Any change in lifestyle comes with a learning curve. TIPs is my way of sharing those thoughts with you as you might be considering this lifestyle for yourself.
My first insight into melding my personality with my house- and pet-sits came during H1.
I want to leave my -sits in at least at good condition as I find them. H1 is a home where children grew up and now bring grandchildren to visit.
Going upstairs one day I noticed a dark spot on the carpet. I take my shoes off, I’m pretty conscientious and respectful of the my house-sits but I had the thought that the home-owners might thiunk I had been careless. This was followed by noticing fingerprints on a glass-top coffee table and one big handprint on the window beside a window that was lovely to have open.
Needless to say, they’re all clean now. I don’t think anyone will notice but my conscience is clear. On the off-chance anyone does notice, hopefully it’ll be a gold star on my reputation and I’ll be a first-call next time they go away.
One other thought I had at H1 was the day a child arrived to mow the “back 40”. They went inside to drop of keys and access the mower… and I realized that I had sort of cluttered up their parents’ house. I also realized that “clutter” was inevitable because it’s not my home so I don’t have cupboards or drawers or nooks and crannies in which to deposit some of my stuff. So I did have baskets in a few rooms; I did have some of my favourite cooking ingredients on the kitchen counter; I did have my personal care items on the bathroom counter. I’m not going to worry about any of that, however, as it comes with the territory and I do keep it contained in whatever room I spread out into. AND it will all be removed when I depart.
