Peruse often, as sometimes even a
château is on off er!
Considerations
It is really important to consider
your own needs before applying and
committing to a house sit arrangement.
Are you comfortable being in a rural setting?
Do you prefer an urban location? Is there a car
included or will you need to rent one? How long
can you go off sightseeing and leave the pets? Do the
pets sleep with you?
There are often long-term assignments off ered.
Don't forget that as a Canadian passport
holder, you are limited to ninety days in the
European Schengen zone. That means any
listings longer than ninety days
are off limits. Darn that six month
château listing!
A fl exible, open attitude is the best
way to make house sitting a success. A
stranger, who might in fact turn out to be
a friend, has trusted you to look after their
home and pets. With that trust often comes
a generous welcome such as a bottle of wine, a
fridge full of food, or even the keys to the BMW. And
there you fi nd yourself in a new place in the world,
living rent free. Rolling with the opportunity including
the successes, the challenges, and the quirkiness
is key.
I have done all my house sits as a solo traveller
and am insatiably curious about how others live.
Some people use antique French china as their daily
dishes. Sometimes the washing machine is located
in a shed outside the house. Not a problem until
the lines freeze, the machine goes into lock-down
mode, and you are without your limited wardrobe for
days. Negotiations with the repair man in a foreign
language did not go so well! Twice while staying in
rural settings, I’ve sat through massive storms and
lost power. (My bravery factor was put to the test!)
And a precious love letter, received from France,
was stealthily removed from the
countertop and devoured by a
mischievous dog. You are sure to
come away from your experiences with a
few good stories!
House sitting is a marvellous way to slow travel
through the world. I now have animal friends in
unique locations, not to mention lasting connections
with many of the homeowners. ●
Alison Browne is a retired teacher and administrator
from the Calgary Board of Education. Four years ago
she set off to travel the world. House sitting both
overseas and in Canada have been an integral part of
her voyage. Currently based in Paris, she documents
her travels on her website dreameratheart.org which
has much information on house sitting and solo
female travel.
Top: Living like a local
Bottom: Alison with Lhotse in the backpack
news&views SPRING 2020 | 49