On April 29, 2015, Mark and I were driving to Wagon Trail Campground for the first time.  We were a little bit scared.  We had had a number of Workamping jobs where either the boss didn’t like us or our co-workers didn’t like us or both.  We prayed as we passed the Welcome to Door County sign that this would be a good situation for us.  God surpassed all that we could think or imagine.  Wagon Trail Campground is gorgeous, as you well know from my blogs and pictures, and our bosses and co-workers have become like family.  I thought we’d be coming back here for as long as our bodies could hold up.

Then we worked in Housekeeping at Sun-N-Fun RV Resort last winter.  For myself, I made friends there and got along pretty well with everyone I worked with or for and I didn’t mind the job, although it was hard work.  For Mark, it was a deal-breaker.  Before we left he told me that he would fulfill his commitment at Wagon Trail Campground this summer, but then he didn’t ever want to clean another toilet.

I was still willing to clean the bathrooms as long as another man could be found to work with me, and I told Tim so on the day I had my bicycle accident.  Last Saturday Tim and Kathy called a meeting with us to talk about it.  They had consulted with the former owners about having a single man and a single woman clean the bathrooms together and been advised that it’s been tried before and hasn’t worked.  They asked Mark if there was anything they could do to change his mind.  They were prepared to negotiate for more money or different hours or whatever because they like us and our work so much, but Mark really wants to focus on his business, and considering all the money we have put into his training, that’s not a bad thing.  Mark was hoping that we could become seasonals here, but all their seasonal spots are full and they have a waiting list of people who want to get in.

Mark and I came home from the meeting feeling devastated.  In spite of the warnings from the former owners, Kathy has asked around to see if there are any single men who would be willing to work with me, but that hasn’t panned out.  I asked Mark if he would come back to Housekeeping if I cleaned the toilets and he did the sinks and mirrors, but that doesn’t really get to the heart of the matter.

The heart of the matter is that Mark really wants to make a go of being an RV Tech for all the campgrounds here in Door County.  His prospects are good here.  He has done his research and there are 1800 RV sites in Door County.  There used to be a guy who did RV Tech work for all the parks in Door County, and I guess he was pretty good, but last year his work became kind of spotty and he lost a lot of former customers.  The only other option in Door County is a business that charges $90 just to come to a customer’s site, and then they charge big bucks for parts and labor as well.  Mark’s services could be in great demand if he can devote time to going around to the different parks and introducing his business to them and being available as needed.

So no one is to blame for this outcome.  Mark has a legitimate dream, Tim and Kathy have tried their darndest to work things out for us, and Mark and I never wanted to leave but it’s looking like we’ll have to.  Kathy has been talking with other business owners in the area to see if they could use my services.  I’m scared again about working for somebody new next summer and I can hardly bear the thought of losing this “family”.  What if I get into another situation where my boss and/or my co-workers don’t like me?

For some reason I keep thinking about Julie Andrews as Sister Maria in The Sound of Music when she was sent from the convent to work for Captain Von Trapp and his seven children.  She sang:

A captain and seven children,

what’s so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop all these doubts, all these worries,

If I don’t, I just know I’ll turn back.

I must dream of the things I am seeking…

I am seeking the courage I lack!

What am I seeking?  This whole Workamping thing was supposed to be about adventure.  I have been so at peace here and so comfortable.  I wanted to settle into a routine.  This desire is the antithesis of adventure.

The courage to serve them with reliance,

Face up to my mistakes without defiance,

Show them I’m worthy, and while I show them

I’ll…show…me, so…

Let them bring on all their problems,

I’ll do better than my best.

I have confidence they’ll put me to the test,

But I’ll make them see I have confidence in me!

Buck up, Denise!  E.G.B.A.R – Everything’s Gonna Be All Right!  I can always come back here for visits and get together with my friends to do fun things.  God is in control and everything is going according to plan.  For we know that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

In the immortal words of Maria when she got to the Captain’s door: Oh, help!