RetirementHomes.com - Inspiring Stories

House Sitting - One Woman's Never Ending Story

aadmin — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:56:25 +0000

Americans have specialized in alternative lifestyles that can be traced back to Thoreau’s call to step to the beat of a different drum.

California’s Kelly Hayes-Raitt has heeded a distinctive rhythm by financing a political activist’s life as a house sitter in Lake Chapala, London, Paris, Copenhagen and the outskirts of Amsterdam.

Her nomadic existence has offered the opportunity to write and edit about Iraqi and Palestinian refugees at LivingLargeInLimbo.com and by blogging for Violating Sanctions.

Hayes-Raitt is a lifelong political activist and spokesperson for campaigns championing women's rights, environmental cleanup, consumers' rights and other social justice causes.

She has house sat in Chapala, Mexico since 2010, her away home from mid-September to mid-February and from April to June.

Setting Up House Sitting Arrangements

Hayes-Raitt, 52-years-old, has established a trusted relationship with an older retired couple. They cover all the expenses of the house, including a house keeper, a pool maintenance man, and gardeners. She’s responsible for making sure the house runs smoothly during their absence, including caring for their dog.

She rents out her house in Los Angeles – an ongoing source of rental income – incurs no housing expenses in Lake Chapala. With lower expenditures in Mexico, compared to California, she saves on income.

“It’s perfect,” said Hayes-Raitt. “I love the community.” She feels she has roots in Chapala because she’s lived there many seasons. “I enjoy the house and the dog and I’m friends with the neighbours.”

HouseSitMexico.com has been an excellent web departure point for the roaming activist – and TrustedHousesitters.com – where home owners with pets search for house sitters.

Retired people in Mexico often return to the USA or Canada for medical care or extended visits with families and grandchildren – or they’re seasonal retirees – half the year in Mexico – the other back home. A house sitter ensures safety and security, especially pet care.

The Role of the House Sitter

Flexibility and a spirit of adventure are the key house sitter traits. Every home has its quirks so they need to be comfortable with pets and all household routines – and be available on the house owner’s timetable – their departures and return dates. “It requires emotional, financial, and time flexibility.”

Hayes-Raitt's resourcefulness is supplemented by“a hell of a lot of faith.” She'll leave Chapala for Los Angeles in January 2014, then off to Europe for the summer months. But she’ll be unable to firm up her plans until April or May when summer house sitting season opens across the Atlantic.

Her run-down on house sitters types:

Vacationers who want to spend several weeks or months without paying for accommodations
Toe-tippers. People who want to check out retirement in foreign communities
Entrepreneurial house sitters who create income from their rental property and pare down expenses while living in a foreign country
Writers and artists – like Hayes-Raitt – who free up time for their passion
A combination of the above

Whatever the aims for boomers and younger middle-aged house sitters, Hayes-Raitt advises that they know their goals and basic needs.

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SOS - Sweet Pair of Cats Look for New Home in Retirement Community

aadmin — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:00:26 +0000

Several years ago, we started caring for a very lovable pair of cats after their owner died. Now, we are moving and though we have to be out of our house in a couple of weeks, we have not yet found a place to go.

During this transition, we will not be able to keep our very lovable and sweet cats Kenny and Willow. This is a really tough situation and we are looking for a new or a temporary home for this sweet twosome.

Because they are older and super sweet, a few friends suggested that we reach out to nearby retirement communities in the Central New York State Area to see if they would be interested in having a sweet resident pair of cats.

All Kenny wants is love and to sit on someone's lap and purr, and once shy Willow gets to know you, she just wants to nestle in your arms and knead. Both cats are rescues, are indoor cats, and in very good health.

Kenny is a ginger and white male, about 12 years old, and Willow is a long haired tortoiseshell/tabby, about 11. They are both very affectionate and friendly. We don't want them to go to the SPCA or live in a crate or be separated. They need love and attention and have so much love to give in return.

They really are sweethearts and are just SO appreciative of any minute of affection! I am attaching pictures. If you might be interested, or know of anyone who might need some love and extra furry company, please let me know or pass along this message.

We really want to "do right" by them and it would be so great to find them a wonderful home, even if for a couple of months until we have a place to live. We are happy to help pay for their care and think that they would make the most wonderful pets for older people, being older and mellow characters themselves!

Many thanks,

Victoria Campbell & John Stetch
(607) 539 6076 (home)
(607) 200 4100 (cell)
vivzs@hotmail.com
jjstetch@gmail.com

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Why the World's Oldest Marathon Runner is Retiring

aadmin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:50:10 +0000

At 101-year-old, he's the world's oldest marathon runner. Fauja Singh, a Sikh, will retire from competition this weekend after running in Hong Kong.

"The Turbaned Tornado"

Nicknamed the "Turbaned Tornado", Singh began running at 89 and has since finished nine marathons. He concedes that age has become too much of a factor for him. He is an Indian-born British national, who only speaks Punjabi.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that he dislikes the word 'retire' saying: "I can still run and jump on a bus. It's a sense of negativity that I have never experienced before."

Great-great-grandfather competes

Singh was a farmer in Punjab, India before immigrating to England. He's a great-great-grandfather and has competed in nine 26-mile marathons in London, Toronto and New York. He was clocked in Toronto at 5:40:04, his personal best. Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai has the best marathon time at 2:03:02, in Boston 2011.

The indefatigable Singh weighs 115 pounds, says he is illness-free, but wants to retire from competition. He will continue running for personal health.

The death of his wife and a son forced him to refocus on a new outlet in life.

The 'Turbaned Tornado' was a torchbearer for the 2004 Athens games and last year's London Olympics, and has been featured in sports advertisements alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

His trainer believes Singh's positive attitude is the reason for his success.

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