I know this is not exactly a new phenomenon for those who live in mining areas (northwestern Canada, Australia, etc.) but I found it interesting when going on a trip in the Outback that 3 of the men with us were miners (one from Canada, one from the UK, one from Australia) who do the tough mining tour of duty for part of the year and then travel for fun the rest of the year, rinse repeat.

It's an odd life.