(Post #35) Brewing Friendship and a Cat Named Miss Kitty

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I visited Martha and Darren a few months before they booked me for this house/pet sit. It was a bit like a blind date, but with fewer awkward silences and more cat talk. There was an instant liking and relaxed and laidback feeling being in their gorgeous home. Martha put it so clearly as saying that I came into their home as a stranger and left as a friend. It’s moments like this that make my nomadic lifestyle feel less like work and more like a string of heartwarming reunions—with the added bonus of being surrounded by some of the most adorable pets.

Martha and Darren are that couple who seem like they were molded together—over 46 years of marriage and still going strong. I mean, really, how often do you meet couples like that? And, fun fact: Darren is a Brewmaster. Yes, that’s right—a Brewmaster. So if you’re a beer lover, you’re probably already jealous of me. He even brews his own beer right in the garage, which makes me feel like I’m house-sitting in some secret, top-tier brewery. But that’s not all. These two also used to own a brewery on Bowen Island. And, in case Darren wasn’t impressive enough, he’s built two homes, including their current one, which is made of concrete. I feel like I’m living in a fortress, but, you know, the cozy kind.

Martha is a semi-retired ER nurse who still dabbles in nursing. She’s one of those people who probably calms down a room just by walking into it. She strikes me as the driving force behind many of the things they do together that requires patience and drive. And then there’s their garden—Darren’s pride and joy. It’s the kind of garden that would make the Botanical Gardens look a bit shabby. 

These two are so warm and thoughtful that they even offered me stay in their home two days before their trip, knowing I had a gap in my house-sitting schedule. Sure, my friend Deb had offered her place, but I didn’t want to wear out my welcome there too soon. Deb’s home is like my secret base for those in-between moments, and you never want to max out your goodwill cards too early!

Now, let’s talk about Miss Kitty—their fur-child and undisputed queen of the house. She lounges in her little cat house like it’s an enclosed throne. She’s an indoor cat, so no outdoor cat-chasing adventures for me, thank goodness. Honestly, as long as I keep her in sight and avoid misplacing her, I think I’ll be fine.

I arrived at their home on the 4th of October, and Martha and Darren welcomed me with a full tour, covering everything from locking systems to Miss Kitty’s daily routine, not to mention the extensive electrical and security systems. (Thank you, resort fire (Posts 6-9), for teaching me to ask all the right questions this time!) They had even prepared a bedroom with an ensuite just for me. I couldn’t wait to settle in and enjoy my first night in their concrete paradise.

Their home is just a 10-minute drive to downtown Sidney, which means I’ll be close to my condo and able to meet up with friends during my stay. Other than keeping Miss Kitty content and, well, alive, they left me with no chores. But I can’t just sit around and do nothing! I’ll need to find a way to contribute—maybe I’ll tackle something in the garden. I just need to figure out what I can do that won’t be a gardening disaster.

In the meantime, I’ll be dropping Martha and Darren off at the airport soon, and then it’s just me, Miss Kitty, and my plans to live life to the fullest during this stay. 

With my daughter now living in Costa Rica, I’m looking forward to seeing her in her new place. Although I intentionally kept my January and February housesitting schedule wide open for travel, I think it best not to spend all that time in Costa Rica, rather, figure out a different place to go before returning to BC.  I think I deserve it since 2024 will mark as one year as a Nomad! But where will I go?

Who knows where life will take me next? All I know is, I’m booked with house/pet sitting adventures end of February 2025 onwards—and I think things are only going to get better. They always do.

Garden views









Next: Post 36 Cat Sitting and Going on a Blind Date: When House-Sitting Leads to Adventure


 


Location: North Saanich, BC, Canada

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