Summary

A couple left their jobs and homes in London to become full-time housesitters, traveling and living in various locations across Australia while caring for homes and pets.

Abstract

In September 2023, the author and their partner embarked on a new lifestyle as full-time housesitters, starting with a move to Australia. They have since cared for 17 animals and lived in 8 different homes, ranging from urban settings to remote areas. This decision was driven by a desire for freedom and the pursuit of creative endeavors, such as writing a novel and composing music. The experience has allowed them to live like locals and enjoy the beauty of new environments, despite the challenges of constant relocation and adjustment. They view housesitting as a mutually beneficial arrangement, providing security and care for homeowners' properties and pets while granting housesitters the opportunity to explore different lifestyles and save on living costs.

Opinions

The author believes housesitting offers a unique form of wealth in the currency of time and freedom.
They express that the experience has been enriching, allowing them to discover more about themselves and their preferences for a future home.
The couple values the trust placed in them by homeowners, considering it an honor to be invited into someone's personal space.
They see housesitting as a way to escape the high costs of living and traditional work structures, akin to "escaping the matrix."
The author suggests that housesitting is gaining popularity, citing a 130% increase in sign-ups on Trusted Housesitters in 2023.
They appreciate the diversity of experiences, from city life to rural retreats, and the ability to live as locals in various communities.
The author and their partner are using this opportunity to invest in their creative passions and personal growth.

HOUSESITTING

I Quit My Job in London to Become a Full-Time Travelling Housesitter

And haven’t looked back since

Picture the scene: I’m watching the sunset from a hot tub surrounded by parrots and a vast expanse of gum trees with a glass of cab-sav in my hand.

No, I haven’t won the Euromillions. I’ve discovered: housesitting.

In September of 2023, my partner and I traded in our jobs and respective flats, bought a one-way ticket to Australia and became full-time housesitters.

And, it feels as if we are riding a wave just about to crest…

Of course, the concept is nothing new — and we’re certainly not the first to discover it. But in a climate where living costs seem to be at a generational all-time high — it feels like we’ve just found the key to escaping the matrix.

According to Trusted Housesitters, a global housesitting website, the amount of new sign-ups to their website has shot up by 130% in 2023. Unsurprising, as disgruntled millennials pivot from banking cash for house deposits, retirees find frugal ways to spend their pensions and families look for creative ways to spend the school holidays.

Some of our adventures so far — Photo by Author

To date, we’ve looked after 17 animals and 8 homes. We’ve travelled from Melbourne’s CBD to the sunny beaches of Sydney and from the goldrush town of Castlemaine to the Snowy Mountains of Jindabyne.

We’ve stayed in places for three days — to entire months, all while living like a local in the truest sense of the word.

There are sacrifices; living out of a suitcase, unruly pets described as ‘cheeky’ by their owners and having to quickly settle into brand-new surroundings on a regular basis.

But, the pros certainly outweigh the cons.

The biggest currency you cannot buy? Time.

We’ve bought ourselves freedom. Freedom to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Freedom to quit our jobs and pursue our creative passions (I’m in the process of writing my first novel and my partner a musician, is writing his next album).

We’re investing in living.

L.I.V.I.N as McConaughey says.

My partner and I on a housesit with Bobbi and May the Frenchies—Photo by Author.

And we’re only one half of the equation — those opening up their homes are saving thousands in kennel fees, all while knowing their homes are secure and pets are happy and loved while away.

Being trusted inside someone’s home feels like the highest of honours. They are exposing the inner workings of their world and souls — and living in it — is almost like taking on a new identity in each of the homes you visit. Along the way, we’ve been artists, psychologists, theatre producers, and authors.

We’ve discovered what breed of dog we’d love for our own one day, what paint we’d feel inspired to use in our future hallway and what our non-negotiable element of a future home is: a room with a view.

But most importantly, we’ve discovered and become more of ourselves than we ever did when we were rooted in one place.