Quiet, Mature Couple Seeks Varied Housesits – We Love Animals and Gardens!

About this sitter

We are retired (Educator, Corporate Finance). After simplifying our possessions and leaving behind the office lifestyle that tied us to one place, we are enjoying the freedom to pursue shared interests in travel, photography, reading widely, writing, and hiking. Having lived in a range of dwellings and environments over the years as our needs dictated, from apartments to houses in cities, suburbs, and semi-rural settings, we adapt easily to new environments and thrive on variety. Places to walk or hike are appreciated. Stays of several weeks to a few months give us a chance to deeply experience each place, as well as form connections with any animals in our care.

Why they want to house sit

At this point in our lives, housesitting allows us to combine travel with a “home base” that gives us time to reflect and write. Hurried trips to check off items on a sightseeing list do not interest us, but living in one place for up to a few months lets us learn about that place in a meaningful way. It also provides opportunities for animal companionship, as our current focus on travel precludes keeping pets of our own.

Their experience

We've had a variety of housesits, from urban condos to very rural homes, and have enjoyed both the homeowners and their pets. They've been pleased with us, too, as our excellent references will attest. Our housesitting and animal care experience goes back to Melanie's college days, and we housesat for friends, including animal and garden care, long before we began housesitting as part of our travels. Our volunteer work focused on animals: Melanie walked dogs and socialized cats at a no-kill shelter, and we both volunteered for a wildlife rehabilitation facility, where we took care of injured and orphaned songbirds, raptors, reptiles, and mammals including providing home care for orphaned babies that required round the clock care . We have lived in several rental properties and left them in better shape than we found them, as the full return of our deposits and references will attest. We’ve successfully raised vegetables and houseplants, as well as tended friends’ landscaping and houseplants. Melanie completed plant science and vocational botany courses for fun, and helped set up community gardens in two locations.

What can they bring to the assignment

In addition to extensive pet and gardening experience, we have the time, attention, maturity, and work ethic to be responsible caretakers of your property and pets. We are self-reliant problem solvers with a good deal of common sense, yet are quite capable of following instructions. We are quiet folks and get along well with neighbors. As former part time travelers who used cat sitters ourselves, we understand owners’ needs for regular updates via email, texts, or calls, and are happy to accommodate.