We have interviews today with two couples, both of whom are gathering information before they launch into the RV and Workamping lifestyle.

My first guests are Tom and Mickey Ryerson. They are from San Antonio, Texas, where Tom works in building maintenance and Mickey works as a nurse. They are planning to retire in 2021 and are already preparing for that day.

They recently ordered a 38-foot diesel motorhome and plan to pick it up this spring and then put their home on the market. This interview was recorded last October, so things may have changed a bit since then.

The Ryersons want a motorhome because they intend to be more mobile when they travel. They’ve visited a number of places overseas, so now they want to explore America with the extra time they’ll have in retirement.

They plan to Workamp about 20 hours a week to offset some expenses and give them a place to park their rig. Tom is also contemplating becoming an RV inspector to do work wherever he travels.

The first place they want to visit is Maine and upstate New York during fall foliage. They’d also like to visit friends up in Canada.

Tom and Mickey Ryerson have been working in jobs that keep them pretty tied to San Antonio, Texas. When they’ve had an opportunity to take vacations, they’ve often flown to faraway places. But, as they approach retirement, they really want to see America.

They’ve been looking at options for a while by listening to podcasts and even attending a seminar put on by the Escapee’s Club in Texas to learn more about RVs and how they work.

Then, they added to that foundation by attending the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs, AR, where they learned even more about Workamping and ways to financially support their travel dreams.

Each seminar they attend has filled in more gaps by providing additional helpful details. But, they also keep picking up tidbits of information or gave them even more options to consider.

That’s the best way to approach the RV and Workamping lifestyle so that you are well prepared before you even get started.

My next guests are Melody & Keith Paluch, who are dreamers from Canton, Texas. They attended the 2019 Workamper Rendezvous to learn more about the RV and Workamping lifestyle.

They were on a fact-finding mission to investigate what type of RV to buy for full-time use. They are anxious to get a fifth wheel and visit places like Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Tennessee.

They adopt a more relaxed view of travel where they prefer to use state and county roads rather than interstates because they can just stop and check out things that look interesting as they pass through an area.

Melody runs an embroidery business, but they are also looking at various Workamping opportunities, too.

Melody and Keith Paluch found the Workamper Rendezvous to be a valuable investment of time not just because of the classes they were able to sit in on, but because of the people they were able to interact with throughout the week.

Just being around hundreds of other dreamers or experienced RVers really cranked them up for jumping into the lifestyle.

After caring for her mom and dad in the end stages of their lives, Melody has come to realize that life is way too short. That’s why she and Keith want to get out and visit some of the places they’ve been dreaming about before something happens that makes it impossible for them to enjoy those kinds of adventures.

Keith wants to take additional training to learn how to maintain his own RV, rather than relying upon other people.

That’s a sound decision, too, because people who can maintain their own units have greater flexibility – and more money – to enjoy the finer aspects of the RV lifestyle.