My latest interview in the Starting Over series is with Suzanne from Life At No. 22. She and her husband tried several new things over the years, including running an orchard and traveling around New Zealand in an RV for ten years and almost half of those full-time. But they seem to be hitting their stride with their current role as international housesitters who take care of the pets left behind while families are on vacation. Sounds kind of fun, doesn’t it? Let’s learn how they travel the world as housesitters.
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Can you please introduce yourself, tell us what you do and where you do it?
Hello, everyone, my name is Suzanne and with my amazing husband we housesit around the world, for the last 2 years we have focused more on the UK and Europe. We are heading into our 3rd year in November.
You’ve had numerous careers over the years, including owning an orchard, can you tell us more about your decision to run an orchard?
My husband and I had the foresight to see the potential in a piece of land/house, that was once a thriving apple orchard though when we eventually brought it was very run down and the land grew maize and the house had been rented out. Great negotiation skills and we had a bargain that we could do up and eventually sell. It was too good to pass up, and we were looking for a project and land.
You’ve done a lot of new things in midlife, including training for and running your first marathons after you turned 50. Can you tell us what inspired you to start training for a marathon in your 50’s?
I love walking, and to be honest, I was getting bored. With gaining a few more unwanted kilos I needed a goal. I don’t believe in diets, though I do believe in reducing foods and doing more exercise. Energy in Energy out. I did my first 10km walk and I was hooked. To be honest I was full on motivated to get training for my first half marathon the day after that first race. Maybe it’s my competitive streak and the love of a new challenge.
In my blog, I write a lot about trying new things and people who start over. First, why did you and your husband decide to sell the orchard? And then why get a motorhome and start traveling around?
We had gone as far as we could with the orchard as we wanted to go without spending more money to develop it further. It was like trying to fill a bucket with water when there’s a hole in it. Plus my husband had to leave his job which he had been employed in for over 30 years with 3 blown discs in his back. As I was left to do the orchard work it was up to me to decide when I had enough of managing it. That day came when we sighted motorhomes and did some research on it, and as the saying goes, “The rest is history.”
Fudge in Switzerland
After you traveled around in your motorhome for years you decided to become Global Housesitters, what sparked this interest?
After a 3 month trip around Europe, we loved our time there. We returned to New Zealand and looked into ways in which we could extend our time over in the Northern Hemisphere. I had come across Trusted Housesitters many years ago, and we weren’t quite ready to head down that road. Until the end of 2015, then we took the plunge.
How much and what type of research was involved in this decision?
The biggest thing is trust and listening to our gut instinct. Sometimes we did not do this and the result was not a satisfactory housesit. On the other hand, 99 percent have been an amazing array of people who we have been very fortunate to housesit for. Some have become friends who we still keep in touch with and will be doing a repeat housesit for them.
What do you like best about housesitting and what do you like least?
We love that we can be locals for a short period within communities and learn more about their cultures. The animals are a big bonus in that it makes our stay feel more like home. What we like the least is saying goodbye to the animals we have cared for.
Birthday for Nellie and Louie in France
Looking back, you made the transition from traveling in a motorhome across New Zealand to becoming international travelers as housesitters. Is there anything that you wish you did differently or had a better understanding of at the beginning?
To be honest we cannot think of anything that we would have done differently. As with most things we have improved our skills as housesitters with more experience. At the time of this writing, we have completed 24 house sits.
And to go along with that question, what advice do you have for someone looking to make a career change during midlife or later? And especially becoming a global housesitter.
We have not changed careers as we are early retirees due to my husband’s back disability. The big thing is being adaptable and being open to change. Have faith in your ability and no one is ever too old to learn new skills if the desire to learn is still alive
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(All Pictures used in this post were provided by Suzanne from Global Housesitters and used with her permission.)
This sounds like a fun life-style! Carry on enjoying it! Cutting Dies for Christmas – #7 in ProBlogger Challenge
Thanks Shirley, it is a fun lifestyle.
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for sharing this story about house sitting. I know a few people who do it and think it is an excellent way for people to see the world AND provide a great service for others in the process. As a pet owner and a person who loves to travel I am definitely intrigued by the idea of having a house/pet sitter when I travel next time. Now I will be checking out “Trusted Housesitters” and seeing if I can find some good people like Suzanne and her husband next time we travel. ~Kathy
It was very interesting to find out how this work. My husband is a pet lover and he is intrigued by the unique way to travel, live local and take care of pets.
Thanks Kathy, yes it is a wonderful lifestyle for all the reasons you pointed out. Hope you do find a good housesitter before your next travels. There are a few worthwhile websites that deal with housesitting.
Thanks Jennifer for including me in your blog series, now for some sharing 🙂
Jennifer we had our motorhome for 10 years and nearly half of that time was fulltime. Just noticed you wrote a year in the introduction.
Oh, I missed that! I’ll update it.
No worries Jennifer, thanks for fixing it.
Geez, screw looking for a nine to five job! This sounds like the life.
I know. But you still have to have some type of income….time to figure out that passive stuff.
Being a housesitter sounds like a fun way to see the world and the animals are a bonus.
Yes. The pets are such a fun bonus!
I always enjoy reading Suzanne’s story! Thanks for sharing it with us Jennifer.
I’ve read Suzanne’s blog for a while now, and really enjoyed learning more about how she and her husband came to do this interesting endeavor in their retirement. I love their adventurous spirit and their creativity! Traveling is fun but it must be very cool to stay somewhere long enough to get a feel for real life in various locations. Great interview, Jennifer!
Thanks, Molly! (Can’t wait to read your interview.) Everywhere that I travel I wish I could stay longer, so I really love this idea of house sitting. Perhaps it’s something my husband and I will try in a few years.
I hope you do it! I don’t think I could since I am a home body and not keen on travel I had to admit this a few years ago. I was trying to be a ‘travel person’ and I do enjoy it once I have landed somewhere. But I am always sooooo happy to go home! Excited to do the upcoming interview with you.
I used to be more of a homebody, but these last few years, I get sad when I have to return home. The last one we took lasted three weeks and I was still ready for more.
Wow! Maybe I could become a nomad, too! ?
It really does sound like a rich experience they’re having. Inspirational!
This is so fascinating! Love all of the questions you asked. It would be hard to say goodbye to the pets.
I know that must be the hardest part. Saying goodbye to pets you got to know.
Suzanne’s blog is great and always a good read ☺ and this interview is wonderful for finding out more about her and her husband. I love her energy for life!
I always thought running was stupid, until I did it.
Now a marathon? I dunno about that, but I could totally drive my house around forever and not get bored, running a bit here and there 🙂
I still won’t run. I might walk, though. And yes, drive my house around the US that’s a future goal.