After my kids left home, I put everything in storage and became a full-time house-sitter

Three years ago, I sat in my dark, 1,250-square-foot apartment cleaning out my inbox and missing my kids. As a single mom and new empty nester, I was still trying to figure out who I was separate from mom and caregiver.

The quiet stillness that I dreamed of when my children were little now felt like sad emptiness. I tried filling the time by volunteering, joining a nature group, and signing up for a monthly open-mic night, but nothing stuck. I felt unmoored and unsure what came next.

I really wanted to travel, but after a financially devastating divorce and single parenting in one of America’s most expensive cities, there was no way I could afford it. I closed social media every time I saw someone else’s fabulous vacation post so I wouldn’t feel jealous.

Then I came across a newsletter from another writer who recommended a platform that connects homeowners with travelers who trade pet- and house-sitting services for accommodations. She said she had a great experience caring for a cute cat while staying in a beautiful place — for free.

It sounded too good to be true, and I deleted the email. Little did I know how much that message would soon change my life.

I took a shot on something new

I tried but couldn’t stop thinking about that email. Honestly, what else was I going to do?

A few days later, I retrieved the email from my trash folder and followed the link to the website my writer friend suggested. The annual fee was about the same as a one-night hotel stay. After reading dozens of reviews and exploring hundreds of listings, I remained skeptical but decided to give it a try.

My first few “sits” lasted less than a week and were within an hour of my home. Then I landed my first long, waterfront sit on the shores of Lake Washington, right next to a beautiful city park with walking paths and boating lessons. All in exchange for caring for a small, curious dog and big, marmalade cat.

That’s when I realized I could turn it into a full-time lifestyle as a traveling house- and pet-sitter. I was booking two to four week stays in beautiful homes, much nicer than my own overpriced apartment. I rarely had gaps in between sits, and when I did, grabbing the occasional hotel or Airbnb was still a lot less than I was paying in rent. So I gave notice on my apartment, rented a storage unit, and started packing my stuff.

My world has changed so much because of this lifestyle

My first month was spent in a gorgeous home overlooking the sea on a remote Pacific Northwest island. I soaked in the hot tub, sweated in the sauna, and took long walks on the beach, while caring for one sweet dog. While there, I booked another month-long waterfront sit a couple of hours away. It was a much smaller home, but also perched on the edge of the Salish Sea, with a dog, cat, and stunning ocean views.

I never could have imagined the opportunities awaiting me when I deleted that email about housesitting. But it’s not just the beautiful waterfront homes. This lifestyle has allowed me to save money, focus on my writing, and even improve my relationships with my adult daughters. Because paradoxically, giving my daughters the space they needed to individuate allowed me to do the same. And eventually, that brought us closer together.

So far, I’m enjoying this adventure

A friend recently asked if I felt sad leaving my latest idyllic sit on a quiet Pacific Northwest island, one of my all-time favorites. And I realized that I didn’t because I was so excited about my next two adventures — five weeks in San Francisco, where I went to high school, and then another five weeks in La Paz, Mexico, where I’ve never been before.

I return to Seattle often for routine medical appointments, to pick up mail, visit family and friends, and swap out winter clothes for summer wear or vice versa, but have no idea when or where I’ll settle down again. I’m still having too much fun to think about giving up this lifestyle and staying in one place.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe I’m still the same woman who, just three years ago, thought this life was too good to be true, and I’m so glad I went back to the trash to find out.