7 down and 3 to go!
I now have less then 3 weeks to go at my job at Amazon. It is now peak season and things are very busy. We now go from four 10 hour days to five 11 1/2 hour days. It is tough but I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Weather here is not too bad!
One of the pleasant surprises this year has been the weather. Last year at this time it was very cold with temps in the low teens and even colder. The temps this year have been steady in the 50’s with a few days in the high forties during the day. At night it may get down into the high 20’s, but it still feels warmer then last year.
Wore out my shoes!
Many of you have asked what it is I actually do at Amazon. Last year I was a packer and packed all the products that the customer ordered. It was very hard on my hands. This year I walk an average of 8-10 miles per day. I am always on the move. I had a great pair of Rockport shoes that I wore when I worked at Lowe’s before retiring. They are very comfortable especially when you are walking on cement floors. I wore those shoes out about the second week at Amazon and found a store in Sparks, NV where I purchased another pair. It took about 2 weeks to break them in and I had to trade off between both pair.
Massive scale of Amazon!
Dan, who is one of my subscribers, sent me an email with a link to an article about the massive scale of Amazon. This pic shows how a picker picks the item. She has a scanner in her right hand that tells you the product to pick and it’s location in the warehouse.
This next pic shows one of the areas within the warehouse that holds products in the bins. You can see the pickers pushing their carts around to wherever their scanner tells them where to go.
This is another view of only one section of the warehouse. This is only one area and there are many other areas just like this throughout the warehouse. Plus there are three floors as well with products on each floor.
I am really looking forward to when the contract is up and I can move on from Fernley, NV to the warmth of Arizona and all my friends.
Jimbo's Journeys 
Hang in there, the end is in sight! (I don’t know how you work on concrete floors for that many hours in a row. Ouch!)
Hi Jim! You’re almost to the finish line… You can do it!
Almost there!!! But I’m not sure the money is worth it. You really do put in a lot of hard hours. AZ has been wonderful this year.
Just thought you should know that your blog was mentioned on CNBC at about 11:30AM. Keep up the hard work, you are doing great!
Glad you are nearing the end of your run. Those pictures are amazing. HUGE place. That has to be hard on the feet (and the rest of the body). Take care and think good thoughts of AZ and sunshine.
Hi Jim, Looking forward to hearing all the stories about campground hosting and Amazon work.
Glad you’re almost done. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in January.
wow Jim – you’re certainly going to enjoy being in AZ and off your feet! Thanks for the view inside Amazon.
gee, sounds like a kid counting the days ’till summer vacay. lol hang on-it’ll end soon.
They are building an Amazon distribution center near San Antonio (Schertz) which will be done next fall. Much nicer climate here.
Hello Jimbo. As a Lazy Daze owner as well (from Oregon), I am enjoying your blog…especially about work camping. I am presently working in the SF Bay area at a Chrismas Tree lot, found in Workamper Magazine. Like yours at Amazon, this is the hardest physical work I have ever done, even when I worked in construction as a high school student. Perhaps I feel it more because I will be 76 in a few more weeks, competing with young men in their 20’s hauling 7-8-9 foot Xmas trees around the lot, selling to customers, hauling and placing them on top of cars and trucks. For so much service the tips are meager, inversely proportionate to the type of car one drives. Those with Mercedes and Lexus are the worst. Amazing to me as this is one of the most prosperous areas of the USA. The contract money an assistant manager receives is about the same as working at Amazon and the hours so far are similar with six days a week at 8 to 10 hours a day. But like you, it’s grueling work. I am counting down the days hoping I can make it for two more weeks. My wife is a cashier and helps with initial sales so she has a lighter load and enjoys it quite a lot. But…as a you say, not much time for anything but essentials. You have given me impetus to start a blog once again. Keep up the reporting. You have a great blog! Thanks for sharing. Best regards, David and Nola
Hi Jim:
CNBC, I am very impressed. Hang in there, as I know you will. The end is in sight and the money will get you closer to the Toad of your dreams. Take care.
I thought of you this evening when I made note that my Amazon order was coming from Fernley, NV. I hope you have done well this season. Hang in there, you are almost through!