Housesitting in California: Saving a Zillion Bucks

San Diego is good for kissing

It's been eight years since we discovered housesitting--and by the end of this year we will have done a total of 42, if my numbers are right. 

I'm no accountant, and sometimes I feel like an amateur compared to the travelers I follow online who keep spreadsheets detailing every sit, every pet they care for, every cent they saved or spent each month. It's fun to watch them in action, but I'm a different breed, one who had to get a tutor to pass statistics.

If I were to say how much we've saved housesitting while we travel, I'd say a zillion dollars. You know, a lot. It has made budget travel possible.

Abbey & Spark in Carmel Valley

I'm writing a book about our traveling, housesitting life--one filled with stories, not numerical data. I apologize in advance to those who crave pie charts. You're more likely to read in my book about our experiences eating pie. Peach is my favorite.

Wine tasting with Laurie in Ashland, Oregon

Because of housesitting, we were able to spend nearly three months in California, enjoying all this beautiful state has to offer along with cherished time with family and friends. We were grateful for the sun, as our time in Washington had turned us into ghosts.

With Anne & Ben in Portland

After driving from Seattle through Portland (to visit Anne and Ben) and Ashland, Oregon (to see Laurie), we arrived at our sit in Carmel Valley. We spent a few hours with the homeowners for orientation before they took off for the airport. 

Asilomar State Beach 

Our charges were two labradoodles, an adorable and spirited mother and daughter. We had fun walking them to the nearby open space where they could romp off leash. We also indulged in all the wonderful beach hiking at Asilomar, Carmel Meadows and Garrapata State Park.

It so happened that our friend Cathy, who now lives in England, was visiting California and was able to spend a few days with us. On perhaps half our housesits, we've had friends come stay; we always ask the homeowners in advance, urging them to feel free to say no if they're uncomfortable. But they've always said yes, often enthusiastically so.

Zoom with a View

When Covid hit, to allay the isolation, Cathy and I, along with Sally and Kelly, starting Zooming twice a month. When we met for lunch in Carmel, it was the first time we'd been together in more than two years. It was wonderful, and I must say, I prefer Zooming in person.

Our next sit was a darling Santa Cruz vintage home, built over 100 years ago by a doctor who used to see patients in what is now the bedroom. Upon arrival, we went out to dinner the hosts, and spent the night in their backyard cottage. We cared for their sweet, older dog named Mazy who was happy with one stroll around the block a day. (Bizarrely, when I lived in Santa Cruz years ago, I had a dog named Mazie.) 

Reading with Mazy

Being there afforded us all the wonderful Santa Cruz things: beaches, redwoods, friends, and on April 20 a 420 party with our friend Stacey, a totally Santa Cruz experience. Even though I don't like weed, I had a great time meeting new people and learning a card came called Kabul.

Piper and Pepper

From Santa Cruz, we drove to San Diego, for the first of three housesits in So Cal. The house had a killer kitchen and two hilarious French bulldogs who snored like truckers. After a sleepless night, I had to move their beds to another room and texted the hosts to let them know; they were cool with it. 

Before we take a sit, I always ask where the animals sleep (because "on the bed" isn't an option for me). When I learned they were small dogs who had crates in the bedroom, I mistakenly thought that would be fine. Lesson learned.

We love Shannon & Tony

Soon, though, we heard from the hosts, who'd gone to Europe for a cruise, that they tested positive for Covid and were booted from the boat. After a five-day quarantine, they wanted to come home a week early, and we said not to worry, that we could go stay with our friends in nearby Solana Beach.

(We had this happen once before, where homeowners needed to return a week early. They kindly paid for an Airbnb for us. We could have stayed in their guest room, but that was a much better solution all around.)

We'd already planned on going to the home of our Solana Beach friends, Tony and Shannon, to care for their sweet doggie Auggie while they traveled to Guatemala--so we got bonus time with them before they left.

Mark at Cabrillo National Monument State Park

This housesit turned into an event. Our friend Mark came for a few days, and we were so happy to host him because we've stayed at his house in San Jose five billion times (I counted). Dave picked him up from the airport and they went immediately to hike at the stunning Cabrillo National Monument.

Frankie, Trey & Johnnie know how to chill.

The next day, more guests descended: Paul and Christi, their three teen boys, and their dog, Luna. On our drive down, we'd spent a few days with them north of L.A. so now we were getting bonus time together. We hiked, jammed (Paul on mandolin, me on uke), and had a sweet day at Del Mar beach. 

(Side note: We would never ask homeowners on a regular sit to let us invite this many guests, but in this group was also close friends with Tony and Shannon.)

Luna and Christi at Del Mar Beach

Our final sit in the area took us inland to Escondido, to a comfortable home with a view of the hills. There are lots of trails through green space right out the door, great for walking the two dogs.

Fiesta del Sol

Being in this area also meant we were finally able to see my sister Crystal and her guy Kristian in their beautiful downtown penthouse, along with our niece Jenna, who was home for the summer after her frosh year at Indiana University. I was in the delivery room when she was born, so there's nothing like seeing her so grown up to remind me of time's winged chariot. 

We walked along the downtown waterfront, danced our patooties off at a music and food festival called Fiesta del Sol, and spent a day in Coronado--a beachside resort town that I'd always wanted to visit. As a native Californian, it took me only 59 years to finally get there, and it's gorgeous. We ate lunch at the Hotel Del, overlooking the water.

The Hotel del Coronado

Once we've established ourselves in a home, the unfamiliar quickly morphs into a sense of ease. However, it's not all fun and games. There's cleaning, shopping, taking out the trash, scooping the dog poop--and since we've been here we've had medical appointments and work done on our car. I've edited a client's manuscript and worked most days on my book. In the evenings, we cook and watch Jeopardy.

All of these things contribute to the feeling of a stranger's house becoming ours--and then before we know it, it's time to pack up and leave. The bed, the writing table, the neighborhood, the pets--everything that was "ours" is about to exit our lives. Right now we are three days away from leaving, residing in that in-between space between home-dweller and nomad. And where are we heading? To do three more housesits in two different countries--pictures and stories to come.

PS: For more about our housesitting lives, check out this piece on The Traveling House Sitters.