Housesitting for freedom and dreams
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
Between my children and my doula clients, I find myself often thinking about cool ways to live and expand while young and free. The current economy along with my positions in art, natural products, perinatal, and activist spaces has people regularly asking me if I know of any jobs. I rarely have a “yes” to that, but I am almost always good for providing useful resources and actionable guidance. There’s sooooo much good stuff on offer and pretty easily accessible these days that definitely was not even a thing when I was an available and motivated young person. You just have to be open to thinking outside the box and know where to look.
My daughter was recently pet-sitting for her friend, and I mentioned that she could make house and pet sitting a full-time job. At least for a while until she has her own home and responsibilities to occupy her. She’s a great caregiver who has a strong work ethic but would prefer not to work a job. She loves being cozy at home, pets, nice things and traveling. It had never occurred to me to ask (duh!!!), but we have a family friend whose daughter house/plant/pet sat for years, living at home with her mom between gigs, until eventually opening up her own sustainable bridal shop. I just thought they knew someone who hired her and then maybe word of mouth spread. Now I am thinking that she may have been using these sites!
Then last night as I was researching remote work for my clients who want to stay at home with their children, a few blogs also mentioned house and pet sitting, and here we are! The list below are sites worth exploring. They vary from basic and local to global and luxurious, long-term and short, with and without pets, plants, children, or elders to care for. Most are free to register and charge a reasonably nominal fee to join (as in be on their list of sitters and have access to opportunities). Where possible, the links I’ve shared are to pages that explain how it works. I will make a separate list of general remote/work from home sites in another article.
You may have read in previous articles that I am on the cusp of empty nesting. This could be a good option for me as well. I am a dreamer who thinks everyone deserves the opportunity to travel and experience lifestyles worth aspiring to, no matter what stage. House sitting could be my access too!
As always, please use this article as a starting point and DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH on any ideas you get here, compare sites and details, then cross-reference with other trusted sources to inform your choices of engagement.
We welcome you to share your thoughts, experiences, questions and related resources in the comments.
One perfect love,
~Naeemah :)
Sources linked above and below.
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