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Newlywed Retirees are Enjoying Life House Sitting
Around the World
 Website
urges senior retirees to sign up as house sitters for free lodging
anywhere
 Dec.
6, 2005 - Tony and Margaret Steele-Rijkelijkhuizen have only been
married a little less than three years, yet these retirees are not
sitting at home twiddling their thumbs. Before their marriage, both Tony
and Margaret led very active lives, and they saw no reason why
retirement should slow them down. As house sitters, the Steele-Rijkelijkhuizens
are traveling the world. They recently returned back to their home in
the Netherlands from a house sit in Greece.
We stayed in Naplion, which is located to the
southwest of Athens. We were there in September, which was not at the
height of summer, but nevertheless, it was still quite hot and dry.
"We had plenty of opportunity to explore the
surrounding countryside, which is steeped in ancient Greek history. We
found Greece a wonderful place to visit. It offers something for
everyone. Mediterranean climate, beautiful countryside, and a wealth of
ancient Greek historical monuments to visits. Plus, of course, a huge
Greek warm welcome everywhere we would go, says a statement from the
couple issued by HouseCarers.com.
Tony and Margaret arrived at their house sit in
Greece a few days early. This enabled them to become comfortable with
the property and the pets they would be sitting for prior to the owners
departure, says the Website news release.
When asked about house sitting in general and tips
for future house sitters, they were quick to point out how it is
important that a feeling of trustworthiness is felt between both the
house sitters and the home owners.
It is easy to make yourself available to be a
sitter, they say, but then in order to get someone to accept you-- to
care for their home and pets--the essence lies in creating a feeling of
trustworthiness.
There advice to future house sitters is that before
you even apply for a sit, do your homework. Know exactly what is being
asked of you, and what is being offered in return.
Research the area you will be visiting and take
into consideration how you will adapt to the environment. If there are
animals to be cared for, know exactly what you are taking on. If there
is a breed of dog that you are unfamiliar with, read as much as you need
to feel comfortable with the situation.
Greece is not the last country this couple will be
visiting. Greece was our first assignment out of our known environment.
We have previously sat for families in England and Holland. We are
currently pursuing further assignments in France, Italy and the USA,
Tony reports.
Margarets children live in various locations in
the USA and house sitting might offer the opportunity to spend more time
in the USA, perhaps near her children. We are planning as far ahead as
next Christmas time.
Tony and Margaret are enrolled in the catalog of
house sitters at HouseCarers.com. They report on the Website how happy
they are to have found a way to stay active and travel the world as
retirees-- without having to dip heavily into their retirement fund.
The Website
www.HouseCarers.com is based
in Sydney, Australia, but represents sitters and home owners around the
world. The service is free to the home owners but the house sitters pay
a membership fee of $32.00 for 12 months listing, including unlimited
free updates, according to information on the site.
The sponsors put a serious emphasis on urging
senior citizens particularly retirees to join the program.
Retirees from around the world are finding
HouseCarers.com to be the key that opens the door to unique, authentic
and free lodging at destinations that they had once only dreamed about,
says the site promotion.
Retirees have found a way to travel and experience
different cultures, even if they have a modest retirement account, they
say.
The site adds, "Seniors that register as house
sitters have found the experience to be gratifying, exciting and easy.
Seniors are able to see and do things which would otherwise be out of
the question for them--such as living at a beach front villa, working
ranch, or strolling through a private, English country garden. But most
important, seniors are able to see the world without having to pay for
lodging--simply by providing a much needed service to a home owner who
is away."
For more information go to
http://www.housecarers.com
Some other links to house sitting information
THE
CARETAKER GAZETTE
is a unique newsletter containing property caretaking and housesitting
opportunities (housesit.org),
advice, and information for property caretakers, housesitters, and
landowners. Published since 1983, it's the only publication in the world
dedicated to the property caretaking field.
There is also
http://www.housesitworld.com/,
but we had trouble with their Webiste
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