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Cutting out the wants, not the necessities |
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Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
As seasonal jobs taper off, new challenges
appear
By Catherine Billey
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
 Justin Kelley isn’t too concerned about finding a new job once his seasonal employment as Assistant Manager at Sure Foot in the Village comes to an end. In recent phone interview, he said he’s willing to seek new experiences elsewhere and he has a good resume.
“There’s not enough real hours to consider it worthwhile after the Mountain closes,” he said of his job at the custom boot-fitting shop in the Village where he’s been employed seasonally for about five years.
“And in Mammoth for about seven,” he added.
Kelley, 25, has done landscaping and painting in past summers. Two years ago, he worked at a winery in the Napa Valley. “That was a pretty cool experience,” he said. “For the most part, I like new experiences.”
As for the recession, he said he definitely observed fewer skier visitors this year compared to the past. “There’s not quite as many people this year.”
And he admits that for himself, it’s been a little more challenging to make ends meet in terms of paying the bills, but he shrugged that off.
“I don’t live here for the money,” he said. “I’m able to pull it off quite comfortably.”
He’s aware that he’s lucky.
“I know a lot of people who come up here and get a seasonal gig and can only do one season, but can’t come back again because they can’t afford it. But Sure Foot has supplied me with a good job to keep me in Mammoth,” he said. “It’s not affected me to the point where I have to move out of town. I’m skimping on groceries and learning how to survive a little bit cheaper.”
For example, he’s learned how to budget Vons a little better and use his Vons card more often. “And maybe not go out quite as much – night life and what have you,” he added. “Cutting out the wants, not the necessities.”
Kelley’s co-worker, Kyle Fleming, 24, is finishing up his first season here working at Sure Foot, said that he had not yet been particularly affected by the recession, but his family had been.
“It’s definitely affecting my family,” he said. “My father is in banking and the financial sector is hit pretty hard. He definitely took a hit, so we’re tightening the belts as a family.”
That means fewer get-togethers and chances to go on vacation as they have in the past, he said.
While he doesn’t have prior years to compare ski visitation to, he said he had observed that people came to ski, but weren’t spending money on extras or luxuries.
“They’ll come to the Village and look in the window, but not come in the store because they don’t want to take a chance on spending money,” he said.
Fleming said he had enough money for the rent and the bills. “I’m not really here to make a ton of cash. I’m just here to enjoy the slopes,” he noted simply.
But he does hope to stay in Mammoth for the summer, and that’s where the challenge comes in. He’s worried that he might not find a job.
“I have a roommate who was laid off from the Mountain, but he had a lot of savings, which was good,” Fleming noted.
“But it’s really tough. He’s been looking for a job and everyone just has a freeze on hiring.”
Fortunately, he said, he’s going to get a bit of a tax refund from Uncle Sam.
“I’ve heard amazing things about town in the summer. I’m a rock climber. It’s kind of a Mecca for rock climbing. Hopefully I can get a job somewhere around – in the food industry, or if the Mountain needs people. I’m not sure. That’s on the agenda for next week. I’ve got to start early.”
Subsequent to his interview with the Times, Fleming was laid off. “I was expecting that, so it’s not a surprise or anything,” he said in a phone interview on April 27. He remains confident about locating employment. He started looking for jobs but hasn’t heard anything yet.
The Times has begun to interview locals willing to speak frankly about the personal financial challenges of the lean times. If you have a story to share, please call us, (760) 934-3929, ext. 114.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 May 2009 )
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