Roaming in Retirement

When Niki’s pet parents returned, I transitioned from house sitter to guest suite extraordinaire—a five-star upgrade minus the bay view. The guest suite, tucked cozily in their condo building, is everything a boutique hotel aspires to be: private walkout garden, mini-fridge, coffee station. The only catch? No cooking allowed. So, I’ve been channeling my inner food prep artist, crafting gourmet cold meals like some Michelin-starred picnic enthusiast. To thank my hosts for their generosity (and justify my lingering presence), I volunteered to continue walking Niki every afternoon. It was a win-win: Niki got her sniffs, and I got to feel less like a squatter. Little did I know, these walks would become the highlight of my stay. Earbuds in and podcast playing, I strolled along as Niki diligently inspected every blade of grass like a customs agent with four legs. It’s our little routine—me being mindful, Niki being mildly obsessive. Rain or shine, the walk always has its charms. But today? ...

The past two weeks with Niki in this sleek, modern condo have been anything but dull. Between panoramic views, dog walks, a surprise cyclone, and the comedic misadventures of long-distance communication, life here is an adventure. The bomb cyclone hit Vancouver Island with gusto, sparing us power outages, not so lucky for others on the Island.  The balcony's furniture skidded across the tiles like auditioning ghosts, windows rattling, and the wind howling through the range hood, loud enough to rival the TV. Opening the hallway door revealed eerie echoes straight out of the horror/mystery movie The Shining. By morning, the storm had passed, leaving behind a windswept landscape perfect for a scenic stroll along the West Bay Walkway. Meanwhile, house-sitting plans took an unexpected twist. My February/March sit was canceled, leaving me with a gap on my return from Malaysia. But, in typical house-sitting serendipity, Niki’s owners graciously offered me another stint in March. Problem s...

Being in this beautiful, modern condo has been a bit of a twist in my house/pet sitting journey. Not only am I surrounded by views that makes even my morning coffee feel like a luxury experience, but there’s also a sense of comfort here that’s both unexpected and fitting as I prepare for my upcoming travels. The condo complex even offers guest suites in the building for tenants to offer to their visiting family and friends. Generously, the owners suggested that I stay in one on the night they return, so I won’t have to rush off late. In fact, it looks like I am continuing an extra week in the suites and will be lending a hand with Niki a little bit longer since I have a free week in-between gigs.  And just when I thought things couldn’t get any more delightful, I made a new friend! Introduced by a mutual friend in Toronto, she recently moved to Victoria and lives just a few blocks away from this building. We met at a waterfront restaurant, and from the first hug, it felt like we’d ...

I know what you’re thinking: She’s already writing about her new house/pet sitting gig? It’s only been one night and two days! Well, I did wonder what surprises might await me, and here I am, with more than a few stories already. Thankfully, no disasters this time—just a few moments of, "Wait…what’s happening?" The first day in this modern, high-tech condo felt like stepping into a sci-fi movie set. After my last sit, surrounded by nature, this sleek, tech-savvy home is quite the shift. And yet, it’s still filled with that cozy warmth that comes with personal touches. I get these little clues about who my hosts are from the way they’ve decorated. The walls are lined with modern art, the hallway brims with awards and certificates, and in one corner stands a floor loom—her creative outlet, perhaps? The space seems to tell a quiet story of remarkable lives. Now, let me describe some of the condo’s finer details. The master bedroom has a remote-control bed, the ensuite boasts a l...

As any house sitter knows, the end of a stay can be bittersweet—a mix of fond goodbyes and excitement for the next adventure. Little did I know, my final days with Miss Kitty would turn into a scene from a suspense novel. I’d been reflecting on my time here, savoring memories of that delightful blind date (see Post #36), which has now led to a daring plan to visit Graeme in Malaysia. But just as I was getting lost in the romance of international rendezvous, fate had other plans. I returned from my lovely birthday lunch celebration and, fortunately, decided to skip dinner out and spend a cozy evening at home. I settled in with Miss Kitty on my lap, daydreaming about Costa Rica and Malaysia when I heard it—water running! A sound unmistakably from the “uh-oh” category. Not rain. Not a faucet. This was the sound of rushing water somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t be. With my pulse quickening, I followed the sound to the garage and found water gushing from the Eco-King boiler, turning the fl...