I have the Best job in the world! Or so I think.
I work four 10-hour days and get three days off. And work is like play for a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. Plus I’m seasonal by choice, so only work six months a year.
Western Tanager
My daily schedule is diverse, from working in the visitor center helping people plan their visit whether here for four hours or four days, to presenting programs about history, condors, geology, ecology, archaeology, or paleontology. I know, that’s a lot of ologies. I call myself a generalologist.
Monday I went out on the Walhalla Plateau, after a few office chores.
Out at Cape Royal the flowers are blooming.
I was there two weeks ago and only saw a few yellow daisy-like flowers.
Now I’m enjoying the first of my three days off. Life is hard, but guess I’ll suffer through it. I sure hope you love your job (or retirement) as much as I do.
As a seasonal ranger, do you qualify for health insurance through your job?
I love your pictures! And love how you've tailored your job to your own schedule…that is so cool!
I agree! I was just telling Scott the other day that if I were to go back and pursue a second career, it might just be park ranger-ing =)
You definitely have a dream job!
You gotta love a job like you have! Of course, I love retirement a lot too. I can do as little or as much as I feel like–some days it's very little! I love your flower photos. It's amazing how quickly wildflowers can go from nothing to gorgeous blooms.
you know I do! Even when I come home and feet hurt, I still love what I do.
That's the life. The ideal job for a single person with has the freedom to do what the love. You make me want to go back to guiding
I'm rather happy that you have such flexible schedules… otherwise we may have missed out on your wonderful views and tales! Keep it up! 😉
I am sure I never enjoyed work as much as you do, I would love your job. Retirement is different, yes I do enjoy that, but it will improve once Nigel joins me here in France. Diane
You are very very fortunate, but you worked hard to get where you are.
I love the pic of the Walhalla Plateau. The colors of the canyon and sky are very vivid.
I do too believe it is a wonderful job. One day, I am hoping that I might find myself in a similar situation.
Might you sometime share your story about how you got connected with the park service? I have a applied several times, but not once yet have been contacted.
You DO have the best job in the world, actually!
-Lil
If I did not wish you so well, I could envy you. You are truly blessed to be able to work where others go to play. Your working environment is spectacular and since you have found a soulmate, there is a bloom about you that warms my heart. Odd, I only started to get to know you and your indomitable spirit less than three years ago, yet I value you deeply as a true friend.
Keep enjoying your wonderful life out in the wilderness.
PS Gooseberries in the wild, how wonderful!
If yours is not the world's best job, it's right up there with the winner.
Great tanager photo and nice wildflower shots. It's amazing how quickly the wildflowers bloom once they get started.
Wow. So pretty.
You do have a great job and I always liked mine–both of them. Now I like retirement although I wish at times I had a nice part-time job outside again. Enjoy! MB
Hi Gaelyn, I'm catching up with you after a couple weeks off the computer. Looks like you have some lovely blooming there on the N Rim! I can't imagine a more majestic place to work! I'm glad you're an "ologist"… you've taught me a lot!