Greetings. I’m currently employed full-time as a hospice social worker and absolutely love my job, which I’ve been doing for almost 30 years and probably won’t be able to retire from for another 10 or so. I’ve been raising two autistic teen/young adults with various other complex needs and issues, although one has just moved in with his father and is now mostly self-sufficient. The younger is 18 soon and hoping for some kind of supported living situation to eventually move to. A big part of my self care is embracing my soul full of wanderlust to travel and explore the world, although after a trip to England in 2022 (returning in late 2024), I’ve become quite the Anglophile. I’ve been fortunate to have already visited many contries/continents and can’t get enough. While I hope to do lots of traveling over the rest of my life, it is not a lifestyle very conducive to my other lifelong passion: animals, wild and domestic. When I learned of TH, I realized that I could both travel near and far AND love and care for animals as well as if they were my own. Because I am limited by weekends and time off of work, I am choosing to focus initially on local sits to establish more current experience and references within the TH community. Before I applied for my first sit, I actually had someone reach out to me here in Portland to see if I was interested in the sit, and it looks to be a wonderful match. My first sit will be the first weekend in August, with two other weekends to follow over the summer. My focus now is on learning about and preparing for all the issues and needs of new sitters and setting myself up for success in the future.
Hi @pdxsocpupt,
Welcome to the forum and the world of petsitting. I’m sure you’re going to love it.
Best wishes
Hi Sherilyn - Welcome! I’m based out of Portland and have a few open stays looking for a sitter in August (linked on my profile). We have an adorable cat and dog duo that I’m sure would love your company 
Welcome @pdxsocpupt!
This Forum is a mine of über useful info, pointers, suggestions, recommendations, answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. 
Jokes aside, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the entire process before diving in the deep end.
The home I’m sitting for has booked me for two weekends in August already, so unfortunately I need to be home the rest of the month before gone for first two weekends in September! I have to pace myself to not be away from home too much each month so that I meet my autistic son’s needs too, but occasional sits do get me the much needed break from home that I need while allowing me to still work some. I’ll definitely add you to my favorites list and would welcome something in the future! Thank you!