Surviving Town

By: Jaimie Gleissner

Tunes: “All These Things That I've Done” - The Killers

One great thing about seasonal work is that it can open doors for you to live in remote locations, both domestic and internationally. The main drawback to living off the beaten path is that, more often than not, technology will be limited and town trips few and far between. That said, it's extremely important to make the most of your time in civilization. Since our season started at Yes Bay (a remote Alaskan fishing lodge), Lara and I have managed to get into town once, so we came up with a few pointers to help you make the most of your time away from the great outdoors.

First of all, have a plan of attack, but remember when you sit down at the bar for round one, your plans will probably change. Make sure you give yourself enough time to run any important errands. In fact, you might want to run those errands before you decide to do anything that might cloud your judgment. Should you allow fun to take precedence over necessities, you'll end up in McDonald's with a backpack of booze and no second chance to get back to town. Remember, it's all fun and games until you run out of deodorant half way through the season.

Whatever you do, know where your friends are and how to get a hold of them should you become separated. After months of being cut off from the real world, you're apt to forget somethings about it (social cues, currency, cell phones, etc.), so it's crucial that you keep track of your travel companions. As I stumbled through Safeway trying to locate my roommate, I couldn't help but think how great it would be if she had a working cell phone. Maybe then I wouldn't have lost her twice in a 5 minute span. Get the phone numbers of coworkers who are also in town, and be ready to call them when it's time to meet up. Even if you can't stand the people you went into town with, you'll be grateful to see a familiar face in a sea of strangers.

Keeping track of time is the single most important thing you can do while visiting civilization. If the group has to wait for you to show up at the designated meeting place, there will be repercussions. Punctuality makes for a more pleasant trip back to work and a greeting from a jovial boss once you return. Don't let your tardiness be something that could negatively affect your job.

And whatever you do never, NEVER, fart on the float plane!!!