rolls’?) of life out here on the road too.
Our gripe is the media reaction of trying to create a story that most of us working RVers are out here by circumstance, not choice.
Wow, what an interesting read! I had no idea there was such a negative stigma being pushed by the media. I would be interested to see what their take is one younger people around ages 25-35 starting to become full-timers, not because they are “forced” into it…but that technology today allows more freedom to work from anywhere than it ever has before.
Great article guys!
Tablet mistype…. Clerk lived in area her entire life.
Hopefully these media presentations will include some diversity to show the wide range of folks out here on the road. It’s really is quite amazing how diverse it is, just like any town or city across the nation.
I believe there’s little “truth” in American journalism, and hasn’t been for years. It’s all about what they think will sell the most, what will grab people’s attention better. So sensationalism outsells journalism, thereby replacing it. And it permeates every aspect of American “news”, and life.
Even RVing. Sad.
We honestly don’t follow too much media too closely for this very reason. We’re always hesitant when we’re contacted to be included in a story, and how our words will be spun.
Gosh guys, I know that you stuck up for us poor, migratory, overworked RVers. LOL
We now call “everywhere” home and love it.
Like one of the other commentators stated that type of news doesn’t sell.
Loved the article. Thanks again.
Thanks Steve.. we’ll keep sticking up for our migratory overworked RVing friends 🙂 Oh, life out here is so grueling. *grin*
Another great article you ave written. I love your writing style. Of course, bad news sells, so I guess we can’t blame the author. If she had written a balanced story, I’m sure her story would not have been published.
Bruder’s story was intentionally a look into a very specific demographic of RVer. It’s more the media reaction to it trying to paint the picture that most working RVers fit that mold that we hope gets balanced out.
Reporters who bash the RV lifestyle miss, seemingly on purpose, the number one fact which is good old American independence — go where you want, work for who you want, do it when you want, no matter how young or old you are. Some people just never get the picture.
edward
It can be a difficult picture to paint if you don’t understand it or believe it can be possible for so many.
I haven’t been able to find a full copy of the Harpers article even at the Central Library or the on line library they supposedly have. And I don’t get Aljezerra anything so that is out of the question. That said I really like your blog and its topics. Stay well.
Thanks.. we’re anxious to see the spot ourselves. We don’t get TV anything, and usually that is a good thing 🙂
Wow…what a great post!
And I agree that sensationalism is the goal…often of many news stories nowadays.
I would definitely like to see more balanced news on this issue. I’m sure any who are planning, or at least considering the lifestyle would as well.
Further, I’d like to see the employers themselves interviewed. Especially those who would take advantage of lifers on the road, as I hear/read far more than I want to, about those who purposely deceive FTs just to get work out of them.
I think a balanced Full-timer story, featuring good employers vs. bad would be of some benefit. Yes, there are forums where people can discuss the merits amongst themselves…but not everyone is aware of them.
I think that you guys exposing the sensationalism bent these reporters take is going to open a whole can-o-worms on the issue!
A nicely balanced story on working on the road would be a wonderful resource. It would probably best done documentary style, instead of a short news story however. It’s a very diverse topic.
Whatever happened to positive stories? It seems these journalists are all looking for “the broken American dream” the way they define it, so they can get published. They do nothing but look for confirmation for their story angle and rarely print a balanced view. Thanks for trying to be part of the balance, I hope it turns out better than your think. Based on my relatively limited experience on the road and the people I have talked to I have to agree with your POV. I hope more agencies pick up on it.
Sadly, there are certainly enough stories out there that can fit the angle they’re going for. But there is also a lot of balance that could be included too.
In this America sensationalism pays, even for Al Jazeera. With that said you have not seen the piece yet, you can still hope for the best.
We are anxious to see it. If they didn’t change from what we got to overhear during the recording – it should be decently balanced. The pre-hype for it however just doesn’t match. Crossing our fingers.
I have the directv genie set to record it.
Paul
Thanks Paul.. let us know what you think after you’ve had a chance to watch.