It sounds like a great idea. Leave behind the cubicle, forget seeing the same old view out your office window, and find an occupation that enables you to get out on the road and still bring in some cash.
But what career would allow you that flexibility? And what should you know before you take the leap?
Remote job ideas
Let’s start with the first question. According to a post on RVT Insight, there are numerous ways to earn a living while living on wheels. For example, you can provide virtual tutoring or host an online class or workshop. After all, if there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s how to use Zoom and other online platforms to offer training courses and do one-on-one teaching.
Not in a professorial mood but have skills to offer? Serving as a virtual assistant might be right up your alley. According to WeWork, virtual assistant tasks run the gamut from scheduling appointments to handling bookkeeping to data entry. Experienced in social media or blogging? You can take over those time-consuming but essential marketing projects for small businesses or professionals such as authors or speakers.
Or turn your road trip itself into an income source by writing about it. Travel writers are in great demand, and by being onsite, you will gather enough details to turn them into multiple articles for different outlets.
nuCamp owners who work remotely
Meagan Butler did something along those lines, writing about her experiences on the road and sharing them on her RV travel blog. But after leaving her job as a full-time English teacher, she established her freelance editing and writing career. As she explained in this post, “The RV lifestyle is perfect for someone who works remotely. As long as I have an internet connection, I can get my work done.”
If taking pictures is one of your talents, then think about being a professional photographer, like Jenn Grover whom we profiled in this piece. She does landscape and nature photography while on the road and has found camping gives her the flexibility to get the exact right shot at the exact right time without having to load all her equipment back into her vehicle after a night at a hotel!
In the same creative vein, using your graphic design abilities to create digital art can translate into money. And a side benefit of being on the road is that you are exposed to a variety of vistas and views that will spark your inspiration and keep creative blocks at bay!
Tips for working remotely
As for what to consider when equipping your mobile home, you need to prepare strategically, especially when it comes to staying in touch with clients. We spoke with Jennifer Armentrout, Service Manager at RVT, who provided some helpful tips and advice, especially when it came to ensuring consistent and safe communication while on the road.
“One of the most important pieces of equipment to be able to work from the road is, of course, Wi-Fi,” she said. “Luckily, there are now tons of on-the-road Wi-Fi options available. From mobile hotspots through your cell phone provider to new satellite Wi-Fi options, connection is more accessible than ever. That being said, it’s good to remember that not everywhere you go will provide stable connection, so do your research through your provider as to where connection is offered.”
It’s also wise to remember that all those places touting free Wi-Fi can put your data at risk by making your system susceptible to hackers, she noted. “There are programs that can protect your computer from such dangers. But sticking to a personal hotspot is probably the safest bet.”
Another point to keep in mind is the power draw of your electronics and peripherals, said Armentrout. While an RV equipped with a lower 30-amp service might be adequate, a computer set-up that requires a lot of energy means that on occasion you may have to choose between doing your work or running your camper’s A/C.
Although most RVs come with space limitations, you can still make the interior do double-duty, said Armentrout. “For example, that kitchen counter that turns into a bed can also make a great office desk. If your work requires a desktop, consider a swivel mount that can hook to your kitchen table and move freely, to be stored to the side or pulled out and utilized. RVs have tons of unique storage spaces. Pick one that is close by and can contain your equipment for when that kitchen counter needs to serve its other purposes.”
Finally, she added, keep in mind that RV life is all about “making a small space serve several functions. So, if you have a hard time working in your living space, mobile work arrangements might not be best suited for you.”
A challenging, but rewarding lifestyle
In the end, it’s all about making trade-offs. You may have to sacrifice the square footage that you had in your bricks-and-sticks office for a smaller space. But the benefits are a view that is ever-changing and the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and meet new people—not to mention developing a lucrative income source that allows you to enjoy life on the road!
For more tips, check out these posts: Mobile Office Must-Haves for Your Camper and Mixing Business and Pleasure—Making Money While on the Road.
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