The Job of Gate Guarding

I like what I do for a living. I may be an old curmudgeon but I do like meeting and interacting with folks. I also enjoy watching the process of producing oil from the ground. I do regret that my partner is not as enamored with the job as me. The workamping sites continue to have lively discussions over the issue of pay with the only agreement seeming to be that it is inadequate, at least from the workers point of view. I do know we could not make ends meet doing campground work. Unfortunately, making a living on the road is fraught with uncertainty and supplemental income is almost a necessity to make it happen. Which brings us back to gate guarding. Our struggles on the road only steeled my resolve to make gate guarding work. Perhaps the biggest obstacle keeping folks from becoming, or continuing as gate guards, is the commitment required. Very few jobs require a twenty four hour presence without a break for weeks on end. Detractors also like to break down the total hours worked, dividing the total, and claiming the pay is not worth it. I think a lot of them must not have tried to make a living on the road. I simply look at it from a different perspective, knowing from experience I can't make the same money elsewhere. We also have the luxury of taking time off between postings. I believe our attitude has helped us to continue to have gates offered to us on a regular basis. It remains to be seen if the petroleum industry recovers here in South Texas. Hopefully we can keep working for a while longer.