Today, I’m talking with a couple who made a remarkably quick transition from a conventional life in Missouri to living and traveling full time in a converted school bus. Susan Savage worked 29 years as a social worker, while Tad Mayfield worked primarily in the printing industry. Susan had already retired, but Tad was still working long hours to maintain their lifestyle when they realized they wanted something different. The inspiration came while they were driving down a highway in Missouri and spotted a woman happily cruising along in a converted school bus. Susan told Tad she could live with him in a skoolie, and he agreed. They went home, crunched the numbers and called a realtor the next day. Within 31 days, their house, cars and most of their possessions were gone. They didn’t even own a school bus yet. After finding a partially converted bus in Tennessee, they spent a couple of months getting it ready and hit the road. About six months later, while camping in Iowa, they were approached about becoming camp hosts. They didn’t even know what camp hosting was at the time. But they gave it a try, enjoyed the experience and discovered there was an entire world of Workamping opportunities available to them. During the past four and a half years, Susan and Tad have worked at state parks and private campgrounds. They have served as camp hosts and tackled maintenance, cooking, cleaning and painting cabins. I enjoyed Susan Savage and Tad Mayfield’s story because they demonstrate how Workamping can change the way people experience life on the road. For them, Workamping isn’t simply a way to save money on camping. It allows them to slow down, become part of a community, meet people and experience things they might completely miss if they were moving every few days. They’ve also learned some important lessons along the way. First, flexibility is essential. Susan and Tad have arrived for a Workamping job only to discover the campground didn’t know they were coming. They’ve also had another position canceled just two and a half weeks before they were supposed to arrive. Their advice is to be prepared to pivot and always have a Plan B. Second, be honest with employers about what you can and cannot do. Susan believes Workampers need to be authentic about their skills, abilities and limitations so both sides understand what to expect before the season begins. Finally, if you are seriously considering Workamping, Susan’s advice is to give it a try. Even after breakdowns, canceled jobs, communication problems and other challenges during four and a half years on the road, she couldn’t think of a reason they would stop living this way. If you would like to follow Susan and Tad’s adventures, Susan posts periodic skoolie updates on Facebook under Susan Savage. Today’s episode is brought to you by the featured employers at Workamper.com These Workamper Employers have taken the extra step to share some photos and detailed information about their Workamper programs with you. Check them out today! Opportunities exist for solos, couples and families, whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal or even long-term jobs. Some are income opportunities and others involve volunteering at locations throughout the United States. Go to www.workamper.com/fe to meet the featured employers today. If you are an employer seeking to hire Workampers, then you can learn how to benefit from year-round recruiting by becoming a Featured Employer. Visit www.workamper.com/fedetails. That’s all for this week’s show. I will be speaking with another Workamping couple next week. As the Summer of 2026 comes to a close, I hope you enjoy a safe and memorable Labor Day weekend.
