HOUSE-SITTING AS A MEANS TO TRAVEL

I fell into house-sitting (and pet-sitting) which allows me to travel a few years ago.  Originally, after leaving my 20 year career as a teacher of the Deaf, I wanted no part in any kind of responsibility.  I was burnout and wanted to feel the freedom of not being responsible or accountable to anyone else.  I had friends who had done it, and ended up in wonderful places, with amazing views, at a perfect time in their lives when they needed a place to stay.  When they heard about my ‘sabbatical’ and living life on the road, which was costly, they suggested it.  I wasn’t ready, and found other ways to live as a nomad.

After some time, I received opportunities to house-sit for friends.  That felt different, and I jumped at the chance to house-sit on the Big Island of Hawaii for my friend, Rick.  Recognizing the benefit of this, I started to investigate how to do it for others…via the internet, on house-sitting websites.

Big Island of Hawaii. My house-sit was just a short walk from the coast.

The concept is that the house-sitters post their profile and available times on the website.  The house owners post their needs, available times, etc.  And, through a process of emailing, connecting, references, etc. a homeowner chooses a house-sitter that seems like a good match.  I have learned though, that it is key for  the house-sitter to attend to their own needs/desires, making sure that it is a good match for them as well.  Otherwise, it usually doesn’t end up to be a positive experience.

There are a few good websites that I use, and some I have tried that weren’t successful for me, but it doesn’t mean they haven’t been for others.  The ones that I presently use are:  housecarers.com and mindmyhouse.com.  I have tried Caretakers Gazette, HouseSitMexico and HouseSitAmerica, but they were not giving me results that I wanted, which was about 2 years ago.  Things may have changed so I wouldn’t rule them out.  The Caretaker’s Gazette has many more care-taking positions and that wasn’t what I was seeking.  I receive daily email updates from the sites where I am a member and it is an easy way to keep track of new possibilities.

House/pet-sit in May, Idaho

Most websites allow you to browse the house-sits available.  Once you find something and want to contact a homeowner you must pay the membership fee.  It is also beneficial (and recommended) to set up a profile which will be sent along with your inquiry.  It helps the homeowners sift through the many applicants.  I tend to add a résumé and reference information along with the first inquiry, hoping that it will make it easier for them to choose me as a possibility.

I tend to pick longer term positions because I like to stay in one place for 3 months or so. It saves me on travel costs, and it also gives me time to make connections, explore and be a part of the community and culture.  Shorter house-sits are also available, and it can even be a means of having accommodations on a week-long vacation – always a good option.  Most house-sits, especially short-term have pet care needs, but, that is not always the case.

After my house-sitting on the Big Island, I landed a house-sit on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico through housecarers.com.  While there, I did two other house/pet sits when the original one ended.  All three of the homeowners requested my house-sitting services again, but it hasn’t worked out yet.

The Northend is a charming neighborhood in Boise, Idaho (US).

Through the same website, I got my next sit in the mountains of Idaho and in Boise.  This became a long-term situation, a bit complicated, but travel was still included, despite staying in Idaho.  And, this was a paid house/pet sit, which was a plus.  Many sits are not, but this one is due to the remoteness of one of the homes, amount of animals, and time of year.

Most house/pet sits do not give a salary/stipend generally.  Since this is the case, my view is that the cost of living in their house including utilities is my salary for the service I give.  I will not accept positions that ask me to pay for house expenses, especially not the rent.  There are some homeowners who feel as though they are giving you a free place to stay, therefore you should pay something…for me that is renting not house-sitting.

House-sitting has opened up travel for me when I have financial concerns.  If you are looking for a way to travel on a budget, house and pet sitting is an option to consider.

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Spontaneous Travel

SPONTANEOUS TRAVEL

 When I started this nomadic lifestyle I wanted to be a free-spirit, traveling with spontaneity and serendipity. There was a sense of lightness and freedom that came with this kind of travel, that sang to the core of my being.  If only I could actually consistently follow it, that is.  There have been times that I have been able to do it.

My first trip to the Big Island of Hawaii gave me my first opportunity to do so.  Even though I had some prearranged plans, they didn’t turn out as expected.  Instead of enduring unacceptable situations, I left.  I lived day-to-day, night-to-night, being comforted that I had a place to stay for the night.  And, that I had the money to do so.  This was how I wanted to live, and it was both a joy and a challenge.

I planned my first destination, Hawaii, but from that point on it was all up in the air – spontaneous travel.  So, when my departure date was approaching, some new-found friends, like-minded nomads, and I explored and discussed our options.  There was a sense of camaraderie within this group, in our plight to find our next destination, even though we weren’t necessarily heading in the same direction.

The destination was not so much of importance, yet we wanted to go some place that we resonated with, it was the process of exploration, of feeling this connection within this community of travelers.  So despite traveling solo, I didn’t feel alone.

I did end up traveling with someone for a short period after Hawaii, but we parted ways after a short time.  We shared a bond, which became a life-long connection.  Still, I turn to some of these people when I am making my next transition, when I am in need of support with the next destination or for emotional support because the fear of the unknown still surfaces.

That first year of being a nomad was filled with spontaneous travel.  I remember it fondly, even though I was scared throughout it.  My spontaneity took me on a road-trip across the US, England and Scotland, San Juan Islands, and Canada.  Then, it was time to regroup and earn money for my next nomadic travels.

I am presently limited with traveling spontaneously the way that I want due to money concerns that I didn’t have when I started out. I now gauge more carefully my travel choices, and stay in a place for longer periods of time, which has pluses and minuses.  So for me, money means freedom to live as a free-spirit, to travel with that spontaneity which makes my heart flutter when I envision it.

I know the day will come that I will return to traveling more often with this kind of freedom and lightness.  And, I am in a better place emotionally to take the risks of traveling solo, following what opens for me than I was when I first arrived in Hawaii in 2005.  This lifestyle feels only joyful, despite any of the challenges that may arise along the way.

Is being a Spontaneous Traveler a goal of yours?  Is it your passion?  Do you have any tips to aid the wanna-be spontaneous traveler?

For the spontaneous traveler:

Travel tips from  www.irelandvacationpackages.goodarticlesite.com/spontaneous-traveling-the-low-cost-way-travel-now-and-keep-your-money-for-tomorrow:

When online, and instead of looking for common words such as “cheap airline”, search for “travel coupons” or “late holidays tips”, and see what you come up with. Compare the prices of two or three small-scale websites to the big ones, and discover a world of coupons and money-saving options the internet marketers are hired to hide.

Be aware that if you wish to save money yet travel as often as possible, it is advisable to be as flexible as possible, and if the dates are not flexible, the destination should be. The pleasures of travel are usually the experiences on the way, thus the place is not as important as people might think. Any spot in the world can offer great opportunities for exciting and memorable events, and so allowing the prices and last-minute availability to guide your way is a lovely option you should keep in mind.

My tips to traveling spontaneously:

1.   For many of us, the fear of the unknown prevents us from being spontaneous.  Therefore, acknowledge this and do it anyway.  As you do it, the confidence will develop and be grounded into your experience  – it will soon become fun.

2.  Be open to thinking and doing outside of your comfort zone.  Think about ‘expanding your comfort zone’.  When someone suggests something, take time to think about it if it isn’t something you have ever thought of before, or, if fear creeps in.  I usually see the fear as a sign that this may be something that I want to do, if it is accompanied by excitement simultaneously.

3.    Wander, explore, get lost  – as long as you have the address of where you’re staying, you’re fine.  You can find the hidden spots by just exploring.

4.   Talk to people/locals.   See what their experiences have been and if it sounds appealing, do it.  Some research is always good to have an idea, but let the details of it unfold instead of planning all the details.  Watch the locals…they will give you clues to the non-touristy places.

5.  Pick a destination that resonates with you and just go.  Let it unfold when you arrive.  Live day by day…and  be open to meeting those who will aid you in creating a fantastic experience.

6.    Consider your budget and account for spontaneity, since it can be a bit more expensive at times.  Yet, booking online last minute  is also a money saver.  When I found a place to stay (a non-hostel), I would stand outside and check online, getting the online rate and compare it to the walk-in rate.  The walk-in rate can sometimes be cheaper.

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