The Workamper Show Podcast

The Workamper Show Podcast


Episode 010 – Workamper Mary Shinn describes her solo experience

October 31, 2019

Workamping can be an adventure whether you are doing it as a family, as a couple or by yourself. Today we’ll talk to a woman who has been workamping on her own for five years.

Mary Shinn loves to camp. Her husband had camped with his family in the 1970s. Then they bought their own RV in the 1980s and traveled all over. She even drove an RV down to Honduras. It was one adventure after another.

But, when her husband died five years ago, Mary didn’t want to sit at home all day. She went camping in Missouri where she encountered her first workamper. That woman described what it involved to the point that Mary wound up attending the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs, Ark., that year.

One thing led to another and she wound up working as a campground host out in Washington state. She has never looked back.

This summer, Mary worked at a campground in Mountain View, Ark. Before that, she worked at a campground along historic Route 66 in Missouri. She’s probably in Florida by now for a few months before heading to Texas.

In this interview, Mary describes her experiences and she offers advice for people interested in workamping – especially single women.

The death of a spouse can be devasting for some people – especially when they were accustomed to traveling and enjoying life together.

But, Mary Shinn didn’t want her life to end when her husband died. So, she took it upon herself to learn as much as she could about workamping, and then looked for a job doing what she knew she’d enjoy doing.

Workamping has taken Mary all over the United States to some of the most scenic and historic parts of America. She’s met a lot of people – some of whom have offered to include her on day excursions.

So, while Mary may be workamping by herself, she is far from being alone.

The fun thing is that I have met a lot of women – and men – just like her who realize that while life may detour your plans, they don’t have to end. There are enough resources to help men, women and families so they aren’t stuck in a rut.

Benjamin Franklin said that most people die around age 30 and wait 40 years for their bodies to catch up. But, not people like Mary Shinn. I’m so grateful that she took time to talk about her experience. I hope it inspires others to overcome their obstacles and pursue their own dreams.

Whether it is running a business from your RV or working short-term jobs for a variety of employers, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible. For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.