We QUIT!!

We QUIT!!

When we ended our last update, we challenged you to take a guess at what our big announcement would be. Well, the announcement is that we quit our work-camping job!! We worked at the Bowlin’s “Flying C Ranch” located at exit 234 of Interstate 40 in New Mexico. We lasted about three weeks and worked only 14 shifts. The truth is, the writing was already on the wall just a few shifts in. Below we will outline the pros and cons of this job and why we decided it just wasn’t for us.

The Pros:

• We had a complimentary full hook-up site.

• Our site was sheltered from the wind and pretty private.

• Our commute (walk) to work was less than two minutes.

• We were hooked up to a propane line that was unlimited and free.

• We had a laundry facility to use for free.

• Trash dumpsters were available.

• We earned an hourly wage for every hour worked.

• We could earn a 5% commission on all sales over $75.

• We had been to New Mexico for a few days back in 2019, so being back, we were excited to do some more exploring.

• The location manager

• We could get 25% off all store purchases, including purchases from the attached Dairy Queen.

• We learned A LOT about Turquois jewelry, Native American hand-crafted items, knives, and fireworks.

• We got a lot of steps in during our work shifts (all standing and walking).

• We met many, many, people as they travelled along on their journeys.

• We could have up to 40 hours a week, each.

• We got a ½ hour for lunch.

• The company does offer full benefits, including a 401k after just a short time.

The Cons:

• More than 50% percent of the staff and management are related to each other.

• We felt like the staff resented our being there, cutting into their sales commissions.

• One of the “shift supervisors” was very challenging to work with.

• Cleaning the “residential” toilets and bathrooms (in a commercial setting) every hour was a major drag and hugely disgusting.

• Most of the guy employees would sign-off that they “cleaned” the restroom, but in fact they never even set foot in the restroom.

• Some cultures don’t flush their toilet paper, so instead they either set it on the floor after use, or in the small wastepaper basket in the stall. It’s BROWN, GROSS and DISGUSTING.

• We never knew who we could ask for advice, because we were told by so many “supervisors” not to listen to this person, or that person.

• Ken was called into the office by the aforementioned “supervisor” and was sternly “redirected” for taking (hawking) her sale. Sorry, it was his sale from the beginning, you just hadn’t been “reading the room” as you always preached.

• Business was slow while we were there, so minutes took HOURS to pass.

• If you weren’t assigned a cash drawer and register, you were relegated to store maintenance. This wasn’t a problem, except that it allowed the “shift-supervisors” more unimpeded “commissioned sales” time, and less sales time for us.

• Having to “look busy” all the time.

• The chorus of “Welcome In…Restrooms are to the left and food/drink are to the right”, rather than allowing one associate to address the customer so they aren’t so confused.

• The 18 inches of snow we received on our third day there!

• There was no mail delivery or pick-up due to our remote location.

• The water was VERY HARD!!

• Amazon deliveries took at least one week from the order date (we were very spoiled at our home in Illinois!).

In the end, we quickly realized that the “Flying C Ranch” wasn’t a great fit for us. We left professional careers, and the stress associated with them, for a more “carefree” lifestyle. Ken mentioned to Chris one day that he had spent nine years running a $26M big box (Circuit City) and then twenty years as a fifth grade teacher, and that in all those years, not once was he ever threatened with a “write-up”. Yet over the course of three weeks, the phrase “write-up” was thrown about at least SIX times! Naw…keep your moccasins and bajas…We’re outta here! So, after about two weeks of work we hit the work-camping job boards again and found a small campground in Texas that needed some help. At this time of the year, it’s much harder to land a work-camping job. We gave our notice of resignation, offered to work out two-weeks (but requested to be released asap). Thankfully, we were allowed to leave as of our resignation date!

To be completely honest, the company itself seems very good to work for. Our location manager was wonderful, kind, welcoming, and had very good management skills. One can make pretty decent money at a location like this, especially if you are good at sales and enjoy talking to people. The benefits of complimentary full hook-ups and free propane is a HUGE plus. We ended up leaving the “Flying C Ranch” for two simple reasons; the “shift supervisor” mentioned above, and the toilets. The men’s room was a constant, disgusting, cleaning operation.

The moral of this story…Our house is on wheels…If we don’t like where we are, we pull in the slides, hook up to the king-pin, and drive away!!! We left on good terms, hugged the manager and assistant manager goodbye, and have moved on. We don’t regret our experience at the Flying C Ranch, nor do we have bad feelings about it. Life is about experiences and we are out here getting them!

Many of you made some really great (though insane) guesses as to what the announcement would be. Below are our answers to some of them:

• Chris is pregnant (Um…NO!)

• Maggie is pregnant with baby #2 (YES!!!! Due in March!!!)

• We didn’t like the cold weather (Eh, it doesn’t bother us. Our RV is well prepared for cold weather conditions.)

• We settled down and bought a place somewhere (NO!!! We’ve only been on the road for six months!!!)

• Ken is going to become a Deacon or start preaching (No. Unfortunately, this opportunity has passed.)

• Taking time off of the road to get the RV roof repaired (No. But, the roof does still need to be repaired. Please feel free to make a donation toward the $5100 cost!)

• We are going to Mexico with the RV (No, not yet, but someday possibly!)

• Ken has joined the rodeo as a clown (No. Funny! (not))

• We won the lottery (sadly no, we’d have to play in order to win)

Next update…Where did we land, what are we doing, and for how long?