It's Their Job: Birl Gray

Name: Birl Gray

Job: RV Park Owner

Background: Birl Gray worked for Southwestern Public Service for 23 years before retiring. He now owns and operates Wagon Wheel RV Park where it costs $18 a night to stay in a recreational vehicle.

Time on job: 20 years

Q. Describe what your job entails?

A. Checking people in and collecting rent fees, trimming trees, watering the grass, spraying and mowing. While traveling is at its peak April through May and September through October the popular travelers are the snowbirds that are from the northern districts of America and Canada. Snowbirds, Gray explains, are usually retirees who have a warmer location to live in such as Arizona during the colder months and return to the northern states during the summer.

Q. What is a typical day on the job like for you?

A. There is no typical day says Gray, its pretty quiet around here and there is a great amount of customer care. We see different kinds of people here.

Q. Why did you choose this job?

A. I knew about it and took early retirement from SPS and decided I would like to do it. That’s what my wife and I have done.

Q. What type of training, if any, do you need for your job?

A. That’s the job, training. I’m still learning stuff and it doesn’t quit. There is a need to understand septic systems and the permits required and a good knowledge of water wells and how to use them is handy.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your job?

A. Meeting the people, they come here from everywhere like Canada, California, New York. People come here as regulars every year and stay during their vacation.

Compiled by PNT Correspondent Chris Romero