Full Timing in a PUP

[GeneF]

I met an older couple at the KOA in Ashville last year. They spent there summers in their hardsided camper (not a pop-up, but could be done). KOA has a work program. All they have to do is spend a few hours working in the campground. No heavy work, mainly helping campers to their site, backing in, etc.. In return they get a free site and some cash. They told me it wasn't much but with the free campsite and a little cash they lived all summer there without needing to spend any of their savings.
 
There's something I think I cold do, but I don't think I would do a whole summer in a pop-up.

There are a lot of opportunities for "camp hosts" in state and national parks also.  Generally, a camp host will get a free full hookup site for his labors.  I don't think there is money involved with the state or national parks.

[CajunCamper]

There are a lot of opportunities for "camp hosts" in state and national parks also.  Generally, a camp host will get a free full hookup site for his labors.  I don't think there is money involved with the state or national parks.

We met a retired couple from upstate New York at Manatee Springs State Park in Florida several years ago on our way to Disney World. They were the camp host andwere given a free full hookup site for their 5th wheel. She was a retired teacher and she conducted educational tours of the park and it's ecosystem. Her husband was retired from the same school system where he worked as head of maintenance. His main job at the campground was to organize and oversee maintenance projects at the park. They said their kids thought they were nuts, because they only came back to their home in upstate New York for may a couple of months out of the year. But they told me they were  in their mid seventies and enjoying life like they never had before. When summer comes, they pack up and head out west somewhere to work as camp host out there.

Sounds like we all have something to look forward to.

CajunCamper

[JAL&JKL]

For anyone even considering fulltiming in a PUP, Popping Up Across Ameica is a must READ  . Written by Arlene Trainor Corby, it is a Travelogue and How To Guide; available on line at www.poppingup.com well worth the minimum cost and an encouraging read. I was so seriously interested that DH sold the PUP & bought a Hybrid, just in case I want to do this in retirement. Recommended the book to the new owner of pup, he was makin a cross country trip with friends who were bicycling cross country. :book:

[Craigtheretired]

I also recommend the book "Popping up across America".  We have traveled 33,700 miles thru some 28 states camping for 177 nights in the year and a half we have owned our camper.  Yes, we have storage problems, however we manage quite well.  We go for four weeks at a time, return for the DW doctor's appointments and go back out.  We have traveled over many small narrow back roads and stayed in out-of-the way places that I cannot imagine anyone could bring anything bigger than our pup, as well as many KOAs.  We have been asked a few times if we were interested in being campground hosts or in work camping.  Our reply is always: "Are you nuts?".  We have the Pacific Northwest to visit then we will entertain the thought of parking in our favorite spot for a season.  Right now our favorite spots are in southern Utah with all those national and state parks, and also close enough so we can go hear the "World's best Choir".

[AZsix]

Last year when we went to Kartchner Caverns SP here in AZ I pulled over by the main gate and went up to the office. The guy inside asked me, "Is that a Plantation?" I told him that it was and he told me that he and his wife had owned one and had full timed in for 2.5 years. I think he said that they went to 125 different places including spending a couple of months in Mexico near the beach. He said that they just needed to be a half days travel away from a water source and they were good. They had figured out how many gallons of water a day they needed per person for cooking and for showers. He said that they loved it.

I love my pup but I don't think I'd want to full time in it.