Though new to this , I am not a novice house sitter. My longest house sit was twenty months in Palo Alto, where I held down the fort - - yard work, watering plants, minor repairs, etc -- while the owner worked on a film in Los Angeles. Since then I have house sat for others in Palo Alto, Sausalito, Orinda, Berkeley, San Jose, Sonoma County (References available upon request I am single, a travel writer, journalist, artist, non-smoker, non-drinker, practice yoga and Chi Going, currently converting to Judaism, hit the gym several times a week, swim when it's warm, an avid reader, enjoy movies and theater. I am an excellent gardener, and was a professional home and office organizer, and am a pretty darn good cook When you return home, I can have portions of healthy and delicious soup, stew, chili, quiche, salad in the fridge so you do not have to cook for several days.