House Sitting as a Lifestyle Choice

Frank and Susan with students

We registered with Housecarers in October 2009 and changed our six-year lifestyle as English second-language-teachers to apartment managers the following year and then to full-time house sitters in 2015.

We brought our bulky house items to the auction and wrapped a good majority of our personal possessions in colourful paper and gave them away as gifts to family, friends and sometimes complete strangers.

Sent to the auction

All of our possessions in totes

 We packed the rest of our things into portable totes, handed in our final notice to our apartment property manager and took on our first house sitting gig in Nanaimo, British Columbia.

Our lifestyle now consists of living full time in our recreational vehicle, which we’ve named Big White. We haul our Ural sidecar motorbike behind the converted bus and make our way from one house sitting adventure to another. 

Our sleeping quarters in Big White

We take our time in preparing for every new house sitting contract by familiarizing ourselves with the location and the animals we have been invited to care for. We even have a personal collection of tools to help us tend to the animals, like a cat brush and a sturdy pooper-scooper.

We love that homeowners trust us with their precious animals and property. We take our jobs seriously and adhere to the rules set out for us in writing and what we pick up over several face to face or phone interviews. We are now collecting a list of questions we ask the homeowners. We consider house sitting a fabulous career choice for us at this time in our lives.

Two Parrots Talking

George with Rose in background

Meet Rose and George, two spectacular African Gray parrots. These stunning talkers are, apparently, very rare because of their capacity to mimic thousands of sounds, including “I love you.” The joke between Frank and me is that they express the phrase more than we do.

It is our great pleasure to be sitting these two lovelies at this current house sitting engagement.

This morning, Rose and George are chirping, beak cracking, making clicking sounds, spitting, growling and talking.

“What’s your problem?”

“Want an almond.”

“Yummy. Yummy.” 

Sweet Rose

Their owners have housed them in a luxurious large aviary. It is set up in a bright corner of the living room and is filled with climbing branches of various lengths and thickness, a water dish and two food containers. They’ve hung thick ropes and a large bell from a heavy chain. 

At first glance, I was surprised to see a large shop-vac beside the birdcage but learnt soon enough that it was absolutely necessary to clean up the mess of birdseed and feathers strewn about by the birds.

Curious George

“What’s happening Rosie, girl?”

“Shorty, go lay down.”

“Wow!”

African Gray ~ distinct red tail feathers

Throughout the day, George clutches the metal bell and flings it about. It crashes against the back of the birdcage and his eyes widen with enthusiasm. He repeats his action over and over. Rose sits quietly. They have distinct personalities and we consider George a bit of a bully. Rose only has to make a curious peep sound, almost under her breath, to advise George that he’s gone too far.

“Get out of there.”

“What do you want?”

“Woof.”

Beautiful plummage

In the evening, it becomes pitch black outside and the owners have set up a nightlight near the cage. It was explained to us that the birds are frightened easily when it’s dark, and the low-watt light helps the birds see where they are.

“Meow.”

“Hello.”

 “See you later.”

Solar Panels to the Rescue

Solar panels on Big White's roof

 On Sunday, December 7, 2015, the power went out at the home we are caring for and didn’t get set back on by the hydro company until 3 p.m. the following day. A large branch had been blown down by the ferocious wind that evening landing on the nearby electrical cables. Frank watched as a blast of sparks lit up the sky.

In our case, we are always ready for a power outage. It was our solar panels that came to the rescue.

Our immediate reaction to the outage was to first light the candles the homeowners had provided for us. They had warned us that a power outage on their rural isolated location was a common occurrence this time of year.
 

Candles provide heat and light

We stoked the fire and located the house flashlights. It has been our practice over the years living on the Vancouver Island to be prepared for various disasters with a disaster-ready kit. Even more important, we have solar panels on the top of our recreation vehicle which, these days, is our home on the road between house sits.

Frank retrieves water from the pond

On Monday, Frank set off to fill a few buckets with water. Without electricity, you would pour water into the toilet in order to flush the contents. Also, the animals need fresh water every day and so access to water is critical. We have several large plastic containers in the house filled with drinking water.

 Without electricity, you cannot plug in any device let alone the coffee pot. That’s where our solar panels provided us a civilized resource to enjoy a sensible cup of morning coffee and keep our cellular phones charged.

Fresh perked coffee

Being ready for any catastrophe is a practical mindset for all house sitters. It would be sensible for all us to have a disaster-ready kit always filled with ready-to-access items.  A polluting noisy generator is somewhat common as a power source while solar panels are sensible, quiet and ready when you are.

Be Prepared!

One Spot Trail

Bird houses on house sitting property

“The continuous greenway habitat of the One Spot Trail is important for migrating birds, such as warblers and hummingbirds, that pass through in the spring and fall.” 

This first line of the Greenway Habitat sign posted along the 7.8 km trail could also include what an incredible venue it is for Frank and me to explore our natural surroundings. Walking in the great outdoors opens our hearts and fills us with scents from the giving forest.

Today, we stroll down the property roadway from our house sitting location leading to the footpath. These gracious homeowners have constructed a number of bird houses and feeders for the migratory birds, and for those that choose to live on the Island full time.

At the juncture, we turn left onto One Spot Trail. A cluster of odours wafting through the air include the aroma of decaying leaves, trees and mud. Along the way, we stop to admire a large tree filled with holes – the work of woodpeckers. 

Woodpecker tree house

Frank on the bridge

The new bridge over Smit Creek is a work of art put together by volunteers and a local construction company. We lean over the edge to admire the movement of the water gliding over the rocks. The trickles and splashes sound like laughter.

 Just on the other side of the bridge sits a fallen log and attached to it, giving off their distinct fragrance, are a family of fungus. 

Family of fungus

We trot further along and draw in the pungent smell of cattle manure. The large black Angus stock mill about in their pen. This area is well known for its rolling hills suitable to raise farm animals. We admire our immediate surroundings, turn around and head back to our temporary home to get out from under the rain.

Happy Trails!  

Susan on the trail