It Wasn't Meant To Be

Sometimes you go into something with high hopes and a positive attitude but you soon realize it just wasn't going to work.  No, we are not talking about our RV life!  We are talking about our latest workamping gig.  We signed up and interviewed for our latest workamping gig way back in March when we were in Mesa, AZ.  We had a virtual face to face interview with the local Lifetouch leadership team that we would be working with in WI and came away from that interview with a really good feeling that this would be a good fit for us, and it was...except for the fact that because of past surgeries and medical issues, my body did not agree!  We started with training and shadowing on a Monday and by Wednesday it was very apparent that I was not going to make it.  We felt really bad not being able to finish out our assignment but we finished out the week and left our company paid campground spot on Labor Day.

For anyone considering workamping with Lifetouch, your benefits are great!  You get your FHU campsite, every hour paid, pay for travel time, mileage and a gas card as well as company shirts to wear.  The job itself is taking school and ID pictures for Pre-K thru 12 but we mostly had Pre-K through 8.  We were split between two markets so our travel times were going to be longer, but we were paid for that time.  We had lots of training and shadowing to set up the lights/camera and backdrops and props.  This would be a great workamping position for someone who can stand for a good amount of time, set up the kits and work with children.  We met a couple other workampers and they really enjoyed it!  

From there we headed back up to our favorite family moochdocking spot at my Dad's and are spending the month of September there.  The peaceful setting gives us time to relax and visit with family, getting lots of hand and foot card games in!  

Moochdocking Morning Bliss

​We also had a going away party for my sister and her boyfriend who are moving to CA for a couple years while he finishes his studies at Stanford.  Always good to see extended family!

We also got to see the nearly finished resto-mod 1938 Lincoln Zephyr my dad has been restoring.  It is a far cry from the state he bought it in.  Really a beauty!

We took a day to go explore a beautiful park in Fond du Lac nearby.  Lakeside Park is located on the shores of Lake Winnebago.  This 400 acre park is a real gem!  There is a marina, lighthouse, ball diamonds, petting zoo, fountains, playgrounds, picnic areas, kayak rentals and a meandering river through the park with several bridges.  The landscaping is beautiful and well cared for.  We were there on a Sunday and volunteers were busy deadheading plants and picking up trash.

While we are in the area, we also started giving the boys their Christmas presents.  This year is all about "experience" presents.  Our youngest, Brady, has always loved Hamilton, knows every single song and has always wanted to go see the Broadway production in NY.  Well we did the next best thing and took the boys to see the Broadway production in Chicago.  It was an amazing show, with seats in the first row center of the first balcony, we had a great view of the stage!  The CIBC theatre is a beautiful, historic theatre dating back to the gilded age.  The show was amazing and had you laughing and crying.  Yes grown men were wiping their eyes!  After the show, we went to The Italian Village, one block over for a wonderful italian meal.  This restaurant dates back to 1927 and is still family owned.  What a great way to spend a Sunday in Chicago!  Nicholas' "experience" Christmas gift will be later this year in TX.  Again, something he has always wanted to do.  

We also were fortunate enough to get 4 free tickets to the Milwaukee Brewers game through VetTix.  If you are a military service member and have not looked into this program, it is awesome and you need to!  Companies and individuals donate tickets to things like sporting events, shows, concerts, etc. for these military members to use.  We have mentioned this in prior posts and cannot say enough good things about it!  We took Brady and my Dad, since Nicholas had to work.

Dad, Rick, Brady and me

Rick has also had time to put together a little invention he has been thinking about that will help him dump tanks with the macerator with relative ease.  For the macerator to work, it needs 12 volt power and having the truck right near the macerator to power off the truck battery isn't always going to be possible, so Rick made a hook up cord to solve for that.  Some folks do mount a power receptacle in the RV bay or power off the RV battery, but Rick liked this solution for greater flexibility.  He used a 25 ft, softer rubber coated, 14 gauge ext cord, cut off the end and wired in battery clamps attached to a battery tender cord, that wired into the extension cord.  He did cut the battery tender cord as well to wire in a 12 volt switch where he can easily turn power on/off to the macerator. On the other end of the extension cord he wired in 12 volt, male/female connectors that attached to the connectors on the macerator.  On tip on this wiring configuration is to keep black battery clamp to black wire all the way through the line.  This set up works really slick and we are now able to dump tanks just about anywhere, giving us greater flexibility in the locations we camp.

The ext cord to battery tender cord to truck connection

​He also replaced thecabin filter in our F350 truck and a missing clip on the outside refrigerator vent.  

Wow, that needed to be changed!

​We are wrapping up our time here in WI and will soon be making our way south.  As luck would have it, now that we are no longer committed to a workamping gig for October, we have been able to sign up for TWO Grand Design rallies in Arkansas and Texas.  We are super excited to see some Grand Design owners we met at a previous rally and meet some new ones!  We are also meeting up with friends in MO on our way to the rallies.  

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