I’m currently only a sitter through THS, and I pay a neighbor to check on my cats while I’m away. This is because I’ve assumed nobody would be willing to deal with staying at my house. However, I thought it would be good to check my assumption by getting feedback from the forum community.
Pluses: I live on 20 acres on a non-ferry-served island in the San Juans, in WA state. My property is inland, but the island scenery is world-class gorgeous. Sandy beaches. Hikes. Eagles, otters, owls. Dark nights. My cats are independent and require no supervision. They are young and healthy, have their own cat door, and no predators or traffic or other dangers. They are affectionate with me, but will probably ignore a pet sitter and just come in at night to eat. Plant watering duties would be light. My truck and bike would be available for sitter’s use.
Minuses:
Off-grid house, which means you have to be constantly aware of battery levels, water pumping, and so on. Limited electricity: No TV, hair dryers, or any appliance that generates heat or is bigger than a coffee grinder. Unless you use my generator, which requires hauling gasoline. No bathroom - only an outhouse (which is open on 2 sides and does not smell bad.) Cold running water in the kitchen sink - - you have to heat water on a stove if you want it warm. No bath or shower currently set up, though you could bring some type of camping shower. No washing machine – just a big laundry pot to put on the woodstove… I do have a decent propane kitchen stove and oven, and a fantastic soapstone woodstove which keeps the house very warm. Good internet, enough for Zoom calls or movie watching. Cell phone reception for some carriers, not all. Refrigerator is tiny, freezer only available for the 4 months of the year when solar energy is abundant. Fragile off-grid systems can fail, and a sitter would have to be willing to deal with that. (I’d pay, but payment is not usually the hardest part).
Remoteness: You can reserve passage on the mailboat 3 days a week to Orcas Island. Or 1 day a week on another boat to San Juan Island. There are no stores except for farm stands here. Mail and UPS arrive 3 days a week and there is a post office. There are no clinics or doctors: Medical emergencies are dealt with by island first aid people and airlift helicopters. There is no official fire department, just a volunteer brigade. My house has no locks on the doors. Neighbors can be helpful and friendly, but will ask a sitter lots of questions, since we don’t have tourism here. You won’t have anonymity.
Cleanliness: I’ve been intimidated by all the posts by sitters that talk about cleanliness. I’m an artist and writer living alone, and I don’t have the time to fuss over my house. It’s very cute, but its cleanliness level is that of a garage or workshop or shed. The house systems (inverter, water, electricity) need to be meticulously watched, but the furniture is very old and the surfaces are all a bit beat-up. I would tidy up and sweep before leaving, and the bedding would all be fresh for a sitter, but the floors and windowsills and so on are nowhere near mainland home standards of clean.
Is this a house sit anyone would do?
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