Back in early 2016, we sent a prayer out into the universe for “effortless cat care”. We had both stopped working, loved to travel but hated the idea of leaving the kitties in a kennel or paying the fees for a live in housesitter. We mentioned it to a the godmother of our cats and she passed along your name, having heard about you from another person.
I googled and we were off. Created a profile, posted pictures, paid the fees and I started watching for opportunities. We started off sitting internationally, going first to a 2 week sit in Port Macquarie, Australia, caring for the largest chocolate lab, Sophie, on the planet and her kind, generous, loving mother, Jennifer. (NOTE: Sophie passed in late 2019. We hoped to get back to see her again on our 2019-2020 trip but she died in October before we arrived. However, we still connected with Jennifer and Jim and enjoyed an amazing holiday with them on Lord Howe Island. Google it and make your plans. AMAZING). Back to 2016. We arranged the rest of our trip around this sit and absolutely loved Australia and caring for animals as we travel. Its much more intimate, walking dogs we’ve meet some of the most interesting people and would NEVER have had these kinds of interactions staying in a hotel or even an Airbnb. The next year, we went to Maun, Botswana and New Zealand. The third year, I did some solo sits in Italy, France, Switzerland after my solo walk on the Way of St. Francis in Italy. We’ve returned to Australia and New Zealand and once I set the intention to sit on 6 continents, I did a sit in Portland and made a new long term friend.
Now, I can’t imagine life or traveling without Trusted Housesitters. We have made so many friends, loved so many animals and the world, as crazy as it sometimes feels, is much kinder and smaller and more intimate in my Trusted Housesitter’s universe. Thank you so much for creating this wonderful service.