We are a retired couple with experience managing property (our own rental properties as well as other people's) and with housesitting. We completed a 4 year housesit at a chateau in Normandy, France, January 2011, and now own our own house nearby. We are still interested in housesits but for shorter lengths of time, 10 days to 3 months. My husband was a museum director in America; I was a teacher and librarian. We are in our late sixties, both healthy non- smokers, and our idea of a good time is to relax with a book, meaning that we are not partiers and we rarely go out at night except for the occasional dinner. I speak good French; my husband speaks less well, but he can certainly get by on his own. We know how to care for others' properties; we are conscientious and tidy.
We are available for some gardening though we are not very experienced gardeners. However, we have good intentions and follow directions well! We love animals and have owned cats and dogs. I was raised on a ranch and would be comfortable caring for horses and smaller livestock.
Beginning August 2018 we are available for housesits. Our minimum stay period would be 10 days to 3 months.
We have numerous French friends, with many of whom we have lived or from whom we have rented apartments. We left the chateau after nearly four years and we left on very good terms with the owner. He is willing to provide his reference. I housesat a couple of years ago for 10 days in Amsterdam, caring for a dog and looking after the garden. We have also housesat near Toulouse, France, for 10 days over Christmas, and in Umbria, Italy, for 2 weeks. We don't have children, so holidays are not an issue. We are available as a couple or as individuals. Thank you, Sandi and Mark Lane