The Ultimate Souvenir: How Seasonal Work Changed My Mindset (And What’s Next)

When I look back at my seasonal work journey, from the scorching deserts of Arizona to the snowy peaks of Colorado and Tahoe, and the kelp forests of Catalina Island, it’s easy to focus on the crazy jobs. But there is so much more behind each of these short stories.

Seasonal life didn't just give me a paycheck; it completely changed the trajectory of my life.

Immersion Over Itineraries

Sure, anyone can visit all 50 states and check national parks off their little list. But how much time are they actually spending there? A day? Two?

Seasonal work allowed me to spend months in these places. It allowed me to hike the Narrows and slot canyons in Zion National Park, catch striper bass in the hidden canyons of Lake Powell, and watch generations of wild deer grow up in my yard on Catalina. I didn't just see these places; I lived them. I learned the cultures, I embraced the daily grind, and I became part of the community. It opened my mind to what I actually want and need out of life: to immerse, to explore, and to dive in headfirst.

The Ripple Effect: Never Saying No

Taking that first terrifying leap to move across the country completely destroyed my comfort zone in the best way possible. Because of seasonal work, I stopped hesitating. I stopped saying "no" to adventures.

That mindset spilled over into the rest of my life. I started taking epic side quests: weekend trips to Joshua Tree and Vegas with friends, and flights out to Puerto Rico. I even took a train from Glacier National Park all the way to Portland, Oregon, where I rented a camper van and spent a week driving the Pacific Northwest, hitting Olympic National Park, the Northern Cascades, Mount Rainier, and the rugged Washington coast.

Now, when I travel, it’s never just about getting to the destination. It’s about the spaces in between. What can I stop and see? What detour can we take?

The Final Drive Home

When my time on Catalina finally came to a close, my friend Kyle’s island journey ended, too. He was heading off to his next seasonal gig in Jackson Hole, but before we went our separate ways, we had one last hurrah.

We rented a car to drive back to Michigan together. We originally booked a practical Toyota RAV4 for a comfortable cross-country drive, but ended up in a Jeep Wrangler instead. We turned what should have been a straight drive home into a nearly week-long road trip across the northern US.

We made it to Sequoia and Yosemite, but nature definitely had its own plans. On our way out of Yosemite, a massive snowstorm hit and completely closed the road, forcing us into a four-hour detour. We didn't get to see certain parts of the park because of it, but we still made it around and hit all our other stops along the way, including the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and everything beautiful in between. It was the perfect, unpredictable, and adventurous end to that era of my life.

Closing One Chapter, Opening the World

I never planned for my seasonal run to end. If it were entirely up to me, I would still be out there bouncing from mountain town to island harbor. But after a few severe injuries and a recent knee surgery, my body told me it was time to step away from the physical grind of seasonal hospitality.

Giving it up was heartbreaking, but it led me exactly where I am supposed to be.

Today, my life looks a little different. I am in an international relationship, living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with my boyfriend, Daniel. I still take trips back home to Michigan and explore constantly. But honestly? I probably never would have even considered moving to Mexico if seasonal work hadn’t taught me how to embrace the unknown.

Take the Leap

If you are someone who craves adventure, I cannot recommend seasonal work enough. You don't just have to be a bartender or a server. You can be a zipline operator, a tour guide, a camp counselor, or hotel staff. Just get out there. Go. Do. See. Feel.

My seasonal life was one of the best eras of my life. But the urge to explore never stops, it just evolves. I’m bringing everything I learned from the mountains, the islands, and the road into this next chapter, and I can't wait to share it with you all.