I thought it would be fun to create a post where everyone can introduce (or reintroduce) themselves and get to know each other better.
I’ve come up with some starter questions - please feel free to answer any that you’re comfortable with - or share something that’s not on the list!
Are you a sitter, a pet parent, or neither? What brings you to the Forum? What are your hobbies or interests? What’s something fun or unique about you? If you’re an experienced Forum member, what’s your specialist area for giving advice? Anything else you’d like to share?
Whether you’re an established Forum member or a new Forum member… get involved and share anything you’re comfortable sharing!
Hi All - My husband and I began pet-sitting about a year ago as last year we retired from international school teaching. We hope to continue traveling as our kids and grandkids live on different continents! Also, I’m an avid lap swimmer so open to any and all recommendations of where great swims are available!
Warmly,
Juliette
Hi! Great topic @Jenny. Here’s a little bit about me, for those who don’t know me.
My husband and I have been nomadic for 7 of the last 13 years, and we love this lifestyle. Hubby leads week+ coach/bus tours in the US and Cuba each Spring and Fall, and, while he does that, I pet sit. It’s a great way to distract myself from missing him (too much). In fact, I’m on sit #65 right now, enjoying a bit of England while he’s back in the States getting ready for his up-coming tours.
I love the forum as a way to connect with people all over the world. In fact, I was a moderator here several years ago. I truly love the community here and look forward to meeting you if we haven’t already met.
Hobbies? That’s something I’ve struggled with as a nomad. It’s difficult to maintain hobbies when you move from place, even if you’re a slow traveler as I am, and have to carry all your supplies with you. If you have any suggestions of hobbies that would be easy’ish do while nomadic, I’d love to hear them!
Something interesting about me? 1st hubby and I (I’m on #2. He’s a keeper ) were the first people in recorded history to be married on top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (California, USA). I even carried a simple kimono-style white dress up and wore it for the ceremony! There were, however, no flowers
@Karen_E
Oh my gosh! Married on Half Dome!! Now that is definitely a claim de fame!
My husband and I climbed that as newlyweds back in '93 and it was, hands down, the most difficult physical thing I’ve ever done besides giving birth twice (entirely unmedicated). Going up was one thing but going down…OMG my knees!! I couldn’t walk the next day.
Love Yosemite and have been several times back when I lived in LA for 19 years.
Hm a hobby as a traveler, yeah that’s a tough one. Maybe collecting flowers from each location and pressing them with a note of when and where you found it?
@Jzaiser
My husband is also a lap swimmer and we search for sits usually where he can swim.
Our last sit was a month in Panama with a lovely pool just long enough for laps.
We also did a sit in Malta in Late Oct/early Nov last year where he was able to swim every day!
The other interesting thing we have in common with you is that our oldest daughter’s name is Juliette! Not a name we encounter often!!
Great topic! My husband and I joined THS as sitters ten years ago after meeting a couple on our very first cruise who were talking about their pets and what a great organization THS was and we joined immediately when we came home and it’s been a great experience! My hubby and I are avid travelers and do a lot of personal travel in conjunction with our sits. I’m the one who is active on the forum and as sitters of ten years, very happy to answer any questions from newbie sitters. My passion is dance and I’m a zumba addict and manage to find classes wherever I travel! I’ve also won various dance contests on my travels I believe in paying back to my community so do a lot of volunteer work.
Hi from the Pacific Northwest! I am new to Trusted Housesitters and am a bit confused with the process. I worked with Rover for years and their platform was easy to follow, but I need help with this one. Once a sitter responds to a sit, who, when, and how is it confirmed? I would appreciate your help.
Hi there everyone! Thanks @Jenny for posting this thread, lovely to get to know everybody a little bit more.
My name is Lily, and I’m here in the forum to support @Jenny and @Mark_B’s excellent work in the forum. Think of me as the fun aunt.
A little bit about me: I love travelling and I’ve worked in the travel industry one way or another for the best part of the last 15 years. My favourite destinations are Spain, France, Thailand and the UK.
I lived in London for seven years (I can share plenty of tips if you are planning on visiting the city), and I relocated to Wales a couple of years ago, which was quite a shock to the system! Things are way calmer here, and I’ve learned to appreciate it. Lots of nice places to visit too, lots of beaches and green spaces.
Something fun about me? I worked in the gaming industry and at one point I was competing against professional players, but with no talent or skills, just because I was the community manager. It was both a fun and a deeply humbling experience. Oh! I used to play the violin quite well back in the day, now I can barely play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
I am here if you want to chat or if you have any question.
You’ll find lots of help on other threads as Silversitters has stated. Also you can join a Facebook THS group - usually plenty of helpful info there, too with threads that aren’t so long. “Unofficial Trusted House Sitters” is one FB group - you need to be a member of THS to join.
Started sitting two years ago, when my work travel and responsibilities eased up. I’d heard about THS years earlier, via travel groups. I sit only while telecommuting, for a change of scenery.
I’ve appreciated great U.K. sits as an American. One of my first sits fulfilled my long-held daydream of living in an English village.
I’ve since decided to sit in the U.S. only. That’s because the time difference makes for a long day if I try to sightsee and work, and I’d rather sightsee without pet and home duties. It’s also easy to get a lot of variety from U.S. sits, since the country is large and diverse.
Hobbies include reading, so much so as an impatient kid that I inadvertently taught myself to speed read. I found out when we were all tested during a high school class.
When offering suggestions, I try to take the questioner’s parameters or context into consideration when they’ve volunteered such, rather than answering based on my priorities, preferences or circumstances alone.
For me, sitting came naturally. It surprises me how much some folks struggle with it.
I started 3 years ago, do this purely as a hobby and to get things done. I like cats, too, but am allergic to them. I hate spiders and won’t ever go to the jungle or Australia because of it. That’s it.
A sitter at present, a possibility for combined membership in the future.
I was an active member on another site for many years, but have sort of moved over to this forum.
One of my hobbies is playing Pokemon Go. I started out to look into what my children were doing and continued because it gets me out and encourages to walk just a little bit more. And collecting pokemon… In countries part of my phone plan it is great also for petsitting. It is sooo many adults playing, you just don’t realize when they are on their phone.
Hobbies that could be good for nomad petsitting could be origami - leaving a trail of little artworks or geocaching, and of course yoga, hiking, animal and plant watching, reading, learning history, learning a language.
Recently joined THS and had our first sit which was fabulous. Gorgeous little dog, I shed a tear leaving her I must admit. Home was stunning and the people were lovely. Couldn’t have gone better.
I’m loving everyone’s replies so far, it’s great to learn new things about established members, and also see some replies from new members!
As you all know, I’m a Community Manager here on the Forum, and I’m here to look after the day to day running of the Forum.
My hobbies are walking (mostly on the treadmill as it’s still cold here in Scotland!), collecting LPs, and listening to audio books - particularly memoirs. I also love days out and have a group of friends who I regularly go on jaunts with. I used to love music festivals but I’m getting a little old for camping now so I prefer one night events.
Something fun or unique… I used to do voluntary work on the ticket desk for my local arts venue, and it gave me the chance to wear cool and crazy clothes, help look after artists/musicians, and see lots of great music for free. I once worked four days in a row for a Christmas pantomime, seeing two performances a day, and could nearly recite the whole thing by the last day
What brings me to the forum
Although I’m a Community Manager here, my core role is primarily administrative. Most of my time will be spent behind the scenes, looking at data, creating reports, some presentations and generally supporting Jenny.
I’ve been working with communities for a few years and I love getting to know people who I wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to meet. There’s always so much to learn and get the best advice.
Hobbies & interests
I love Sport, in particular football (Soccer). I’m originally from Manchester, but have lived near Edinburgh for the last 10 years. I have a 12 year old son, we love building Lego together and I love going on holidays (when my wallet allows).
My fave holiday destinations
My answer could be different on any given day, but for culture and history it’s hard to beat Rome. I’m also a Disney fanboy, so for pure family fun, Orlando is a perfect destination for me.
Cool about Rome. I’ll be visiting at least a couple of times this year — once to sightsee and travel with a friend who got a digital nomad visa and moved there from the U.S. about a year ago and later in the year to cat and house sit for her.
you could post in 
) were the first people in recorded history to be married on top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park (California, USA). I even carried a simple kimono-style white dress up and wore it for the ceremony! There were, however, no flowers 
I believe in paying back to my community so do a lot of volunteer work.
Oh! I used to play the violin quite well back in the day, now I can barely play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
It is sooo many adults playing, you just don’t realize when they are on their phone. 
