Update - Living the Dream in Yellowstone!

[Timeshare Von]

I am super excited that my transition towards retirement is moving forward. I have less than a month left at my current association, where I've been working part-time as our new executive director takes over the helm. For those who might not know my story, I have been working in executive level positions for the better part of 25 years. Most recently I was the executive director of the Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin . . . the trade association representing over 220 bowling centers here.

I resigned that position effective 1/1/22 so I could pursue other passions and dreams beyond my career and bowling.So this summer, I have accepted a seasonal full-time position with Yellowstone Park Service Stations (YPSS) who is one of several concessionaires providing services to visitors inside Yellowstone National Park. I'm over the moon excited for this opportunity. I've known for the last few years that Yellowstone has my heart and that I wanted to have a full immersion experience while living there.

Anyway, I will driving west scheduled to arrive for check-in on May 24th and starting my new job on the 25th . . . and running through October 7th. I plan on blogging throughout my journey, and wanted to share the link if others are interested. As with most of my travel writing, there will be lots of photos!

I've been fortunate to visit Yellowstone annually for most years since 2012. This is a culmination of experiences making the dream possible. With retirement around the corner, David (my DH) and I still haven't settled in on where we will move to in 2023 or 2024. We only know it will be away from Wisconsin and the frozen tundra and high taxes.

I hope folks will follow and enjoy my life's journey as it takes me west for the summer.

 

[DaveNV]

Von, you know how excited I am for this adventure you're about to take. I hope your Summer is everything you want it to be, and that you have the time of your life. I have bookmarked your blog link, and look forward to sharing the experience with you. Have a fantastic time!

Dave

 

[Timeshare Von]

Von, you know how excited I am for this adventure you're about to take. I hope your Summer is everything you want it to be, and that you have the time of your life. I have bookmarked your blog link, and look forward to sharing the experience with you. Have a fantastic time!

Dave

Thanks Dave . . . yes I know you've been a dear friend for many years and I appreciate your kind words.

 

[callwill]

Yellowstone is also a frozen tundra.... Many years ago i hauled my family from NYS to Yellowstone in our Olds Vistacruiser wagon pulling our popup camper (which my wife and I still use several times a summer). Visited many great places on the way out and back. We went at the end of august and came back in early september with the kids missing the first day or 2 of school. The heater was needed. It was one that was not rated for that altitiude and did not want to work(neither did the fridge). We were buying hats gloves and sweatshirts to sleep in. I like it cool, but my nose would get so cold at night i had a sweatshirt over my face! On the way back, we took a second pass thru the Badlands...it was 104 degrees and the AC quit in the car. During our drive back home, news reported that Yellowstone had received their first snow of the year! I am envious that you have been there so many times. It is a most fantastical place and by far the best of the NPs that we have been too. I would love to visit in winter and snowmobile the park...

 

[Makai Guy]

We worked in Yellowstone for Xanterra when I first retired in the summer of 2003 (can't believe it was that long ago!). The link in my sig block is to a website I put together at that time.

The best part of working in the Park is when you get a day off YOU'RE ALREADY IN YELLOWSTONE! (It did give me much appreciation for the value of living near amenities like grocery stores, however ...)

 

[slip]

Your going to have some great memories. Looking forward to reading about them. Congratulations!!

 

[easyrider]

Sounds like alot of fun. I bet you get some great photos. Looking forward to seeing some.

Bill

 

[Passepartout]

Looking forward to the accounts on living/working in Yellowstone. I gotta say though, working around tourists who are busy being. . .well. . .tourists will be eye opening. NOTHING will be a surprise after this.

We rented our Summer Yellowstone week this year, so we won't be visiting.

 

[silentg]

One of the places we hope to visit in the future. Congratulations on the job. I look forward to your posts on Yellowstone!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Looking forward to the accounts on living/working in Yellowstone. I gotta say though, working around tourists who are busy being. . .well. . .tourists will be eye opening. NOTHING will be a surprise after this.

We rented our Summer Yellowstone week this year, so we won't be visiting.

I'll be working in the corporate offices of YPSS so while I will have some contact with the guests of the park, my interaction won't be the essence of my work.

 

[Timeshare Von]

We worked in Yellowstone for Xanterra when I first retired in the summer of 2003 (can't believe it was that long ago!). The link in my sig block is to a website I put together at that time.

The best part of working in the Park is when you get a day off YOU'RE ALREADY IN YELLOWSTONE! (It did give me much appreciation for the value of living near amenities like grocery stores, however ...)

I had also been offered a position this summer with Xanterra but opted for YPSS largely because of their housing for staff, and not having to be dependent on the EDR with Xanterra.

I'll actually have an apartment in Gardiner, subsidized by YPSS . . . MAYBE with a roommate in a 2 BR/2 bath fully furnished . . . or a furnished 1 BR/1 bath on my own.

 

[Timeshare Von]

One of the places we hope to visit in the future. Congratulations on the job. I look forward to your posts on Yellowstone!

Thank you!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Sounds like alot of fun. I bet you get some great photos. Looking forward to seeing some.

Bill

Thanks and you know they'll be plenty of photos!

 

[Timeshare Von]

Your going to have some great memories. Looking forward to reading about them. Congratulations!!

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[Brett]

Sounds like the dream retirement job. I hope to go back to Yellowstone in the next couple of years

 

[Luanne]

I worked at Yellowstone for one summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college. I was a maid at Roosevelt Lodge. I remember Gardiner, as that was one of the stops on my travels to Yellowstone. That may have been where they processed us into the park. It was a great summer and even though I didn't have a car, or many days off, I was able to see quite a lot of the park, and surrounding areas. I haven't been back to Yellowstone since then, not sure why not.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Yellowstone is also a frozen tundra.... Many years ago i hauled my family from NYS to Yellowstone in our Olds Vistacruiser wagon pulling our popup camper (which my wife and I still use several times a summer). Visited many great places on the way out and back. We went at the end of august and came back in early september with the kids missing the first day or 2 of school. The heater was needed. It was one that was not rated for that altitiude and did not want to work(neither did the fridge). We were buying hats gloves and sweatshirts to sleep in. I like it cool, but my nose would get so cold at night i had a sweatshirt over my face! On the way back, we took a second pass thru the Badlands...it was 104 degrees and the AC quit in the car. During our drive back home, news reported that Yellowstone had received their first snow of the year! I am envious that you have been there so many times. It is a most fantastical place and by far the best of the NPs that we have been too. I would love to visit in winter and snowmobile the park...

Yes I've been in Yellowstone several times in the summer when it's snowed.

The frozen tundra I spoke of, really is more about the winter, deep freeze cold and needing to snow blow to clear the driveway and sidewalks.

My first trip to Yellowstone was also a trip in family stationwagon towing a small trailer. That was July 1965 and I was a young & impressionable kid.

P.S. Badlands is always on my drive to (or from) Yellowstone from Milwaukee. I love the park, but have also been there with 100° plus heat.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Sounds like the dream retirement job. I hope to go back to Yellowstone in the next couple of years

There are lots of opportunities!

 

[Timeshare Von]

I worked at Yellowstone for one summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college. I was a maid at Roosevelt Lodge. I remember Gardiner, as that was one of the stops on my travels to Yellowstone. That may have been where they processed us into the park. It was a great summer and even though I didn't have a car, or many days off, I was able to see quite a lot of the park, and surrounding areas. I haven't been back to Yellowstone since then, not sure why not.

Yes Gardiner is where most/all incoming employee processing takes place.

You should come back, but be prepared for crazy numbers of tourists. It's really overwhelming at times, especially at some of the top attractions during midday in July & August.

 

[dmbrand]

Congratulations! As a fellow Wisconsinite, I truly empathize with you on the winters. And hasn’t this April been the WORST? Blessings to you on your future endeavors out west.

 

[Timeshare Von]

Congratulations! As a fellow Wisconsinite, I truly empathize with you on the winters. And hasn’t this April been the WORST? Blessings to you on your future endeavors out west.

Thank you! And yes Wisconsin's weather this spring was terrible, but the winter actually seemed mild.

 

[Dori]

Congratulations on your new adventure! Enjoy every moment!

Dori

 

[Timeshare Von]

Congratulations on your new adventure! Enjoy every moment!

Dori

Thank you Dori! I plan on it for sure

 

[susieq]

Congrats on this super fun opportunity ~ it sounds so wonderful!!! I've also bookmarked your link, and am looking forward to lots of pictures. We do hope to get there one day, but in the meantime will travel vicariously through your adventures. Best of luck..............

 

[Timeshare Von]

Congrats on this super fun opportunity ~ it sounds so wonderful!!! I've also bookmarked your link, and am looking forward to lots of pictures. We do hope to get there one day, but in the meantime will travel vicariously through your adventures. Best of luck..............

Thank you! I hope you're able to get there one day too!