Life on the road in an RV seems like the ultimate freedom – endless horizons, new adventures every day, and the flexibility to call anywhere home. But what happens when you need to pay for that slice of paradise? Enter work camping, the lifestyle that promises to fund your wanderlust while keeping you anchored in some pretty spectacular locations. It’s not all poolside breaks and desert sunsets though – work camping comes with its own unique set of challenges, surprises, and yes, some pretty hilarious moments that seasoned RVers know all too well. From face recognition systems that apparently need glasses to lollipop inspections that are more serious than they sound, the day-to-day reality can be quite different from what you might expect. We found a great video from Our Everyday Getaway that gives us an unfiltered look into their work camping experience at Mesa Regal RV Resort, and trust us, it’s more entertaining than any reality TV show.
1. The Early Bird Gets the Worm (And Extra Hours to Pay the Bills)
Katrina’s morning routine starts at 6 AM sharp, not because she’s naturally a morning person, but because the cost of staying at the resort is “so terribly expensive.” As she candidly shares, “I personally would not have stayed at this Resort if I knew it was this [expensive]. I personally probably just would to pick this Resort, but now that we’re here and we made the choice to Work Camp then I’m gonna work Camp.”
The reality check here is that work camping isn’t always the budget-friendly solution it appears to be on Instagram. Sometimes you end up working more hours than planned just to break even on your site fees. It’s like being stuck in a relationship with someone who’s really attractive but costs you way more than you bargained for – except in this case, the relationship is with a piece of land and you’re committed for the season.
2. Technology Doesn’t Always Recognize Your Morning Face
Chris’s daily struggle with the face recognition clock-in system is probably the most relatable content in the entire video. “I have to put my face here… try again, that didn’t work, try again,” he says while the machine apparently judges his early morning appearance and finds it lacking.
There’s something beautifully ironic about advanced technology being unable to recognize a person who’s been working there for weeks. It’s like the machine is saying, “Sorry buddy, you look too tired to be the real Chris.” Eventually, he gives up and signs in on paper like it’s 1995, which honestly might be more reliable than trusting AI to recognize your pre-coffee face.
3. Lollipop Quality Control is Serious Business
Who knew that lollipop inspection was a legitimate job requirement? Katrina explains her role: “These have to be taken apart because a real lollipop doesn’t have a big piece of fabric on the back and it should have all been brought down and look like a real lollipop.”
The fact that there are professional standards for fake lollipops used at resort events is both hilarious and oddly reassuring. Somewhere, there’s probably a manual titled “Proper Lollipop Reconstruction Techniques” and Katrina is becoming an expert in it. It’s the kind of specialized skill you never put on your resume but definitely brings up at dinner parties.
4. Your Pet Becomes a Master of Emotional Manipulation
Tucker’s dramatic reaction to being left alone showcases the Oscar-worthy performance pets give when their humans go to work. “Hey buddy, did you miss me? Of course I missed you, what do you think I’m a dog? You were gone forever, please don’t do that to me again.”
Dogs have mastered the art of making you feel guilty for having adult responsibilities. Tucker’s collection of tennis balls and his theatrical shoe-stealing behavior when Chris returns suggests he’s plotting either an escape or a career in drama. The way Chris narrates Tucker’s thoughts perfectly captures how every pet owner becomes a translator for their furry guilt-trippers.
5. Walking to Work Becomes Your Daily Exercise Program
Chris opts to walk the 13 minutes to work most days, turning his commute into his fitness routine. “The weather’s been fantastic, it’s beautiful, so I don’t mind walking to work,” he explains while cutting through the pool area.
This is actually genius – combining your commute with exercise means you can skip the gym membership (one less expense for the work camping budget). Plus, how many people can say their daily walk to work includes passing by a resort pool? It beats staring at fluorescent lights on a treadmill while dreaming of being somewhere more scenic.
6. The Yuma Run: When Work Camping Gets Real
The weekly supply run to Yuma involves a 6:30 AM start and doesn’t end until 3:00-4:30 PM – that’s what Chris calls “a longer day” with masterful understatement. “It’s a chance for you to get more hours,” he notes, which is work camping code for “prepare for a marathon day but hey, the paycheck will be bigger.”
The Yuma run is like the final boss level of work camping – a road trip that’s actually work, not vacation. It’s probably the only job where you can legitimately say you drove across state lines to deliver party supplies. There’s something wonderfully absurd about professional party supply logistics involving multi-hour road trips through the desert.
7. Your Spouse Becomes Your Workplace Restaurant Critic
The casual exchange between Chris and Katrina about dinner plans reveals the beautiful mundanity of work camping life. When Chris asks what would make her job easier, Katrina’s response is simple: “You have dinner ready when I get home.” His reply? “I don’t think we have anything for dinner.”
This perfectly captures how work camping strips away pretense and gets down to the basics – who’s cooking, who’s working late, and whether there’s actually food in the RV. It’s refreshingly honest compared to the perfectly curated work camping content you usually see on social media. Sometimes the most romantic thing your partner can do is figure out dinner after you’ve spent eight hours fixing decorative lollipops.
