Hello! My name is April. I'm from New York City, where I've been working in publishing for 25+ years. Now, at age 50, I find myself laid off from a magazine where I'd toiled for nearly 14 years. So I'm trying to turn lemons into lemonade and take a little time (through early fall) to travel and just recharge. Years earlier as a freelance writer, I was lucky enough to be able to work remotely while on a string of petsitting/housesitting gigs via this site (see details below), and I'd love to be able to create more of those happy experiences!
As a "city girl," there are two things I'm lacking: a furry friend at home and nature nature nature. Growing up, my family always kept cats and dogs, but my landlord's "no pets" policy has changed all that. I'm eager to walk and play and cuddle with your pet as a surrogate. (The best thing you could say is that your pet likes to share the bed!) And I'm a hiker but have to travel out of the city to find some peace on the trail. Would love to have that luxury a bit closer to home! I'm looking for longer-term assignments where I can get to know my surroundings and community.
From 2004 to 2006, I was a housesitter for five different pet owners in various locations: I wrangled six "potcakes" on Eleuthera in the Bahamas (where I also went through not one but two hurricanes) over multiple stays, which totaled about six months. I enjoyed two German shepherds and two adorable cats in Ukiah, California, for nearly a month, and did shorter dogsits (with a trio of labs and a pit bull) on multiple occasions for couples in two Arizona towns, Mesa and Fountain Hills. Finally, I spent a lovely summer in a village outside Glasgow, Scotland, with a cockatiel and a very walk-happy golden retriever. (Around every corner was another picture postcard view!) I've collected several of those references, and the homeowners have indicated they'd be open to answering any specific questions via or phone. And on a side note, I used to sublet my apartment while I was sitting, and I know all too well the feeling of coming home to find someone has taken, well, liberties with your place. I would be very respectful of your home and strive to ensure you find everything just as you left it. In hikers' terms, I would practice "leave no trace"!
P.S. I am a nonsmoker.