I am an experienced home sitter (great references) who wishes to spend more time on the East Coast. I have taken care of dogs, cats, birds and even taken responsibility for feeding chickens (this was a stay in a rural New Mexico setting a couple of years back). I love the adventure of living in different neighborhoods, getting to know those neighborhoods, and becoming part of the community where I'm staying. I have just completed home sitting in Denver (where I reside) and I've been caring for her upscale, art-filled home and her beloved german shepherd dog. I have accepted an assignment to care for a home in Arlington, VA - the assignnment commences July 4 and ends August My wish is to spend both September and October on the east coast. While I prefer a longer term housesit to a shorter one, my agreement would take into consideration location, proximity to public transportation, and other details.
The following personal description helped me land the housesit in Arlington, VA this summer for a family going to Europe:
...."I thought it might be helpful to our conversation if I sent on some written materials about me (written by me).
I'm physically and emotionally healthy, youthful (most people take me for being in my mid-50's --very flattering!), and most of my friends are in their forties and fifties. I've always been someone oriented towards people younger than I and a more youthful lifestyle - ever since I split from my marriage to an older man and sought my corporate headhunter career in a larger city (Chicago). (I became the first corporate staffer for Leo Burnett Advertising during the '70's.)
One thing I can count on: my good taste in and sustained relationships everywhere with those good people.
There's a lot that I like to do: movies, parties, art openings, business events, driving around Colorado (and other states). I'm a professional woman, and my intention is to stop being a professional only when I drop dead. I love my work (non-profit business that I founded), and I relish the support it provides for so many suffering from colorectal disease. (BTW, I myself am an almost 11 year survivor of late stage colon cancer and I'm very grateful about that!)
While my home base is in Denver, CO, my intention also is to spend the next ten years (at least) of my life in traveling about. This summer, for example, I'm perhaps accepting your homesitting assignment. I shall be - at the same time - looking about for more east coast gigs later on so that I can spend more time back there during the autumn months. (This is why I sometimes call myself a "gallivanting granny".)
I'm a swimmer, skier (lived in Aspen for ten years in the '80's), walker/hiker.....not much of one for football, hockey or basketball (although I've been known to accompany friends). I love to read, and, of course, I love living the life of my chosen work (my growing community of patient/survivors from colorectal disease).
I'm a non-drinker, but I have no problem being around people having a cocktail and/or wine with meals.
I've lived Paris, Chicago, Houston, Aspen - even Wichita- and I was raised in a little Montana cowtown. Now, of course,my home base is in Denver.
Currently, I am homesitting for a friend who has had hip replacement surgery. She has a white german shepherd dog who has been a joy to me. Ann will be returning home very soon (and she will continue to need my help for the next 30 days), but she is aware of my desire to go east. (She will be happy to write a letter of reference for me.)
Too, I have many references from your area. One of them is the founder/ED of the non-profit CHRIS4LIFE COLON CANCER Foundation, based in Burke. (This is the organization with whom I'm merging my organization.....and this is why I need to spend more time in the East.) Michael will be happy to speak for me.
Just thought I'd give you a little more....
erika "