(Post #13) Life’s Little Detours: How a Cancelled Plan Became a Golden Opportunity

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Wanda was due back from her Quebec adventure, and I was all set for a smooth handover—no goose chases, no last-minute surprises, just a seamless transition. I even treated myself to a light day, knowing she’d arrive late. I picked her up from the airport at 11:30 pm and there she was, looking more alive than I felt. The next morning, over coffee, we swapped stories like old friends. 

But just as I was sinking into the comfort of a well-laid plan for February, life decided to say, "Hold my coffee." My friend in Nanaimo, who was supposed to be my February safety net, had to pull out due to house issues and renovation delays. Suddenly, my sure-fire plan was fizzling out faster than a cheap sparkler on New Year’s Eve. I was back to square one—no place to go and no idea what to do next.

Now, a setback like this could’ve been a major downer, but instead, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Nanaimo flop pushed me to dive headfirst into researching more house/pet sitting gigs. With my newfound confidence from the farm—because let’s be real, if I could handle geese, I could handle anything—I decided to give Housesitters Canada a try. The idea of helping others feel secure while living rent-free? Everyone wins!

Wanda, ever the gracious host, agreed to let me stay another week while I figured things out. The only catch? I’d be moving from the guest room to her art studio; a separate unit on the property. But with views that made you forget the studio didn’t have a bathroom, no complaint here. Wanda had other plans for me and offered the use of the main house facilities. This time I was able to spend my time completely off-duty, basking in the luxury of doing absolutely nothing.

As I scoured Housesitters Canada, I stumbled upon the perfect gig in Sidney, BC, but not available until end of March (March 29th to April 20th). It involved a 7-year-old dog who was half Boston Terrier, half French Bulldog, and a 16-year-old Chocolate Seal Point Ragdoll cat—plus, it was right in my old stomping grounds, just 15 minutes from my condo and at the end of their road was the ocean and seawall. The pictures looked like it was a lovely cozy townhouse. The timing was great, but it left me scrambling to fill February and much of March. There was no way that I would ask Wanda to stay longer, she had been so kind already. No, I had to figure something out and quickly. At least I secured the Sidney sit after a brief face-to-face coffee meeting with the host Carmen. She loved the fact I was a local.

But then, as if the universe was rewarding me for staying positive, I found another listing—house and pet-sitting in Jordan River (West Coast of Vancouver Island; popular amongst winter surfers) from February 19th to March 27th. It came with some income, cleaning two tiny Airbnb houses on the property. Off the grid, and oh-so-intriguing. It was the kind of opportunity that screamed, “Don’t miss out!” So naturally, I jumped on it. It seemed like a perfect segue from farm life to a more secluded life.

The host seemed genuinely interested—maybe my Airbnb experience would seal the deal. But first we needed to meet in person. We set up a time for me to visit, while I was at Wanda’s house, and I couldn’t wait to see what this new adventure could bring. The timing was perfect too—covering the end of March, and led right into the Sidney job with Carmen. Life was working itself out in ways I hadn’t expected, and honestly? I was loving this living-on-the-edge thing.

Jordan River - West Coast of Vancouver Island


Surfer Town



Next: Post 14 The Big Reveal in Jordan River: Enter Jessica (Mo), Off-Grid Living, and a Whole Lot of Sawdust


Location: Jordan River, BC V0R 2N0, Canada

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