Top 3 Reasons I House-Sit: Part 1
Top 3 Reasons I House-Sit: Part 1
House-sitting has opened up so many opportunities for me: the obvious one is being able to explore and adventure in cool destinations, but my top three reasons are ones most people might not expect. That’s the cool thing about house-sitting, there are so many layers to the beauty of it.
My number one reason, and the most healing: GRIEF.
My sweet rescue kitty, Eleven, died in 2020, and I’d never felt grief hit so hard, even with lost loved humans. Even as I write this, my heart hurts and tears come instantly. He was a special little guy that my husband (at the time) and I rescued from the Brooklyn streets. He was named in honour of a close friend of mine who had died a few years earlier, and had the same sweet and friendly personality. I had moved to Portland, Oregon from NYC after a separation and was so excited when it was time to bring him out to me. He was with me only a few more months and died within two weeks of a diagnosis. Losing him spiraled me into a depression that sunk its claws in and wrapped around me so tight, that I could barely breathe. And, to happen during THAT time was the bitter icing on top.
Grief is one of those emotions that sticks around, ebbing and flowing after the initial agony. You think it has eased, then bam…I’m baaack!
House-sitting helps heal that grief by bringing darling kitties into my life to love & be loved by. Being trusted to care for them is a balm in itself, and I love getting to know their cute personalities and quirks. It makes SUCH a difference to my heart.
Although my heart is now ready to adopt again, this wandering isn’t conducive to having my very own love bug..so I’m ‘Aunty Rach’ for..well..however long the wandering feels good. Then it’ll be fostering and adopting and crazy cat lady-ing forever more!
If losing a loved furry (or feathered/finned/scaly) one has left you not able to adopt for the time being, consider trying these ideas until you’re ready:
You can do it locally like I did when Eleven passed, choosing to stay close to home.
Volunteer in shelters.
Dive headfirst and become a nomad. I promise it’ll be the ride of your life.
Walk dogs; use an app like Rover.
Keep an eye out for reasons 2 & 3 in upcoming posts.