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Stan & Helen

Retirees Find House Sitting Opens the Door to a New World

By Ian White


Recent press releases highlighting the travels of retiree house sitters are showing that becoming a senior is not a ticket to boredom, or a sedentary lifestyle. Retirees from around the world are finding house sitting to be the key that opens the door to unique, authentic and free travel to destinations that they had once only dreamed about.

Unfortunately, many retirees do not have the liberty of spending their retirement egg on pleasure items or excursions, such as traveling. Many individuals and couples who live on a fixed income have found that their funds usually only cover the basics of living. After a lifetime of raising families, running businesses and being everything to everyone, retirees are finding there is a way to travel and experience the world on their terms. House sitting is allowing them to connect with home owners who are in need of house sitters. In exchange for a valuable service, retirees are able to enter into new worlds, that would otherwise be closed to them.

Jim and Thelma McSkimming are retirees from New Zealand. This retired couple has only been house sitting for a year. They report that they would not be able to travel to all the places they dreamed of--if it were not for becoming house sitters. The McSkimmings have found that house sitting is the key that enables them to experience different cultures on a new level.

Jim and Thelma McSkimming reports they do not desire to travel as “tourists,” and quick visits to some popular areas does not satisfy them. The McSkimmings truly relish immersing themselves into new areas and they enjoy house sitting. House sitting lets them become mock citizens in various countries and gives them an authentic experience.

The McSkimmings had five months to allot for house sitting in the UK, and were thrilled when they were able to find five house sits. “We stayed in a beautiful 200 year-old stone cottage, which was previously a flour mill, in South Wales. We minded pigs, geese, miniature Dexter cattle and two adorable Border Collies,” the McSkimmings report. They have also recently had a stay in a Rectory in County Cork, Ireland, where they made friends with an African parrot they were minding. Many house sits involve the care taking of pets. The McSkimmings report that this is a one of the highlights of their stays and it fulfills their love of animals.

The wonderful experience of house sitting is echoed by Brenda Marie Batty. Ms. Batty is a retiree from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ms. Batty has been a house sitter since 1999. She has visited seven different countries, and reports that her favorite house sits are in Greece, France and Italy. “House sitting gives me the opportunity to travel further afield for a longer period of time--to places I otherwise could not afford to stay in on my retired budget.”

Like the McSkimmings, Ms. Batty truly enjoys sinking into the culture and lifestyle of the various areas that she visits. She has found that each country has welcomed her with open arms. On a recent house sit in Greece, she truly felt one with her neighbors. “I even got into white washing steps and walls in Greece . . . I joined in with the island folk who were all in preparation for Easter’s arrival. I really felt like a local then! It was lots of fun, too. I enjoy travel on this level, meeting new people and becoming part of their communities.”

House sitters are in high demand around the world. Retirees who register as house sitters are among the first sitters looked at by home owners. Home owners know that life experience cannot be replicated. Home owners have confidence in seniors and trust them to watch over and care for their home, possessions and pets.

Many times senior house sitters are asked to come back for return stays. Ms. Batty has had numerous repeat visits. Chances are great that the McSkimmings will also be asked for a repeat stay--as this is their first year and they are just now getting their feet wet and making acquaintances with home owners. Both the McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that home owners are warm and welcoming. Friendships are easily forged and many home owners keep up with “their” house sitters year round.

Both the McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that maturity, flexibility and a love for animals are essential to being a good house sitter. However, to make the proper connection with prospective home owners registering with a reputable house sitting site is key. HouseCarers is sitting pretty on top as “the” place to make safe connections. Ms. Batty doesn’t hide her enthusiasm or appreciation of Ian White and HouseCarers.com. “Two thumbs up for HouseCarers!”

Becoming a house sitter is a fairly easy process. You can visit HouseCarers.com on the Internet and for a price that is less than an evening meal out, you can register as a house sitter for an entire year. You will be given 30 full lines to describe yourself. You can list multiple locations where you are available to house sit, along with the dates you are available. You can even use the sample ad that is listed on the site to guide you in writing your personal information.

The information you enter is instantly available to prospective home owners who are seeking out a house sitter. At any time you can go in and update your profile, change your destination areas or dates, and all of it is free of charge. When house sits become available in your chosen areas, you will receive notification via email. You will also be notified when you have messages from prospective homeowners in your chosen areas. Your identity and personal information are kept confidential and it is only revealed to a home owner when you are comfortable.

Becoming a house sitter will save you thousands of dollars on travel and accommodations. By making yourself available to a home owner as a house sitter, you are giving them an invaluable service. Home owners can leave their residence knowing they are leaving it in capable hands. House sitters may be asked to perform routine things such as pet care, gardening, or even scheduling a home repair if the need arises. You may be asked to forward mail, relay phone messages or take a pet to a scheduled vet visit. House sits range in duration. Some may be for a week, while others may be for a month, or more. The requirements are minimal when you compare it to what you receive.

House sitting opens the door up to experiences you could not pay for, even if you had the funds to do so. House sitting is enabling individuals to live in seaside beach homes, English country cottages or castles, ski lodges in the snow capped mountains, and even ranches or farms in the country. Can you think of any other service you could give to someone that would allow you to sample grapes from a working vineyard, pick Dutch tulips, or eat authentic cuisine straight from their native homelands with no monetary investment on your end? This can all be yours, and more, as a house sitter.

You simply cannot put a price on the services that a house sitter provides. Home owners are not comfortable leaving their homes empty when they have to travel for an extended time. House sitters are the number one crime deterrent. Criminals can bypass most alarm systems with ease. However, criminals and would be thieves will avoid a home if someone is in residence.

Besides providing the much needed security that a home owner desires, house sitters can also save a home owner much worry over their homes “physical” safety. If a pipe bursts, most home owners would not know until they returned to a deluge of water, and tens of thousands of dollars in repair work. If a fire starts, a home owner could possibly return to find their home a smoking pile of rubble and ashes. By having a house sitter onsite, a home owner can leave knowing that if an emergency arises, there is a sitter onsite who can tackle a burst pipe, call the fire department, or handle a weather emergency.

If you are interested in traveling the world like Jim and Thelma McSkimming or Brenda Marie Batty, you should register with HouseCarers.com. These house sitters have found that retirement doesn’t mean an end to an exciting life. If anything, their senior years are bringing them unique and fulfilling experiences. The McSkimming and Ms. Batty have found a way to take hold of their dreams and do all the things they have longed to do. With the support of their family they are globe trotting without making a dent in their retirement funds, and they are enjoying every minute of it.

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of housecarers.com House Sitting Directory.

Register with Housecarers House sitting directory today. Registration is free for homeowners (and they'll never have to rely on cousin Eddie again.)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Mike Eisner, Disney's CEO is stepping down

We've just come home from a trip to Las Vegas. We loved staying at the Hilton hotel - yest the one where great Elvis was performing. Now Barry Manilow made it his "headquarters" and wil perform there until 2007.

We obviously did some gambling - with so many casinos there and the slot machines placed even in the corner stores! But didn't win much - about $30 and lost it rather quickly. Played mostly slots and video poker, some blackjack also. Slots were the easiest.... We expected to lose, so the fact that we lost what we won was no big deal.

We liked almost everything in Vegas - except maybe those annoying people trying to distribute some kind of tickets to "porno events" or something like that (we didn't bother to find out exactly).

There were many excellent shows on - we went to "Mystere" by Cirque du Soleil - it was fantastic!

Now, quite different topic. Mike Eisner, the controversial Disney's CEO is quietly stepping down. It will be very interesting what changes will the new CEO introduce.

By the way, did you take a look at our website about the "Let's Go to Disneyland®! e-book? It's at
http://smartandrichadvisor.info/disneyland/disneylandguide.html


Stan & Helen
Let's Go to Disneyland®!
http://smartandrichadvisor.info/disneyland/disneylandguide.html

Expedia Special Rate Hotel and Package Deals

Today we have found a number of great offers from Expedia. Very good deals... For example:

Go All-Inclusive! - All-inclusive vacation resorts offer great value and a truly hassle-free vacation.

Hawaii - get $50 coupon towards activity of your choice!

Vegas - flight+hotel from $235 (Offer good through 10/11/05)



Here is an excellent one for the honeymooners:

Toronto & Niagra Falls – save up to 25%! (Offer good through 10/17/05)



And Expedia also just announced this one:

British Airways Sale!

Stan
Editor

TicketSellers.com

Looking for sold out tickets? Sports, concerts, theater, Broadway?
TicketSellers.com is your personal Box Office connection!

Going to Las Vegas? Purchase Las Vegas Show tickets from Ticketsellers.com.

They have the largest selection and lowest prices for the hottest ticket in Vegas !

No weekend plans?
See a Broadway Show

Most popular tickets? Yes, you guessed it - for Bono and
U2! But the Stones and Sir Paul are also in high demand...

Stan & Helen
Editors

For the Last-Minute-Travelers

There is one excellent company that specializes in last minute travel deals. It’s called LastMinuteTravel.com. They are the ultimate one-stop online superstore for the deal-seeking traveler who likes to wait as long as possible to get the best prices on hotel deals, airline tickets, cruise and vacation packages.

LastMinuteTravel.com is in business since 1997 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. The Company has received numerous recognitions including: Travel & Leisure Magazine; Forbes as a "Best of the Web" and Smart Money Magazine.

So if iyou want to get great prices on last minute travel packages, simply go to LastMinuteTravel.com

By the way, they offer great deals not only in the USA, but also in Europe. For example, you can save 70% on hotels in Paris, France, Rome, Italy and more.

Stan & Helen
Editors

Traveling Shorts September Quiz

September Quiz (with great prize!..)

Do you like winning prizes? Here is your chance - today we encourage you to test your knowledge in the area of travel, geography and entertainment. So are you ready to be challenged? OK, here are the rules. Below are 12 questions - some easy, some difficult. You have to tell us if each of the sentences/questions is True or False. The answer shoul look like this: Q1-F, Q2-T, Q3-T, Q4-F, etc. (with T meaning True and F - False). Please send the answers to hill.stan@gmail.com . The person who will be the first to give us ALL CORRECT answers will be the winner - announced here as soon as we'll get the perfect answer... If we not get the perfect answer by Sep. 30, 2005, at 10 pm PST we'll give the prize to the person with most questions answered correctly. We will ask the winner to e-mail us her/his mailing address so that we could deliver the prize. Now, what is the prize?

September Quiz Prize: "$500 in casino benefits in your choice of Reno/Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas" gift certificate.

And here come the questions:

1. Meteora Monasteries are located in Kalampaka, Greece.
2. During his life, John Paul II was the bishop of the Rome diocese and the Wadowice diocese.
3. Canada has two official languages - English and French.
4. Nicole Kidman and Gwen Stefani were both born in Australia.
5. Oahu is the biggest Hawaiian island.
6. Donald Trump owns majority of Las vegas casinos.
7. The mountains in Russia that separate Asia from Europe are called Ural Mountains.
8. Fjord is a Norwegian word for a deep, narrow lake.
9. Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, California has two theme parks.
10. All of the members of the The Beatles were born in Hamburg, Germany.
11. Saigon was once called Ho Chi Minh City.
12. Beijing is the China's most populous city.

So here you go!

Good luck to everyone!

Stan & Helen

Editors