Jobs for hikers

imported
#21

Don’t forget, if you never take a real job, make and keep your own retirement plans, or plan ‘for the rainy days’ don’t look to those who did to take care of you.

I know an avid hunter who worked at a repair garage when he felt like, went hiking and camping when he felt like it, and now in his later years has no retirement, no health care, and no prospects for having any chance of getting any.

No reason not to have fun in your early years but please remember to be able to take care of yourself in your later years!

I think starting your own business is the best advice yet. Pay now, play later.

Too-Dang

#22

Start your own business? The owner of the small business I work for says he’s either working, or thinking about work. He’s tied hand and foot to the business.

OTOH, as an employee of this small business, I am taking a leave of absence to hike the AT, with my job being held for me until I return.

My oldest son has just taken a job as a “mud logger,” working on oil rigs. His pay is amazing for someone who graduated from college about four weeks ago, and he’ll work two weeks on, then get one week off. That’s not a thru-hiking schedule, but it’s a lot more useful free time that most young workers get. He’s planning to leave near the beach and do a lot of windsurfing…

Marta

#23

Parm, I think the answer is in your desire. It’s possible to live without a salary, but difficult to live without money. The trick is to find that money somehow. While chasing down Jan Liteshoe’s book at the library, I read this quote,
"It’s easier to control expenses than it is to control income."
That seems like the essence of what we learned as hikers. No income (unless you were on unemployment) but little expenses either. Maintaining this disipline is easy on the trail, since there aren’t many places to spend money in the middle of the woods. Even in the towns, you could only buy what you were willing to carry. The difficulty starts once you’ve returned to “civilization.” Do you really need that cell phone/camera/handheld game/mp3 player? Or do you just think you need it?

Goggles

#24

Some advice from an old f*rt. Find something you have a passion for and you’ll never work a day in your life. Too many people work for payday and don’t spend time doing something they enjoy. I’m getting close to collecting Social Security and I’ve probably only “worked” a few months in my life. The rest of the time I had “fun” doing what I enjoyed. Self employed for 40 years now, can spend 6 months a year hunting, fishing, hiking, spend time with grand kids and what ever else I what to do. I still work 6 months because I like to! I is still fun!

Parm, somebody will pay you to hike. I don’t know who but somebody will.

PS. Check out Backpacker Magazine, they have an opening for their traveling “Get Out” program. (I think that is what they called it.) They pay people to travel around the country talking about hiking and writing for their web site. I think it requires some writing skills and considerable hiking experience. Check it out.

Got to go… need to pack my gear.

Papa Smurf