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Archaeology in Arizona Project Completed

My work here is done. The archaeology project in the Tonto forest has come to completion. The company that I have been working with for the past 11 weeks has cut its crew loose: “There is no more work for you, go on your merry way.” The message is clear: I am now joyfully unemployed. [...]

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My work here is done. The archaeology project in the Tonto forest has come to completion. The company that I have been working with for the past 11 weeks has cut its crew loose: “There is no more work for you, go on your merry way.”

The message is clear: I am now joyfully unemployed.

It is about time.

This work season in the USA has been one of the longest that I have ever endured in a single stretch — six months. I worked as a research assistant, a gardener, an organic farmer, and an archaeologist. Six months of formal labor in addition to the full time job of publishing Vagabond Journey.com, and I am now proudly worn out. The archaeology project ended at the perfect time: I was ready to finish working for this season.

It is time again to travel back across the USA

It is time again to travel back across the USA

Though I did not make enough money. I cannot now make enough money. My “work a lot, travel more” strategy of working long hours for a few months a year to make up the funds to travel abroad long term is no longer applicable — I am making up the bean money for three now. If I really wanted to make enough money for my family to travel comfortably on, I would need to work the entire year round.

This is not going to happen.

I did not nearly make enough money this year, but I made enough to call it quits. I will probably not search out another job this work season. I made the money that I am going to make, lets see how long it will last us.

Christmas is calling us back east to my family in Western New York State. For the next week or two, I will travel around the Southwest with my wife and baby — take a vacation — then it is back east with us. My mother, father, and little Chinese sister still have not met Petra. It is about time that they do. Christmas is always a good time to be with my family anyway.

Then it is out of the USA with us. This country is too expensive to dwell in.

This year may be the year that I will be able to begin earning enough from Vagabond Journey.com to completely fund our travels.

Though, as my wife clearly points out, I say this every year.

Tonto forst archaeology crew

Tonto forest archaeology crew

Vagabond Journey series on archaeology in the Tonto Forest, Arizona
[seriesposts orderby=date name=”archaeology tonto forest” ]

Filed under: Archaeology, Arizona, USA

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

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VBJ is currently in: New York City

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  • fruugal December 1, 2009, 7:03 pm

    Farming and scouring the desert on your Archaeology Project has left you looking fit as a fiddle. Thanks for taking us along. I certainly hope VagabondJourney continues to grow and provide your new family with a good income.

    p.s. The roadkill episode was hilarious!

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    • Wade | Vagabond Journey.com December 2, 2009, 11:59 pm

      Haha, Thank you Fruugal,

      By fit do you mean beaten up and battered? Because that is how I feel haha.

      Thanks,

      Wade

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  • david December 2, 2009, 1:36 am

    Good luck with 2010 then!

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    • Wade | Vagabond Journey.com December 2, 2009, 11:56 pm

      Hello David,

      I hope to not have to work for all of 2010 haha. Hopefully our funds can last.

      Wade

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  • Annie December 2, 2009, 4:51 pm

    It was great to have you and your wonderful family in Jerome with us for a bit. Thanks so much for spending Thanksgiving with us!!! You are welcome anytime.

    Love to you, Chaya, and baby Petra!

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    • Wade | Vagabond Journey.com December 2, 2009, 11:56 pm

      Thank you Annie,

      Staying with you and Abe was awesome! I published an entry about the tour that you and Abe took us on and I will soon put up another about the walk that we took with you the night before. Thanks!

      We really appreciate everything that you did for us.

      Hope to meet up with you again!

      Wade

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