(Post #36) Cat Sitting and Blind Dates: When House-Sitting Leads to Adventure

Cat sitting is always more laid-back. Ms. Kitty, however, still treats me like I’m about to whisk her back to the wild, despite her cushy life with Martha and Darren. My tasks are simple: food, litter box, done. It’s a breeze—but my life doesn’t stop just because I am a nomad on “cat duty.”

In fact, I was about to do something I hadn’t done in years: go on a blind date. Well, sort of blind. My friend Sandy decided to play matchmaker. Real estate agents, it turns out, have a knack for setting people up, and this time, I decided to give it a go. He had my photo, I had his, and we’d even spoken on the phone. I figured it was time to meet someone new.

To my surprise, he turned out to be a fellow nomad! What are the odds? We planned to meet for coffee in Langford. He splits his time between Nanaimo and Malaysia—because why not? Originally from Calgary, he packed up his car and set out for BC, just like me. (I couldn’t help but wonder how many storage bins he’s lugging around.) I knew right away this could be interesting.

After setting Ms. Kitty up with her essentials, I headed out, excited but a little nervous. The café I picked, naturally, had zero parking. Just as I was circling the block, ready to give up and pick a new spot, I spotted a Mercedes, and the guy inside looked equally puzzled. It was him! I quickly found a “creative” parking spot at a construction site, figuring no one would mind on a Saturday. I called Graeme, and we both parked in the lot and crossed the street, feeling pretty proud of ourselves.

Graeme was like a big teddy bear—kind eyes, nicely dressed, and thankfully, he actually looked like his photo! We sat down, keeping an eye on our cars “just in case.” No problem... until there was. In the middle of a great conversation, I glanced over and saw a construction worker giving our cars the side-eye, phone in hand. Uh-oh.

“I’ll handle this,” I said, ready to charm my way out of a ticket. Spoiler alert: charm only gets you so far. The guy was polite, but direct—those cars needed to go now. So much for my brilliant parking strategy! Graeme and I ran out of the café, laughing like two kids sneaking out after curfew.

We decided to take a spontaneous walk at Thetis Lake, which turned out to be a way better setting for a first date—peaceful, beautiful, and surrounded by nature. Our conversation flowed easily as we shared stories of our travels. Graeme had been in the Royal Air Force and later worked in Police Services. As he shared some personal stories, I realized we connected on a deeper level. It had been a long time since I’d felt this way, and suddenly, hope for romance started to flicker again.

Then, something hilarious happened. As we sat on a bench, gazing out at the lake, I noticed a couple on the water. The woman was in a kayak and looked normal enough, but the man... I did a double-take. He was kneeling on his paddle board completely nude. Well, sort of. His bottom was so tattooed, it looked like he was wearing floral fabric! We both stared in disbelief, then smiled, realizing it was true. And I thought to myself, "Graeme's the kind of guy who’s unfazed by this—good sign!"

As we continued walking, he casually mentioned his upcoming trip to Malaysia in two weeks and hinted that I should visit him there. He even joked that he had two weeks to convince me. Adventure wheels were turning in my mind. I’d already planned to visit Costa Rica to see my daughter in December—what if I added Malaysia to the itinerary? Why not? House-sitting would have to wait until February anyway, as my schedule starts up again end of February until June, so this nomad had some free time! 

Before we parted ways, Graeme asked me to dinner, but the plan quickly evolved into something more. We decided to add in a movie and a quick ferry ride over to Salt Spring Island’s market on a different day. Fast-tracking? Absolutely. But I was all for it. We might squeeze in one more date before he boards his plane, but otherwise, we’d keep in touch using all the wonders of modern technology—no need to dust off the old pen and paper. After that, it’s Malaysia—he’ll stay at his condo, and if I decide to visit him, I’ll find a hotel nearby. Too soon? Maybe. But was buying my condo or snapping up land I’d never seen in person too soon? Definitely not. Life is an adventure, and I’m diving in headfirst!

On the drive home, I reflected on how house and pet sitting has shaped my life. A friend once asked me what I loved about hopping from house to house. For me, it’s the trust homeowners place in me—their willingness to share their homes and lives with someone who takes pride in being a nomad. This blind date reminded me of that. Even though I’m constantly on the move, I’ve built connections and found places that feel like home.

When I got back to the house and there was no sign of Ms. Kitty. Panic set in briefly, but I eventually found her—and to my surprise, she let me hug her. 

Maybe the bonding process had finally begun.  Not just with Ms. Kitty, but maybe in other parts of my life too.

Next: Post 37 - The Unexpected Turn of Ms. Kitty (and My Life)

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