CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Twinkling lights,ornament-strewn trees and bustling campgrounds. Those
are signs of theChristmas season in this Kentucky town, where the Amazon.comdistribution center recruits an
armada of RV owners as seasonal workersto help fill holiday orders.They’re dubbed the
"CamperForce" bythe world’s largest online retailer. Hundreds of campers are assignedpacking,
sorting and collection duties at Amazon warehouses in Kentucky,Kansas and Nevada — roles meant to keep
orders flowing during theyuletide rush.Swarms of workers take up temporary residence incampgrounds. For
many, it’s another short-term stint on a nonstopjourney. It’s a lifestyle and mindset for retirees, empty
nesters andyounger parents who shuck traditions of home and work to roam fromcampsite to campsite, job to
job."It’s a job, it’s not a career,so you don’t have to take it so seriously," said Ron Dale, a
collegegraduate with a business degree. "Go and have a good time. … You don’thave the stress of
thinking, ‘I’ve got to perform at an unbelievablelevel. I’ve got to work extra hours so the boss knows I’m
dedicated.’"It gives him more time to spend with his wife, 7-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter, he
said.Since2010, Amazon has recruited campers for its distribution centers inCampbellsville, Ky.,
Coffeyville, Kan., and Fernley, Nevada — placeswith modest populations where the company has to cast a wider
net tobring in enough temporary workers to fill its needs.The stints last about three months, and the hours
on the job tend to grow longer as Christmas nears.Dale, who just logged a 60-hour work week, said: "I’m
the guy who grabs the presents and sends them to the kids for Christmas."Some jobs include plenty of
lifting and bending over, as well as walking up to five to 10 miles a day.Seasonalworkers, including
campers, play "an important role" in fillingcustomer orders during the holiday season, said
company spokeswomanKelly Cheeseman. On its peak day in 2012 — Nov. 26 — Amazon customersordered more than
26.5 million items worldwide, or 306 items per second.Amazon has said it expects an even busier holiday
season this year.Overall,the Seattle-based company said it was hiring 70,000 full-time seasonalworkers
around the country during this holiday season. Seasonal workersat its order fulfillment centers are eligible
for health care benefitsand, on average, earn 94 percent of the wages of regular employees.Dale,58, and his
31-year-old wife, Kristin, embraced the roving lifestylethis past fall. They loaded their kids, the family
dog and somebelongings into their 24-foot-long camper that’s now home, pulling upstakes in western Kentucky
for the migratory life.The Dales’ camping site the past few weeks gives them a sweeping view of scenic Green
River Lake in south-central Kentucky."It’slike those people that spend millions of dollars to pay for a
view likethat," Ron Dale said. "It’s like we’re on a vacation, permanently."Forthe Dales,
there’s no turning back anytime soon. They’re leaning towardspending the winter along the Mississippi coast
but hadn’t lined upjobs yet. They expect to be in Wisconsin next summer, working at acampground, followed by
a stay in North Dakota for the sugar beetharvest.The Dales plan to take turns working full time, while the
other stays with the children and home schools their 7-year-old son.Theunconventional lifestyle has appealed
to retirees and empty nesterseager to downsize and sightsee while picking up odd jobs along the way.Younger
couples and families with children are joining the ranks ofthose willing to shuck the status quo for the
lure of the road.Somestill have homes in towns they left, connecting them to their oldlives. Others packed
up from rentals they’ll likely never call homeagain."You have to not be attached to a lot of
stuff," saidTrampas Jones, 34, who is embracing the lifestyle with his 41-year-oldwife, Heather.
"You really have to learn to pare down."They’re hoping to land winter jobs as gate guards at a
Texas oilfield while living in their motorhome.Manytransient workers land temporary jobs at resorts,
campgrounds, themeparks and state and national parks. The workers and employers looking tohire them can go
online to match up. For some workers, the wages payfor their fun. Others rely on the salaries to cover
necessities.For all, though, it satisfies a yearning for wanderlust and adventure."There’sso much out
there to see," said Gayle Kerch, who travels the countrywith her husband, Jim, and their two dogs in
their RV. "It’s just sovast. I can’t imagine staying in one spot and not going and seeing
thecountry."The influx of work campers is felt across thecommunities, with more people eating in local
restaurants and buyinggroceries and fuel. Entertainment venues can also benefit; the Dales,for example, have
a bowling night each week."It does bring aboost to the local economy," said Sandy Jenner,
executive director ofthe Fernley Chamber of Commerce in Nevada.As an incentive, Amazon pays camping fees for
the seasonal workers who start arriving in early fall.The migration has provided a windfall for campgrounds
near Campbellsville.Amazon seasonal workers were occupying all 82 campsites at Green River Stables, an RV
campground and horse camp.Without the temporary workers, the campground would likely be empty this time of
year, said its owner, Darrell Wise."It’s all about Santa Claus," he said.Wise has invested his
Amazon-related income to expand his operation, which started with 16 campsites in 2002."They’ve been a
godsend to us," he said. "Every campsite I’ve built, Amazon has filled it."AtGreen River Lake
State Park, 48 campsites were filled due to demandfrom Amazon workers, said park manager Sharion L. Abney.
Until theystarted showing up, the campground closed after November for winter.Now, it stays open through
December.Amazon-related businesshasn’t been as lucrative for Big Chief RV Park in Kansas, which hostscampers
working for Amazon at Coffeyville. The fee paid by Amazondoesn’t cover all the utility bills, and the RV
park ends up absorbingsome of those costs, said park manager Debra Harris."It hasn’tbeen real
great," she said. "We’re trying to accommodate. We’ve been onthe road for many years, too, and we
know what it was like to RV."Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.