HI @Smiley
Your story reminded me of the only time we have been to New Zealand which is the other side of the world to us.
We were sitting outside a coffee shop one morning with the 2 dogs when a lady came up to me to ask how I was as she had not seen me for a while! It turned out I looked like one of her friends. We then met every morning for the next 2 weeks.
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I think we’ve got the best chance with other dog walkers. Btw, I’m English in England currently so NZ is the other side of the world for me too! I’m looking forward to going back as soon as we can 
That sounds good. I’m in Melbourne and would love to connect with housesitters around here.
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I’m sure there are many house sitters and owners in and around Melbourne who would love to meetup and chat travel, pets and house sitting! I’ve posted the Australian Meetup topic which you’ll find here…
If you pop your Melbourne request and the dates you are there, hopefully you’ll get some responses 
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I would try the local libraries for local events and posters in different places also have info on local events or just get talking to the locals
Lol yes! - We booked the first two to spend some of the summer at the seaside - Then found out that Brighton Gay Pride was happening just after we left. So we booked a third to extend our stay…Then the first booking asked if we would go back in September - the date fitted perfectly and she is so lovely that we didn’t like to say no!
It is longer than we usually like to stay in one place but there is certainly worse places to spend a few months - although we will definitely be moving on after our 4th sit - you can get too much of a good thing 
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We are having a great time - In September 2020 we let our apartment, sold or gave away everything we owned that would not fit into two suitcases and set off to embrace this nomadic lifestyle. Our only regret is not doing it sooner!
So far we have only done Europe but hope to cast our net further in 2023 = watch this space!
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If we were 10-15 years younger, and didn’t have kids/grandkids nearby, we would seriously consider that. Or maybe for a year to start. Ah well, we have a pretty awesome life now anyway so I can’t complain.
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Hi Colin
We did a couple of sits in Brighton during Gay Pride. The weather was glorious and it was an amazing spectacle.
Looking forward to catching up with you in May
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@Kelownagurl we are of a similar age to you both, and recently decided to pack up everything and try this lifestyle for the time being. As much as we adore our grandkids (we didn’t happen to live near them Chicago/Boston), now that we are fully retired, it just feels like the right time. We all know that tomorrow is never a guarantee, so heading overseas to recapture our youth, while cruising and petsitting. This is an amazing lifestyle, however folks choose to approach it 
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Well done!
Australia is definitely on our list !
Thanks @anon1411559 - There is a real shortage of sitters in the UK at the moment so lots of opportunities to apply for. 
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Wow @Colin it must be like a full-time job to search, research, apply and secure all those sits and fit them all together.
What a wonderful way to explore different parts of the country/world, meet new people and make connections with animals.
Hi @Colin , great organisation. Just interested where I’m heading to England next month. Have requirements eased over there so that if either or both of you got covid you could still do the sits as booked? Thanks.
@AllyMac - We have just completed our first year as full time sitters and are loving the experience. My husband has been working remotely from our sits and, as I am retired I have been doing all the searching and applying. We have done mainly the UK and we were lucky enough to be accepted for a month in Spain last December.
However, My husband has just been given the green light to take a year career break so we are hoping to cast our nets further afield for 2023. I’ve already applied for sits in Australia and the USA . No luck yet but we are really enjoying the applying process 
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I can answer that @temba, there are now no legal requirements to self isolate or wear masks.
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