Why do You Workamp (or volunteer)

We tried it to give back to our local community through the California State Park system. The problem is that the lead ranger treated all the volunteers bad! I think he Assumed that we needed the "free" spot to stay in. While that was probably true for others, it was not true for us. We went well above hours demanded, was always spot on collecting receipts and had camper's bragging about us, but we were still treated poorly. In pre-retirement job's my wife and I both had volunteers working for us and we appreciate how special they are. This unfortunately put a bad taste in our mouth to the idea of camp hosting. I'm sure we will later try the idea of being a docent somewhere, but NOT California State Parks!

fulltimedaniel wrote:
To the Moderator: please do not put this post in workcamping forum. That forum is DEAD. And truly this is a subject that is of interest to many who would not think to go there for this.

In another posting I was the target of a somewhat unkind and needling remark of being a workcamper so it made me think.

Why Do You workcamp?

Now I personally workcamp to keep engaged, meet people, have the opportunity to sit still for awhile and frankly I was a workaholic most of my life and it is hard to give up entirely for sure. This is my Second "Retirement" the First was at 53. I also frankly get a bit bored just traveling around. We go to a great many museums and do a lot of things. We keep very busy even when not working. But I get something different out of working that I truly enjoy. Now don't get me wrong I don't want to ever go back to HAVING to go back to work, Thankfully I don't. But I have found that it adds alot to this Full-timing experience.

So Far I have done the Unbeetable Experience (the sugar beet harvest) and now I am working in Alaska for the summer. When we came here last May my friend Cecelia and I decided we would like to come back to work a season here. So here we are (it was -19 below this am in Fairbanks)

Why do you do it?

Is it for the money?

The engagement?

Keeping busy?

For Fun?

Tell us your story and thoughts.