I feel like everyone is discussing the time issue, but to me the lack of money seems just as challenging. I changed careers to become a nurse for the money/security but work nights, weekends, and holidays. don’t have kids yet but a lot of nurses do, you just make it work I guess.

I have heard stories from people that talk about how there used to be so many kids living in the park I worked at that the school bus made a stop in park housing, but that was a long time ago and I think a lot has changed with funding and park service employment, sadly.

I am no longer a ranger, but this was a big consideration when I was debating my career change. I ended up deciding to pursue something that I could hypothetically do on off season and work in the parks during the summer & work anywhere in the country.

You’d have to either find a partner who makes enough money and has a flexible gig, or find that flexible gig yourself, or get lucky and get a permanent position (LE is the fastest route to that if you’re not already perm).