Take good care of my pets, dive and enjoy South Florida, USA

Details

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  Description

  I live in Boynton Beach. I used to travel a lot, especially for underwater photography. I got a precious puppy last year and I didn't want to miss her puppyhood so I barley left my house all year. Then I adopted her older brother when his human father died.
  I would travel more if I knew I had a RELIABLE TRUSTWORTHY person to help with my animals while I am away. I document sea creatures for marine biologists around the world, so the more I can travel, the better. But I hate leaving my animals so I have to juggle both.
  
  My dogs are young, energetic, loving border collies. They need someone who loves dogs and likes to walk a lot for the benefit of the human and the dogs. I also have a cat who loves people. And I have a few aquariums and orchids. The tasks take about 10 minutes a day total, not including walking the dogs.
  
  My house is very sunny (and sometimes messy), but comfortable and fun. I have many CDs, DVDs, books and kaleidoscopes. I live in a very quiet neighborhood next to a canal. There are all sorts of water birds that live or visit the canal and reptiles and mammals as well.
  
  I am about 3 miles from the nearest beach. If someone loves diving like I do, there's a marina about 4 miles from my house with dive boats. There are many excellent dive locations within 40 minutes of my house, including the world famous Blue Heron Bridge dive site.
  
  The supermarket and all of the major stores are within 3 miles of my house. The Tri-Rail train stop is less than 4 miles, which connects Miami, Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports. There are several bird sanctuaries for bird watching pretty close to my house as well.
  
  I have a few salt water aquariums which are super interesting to watch. My creatures are fascinating. I also have 2 tiger oscar tanks in my den.
  
  I have numerous ID books for reef life, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. I also have novels and other books.
  
  I have orchids all over my property and I'm hoping to have mangoes and figs in the near future.
  
  If I found a RELIABLE person I could trust, we could have a mutually beneficial, frequent exchange. She (or possibly he,) would have the house to herself most of the day, with loving, soft, furry babies to walk with and cuddle with as much as possible. A very happy greeting awaits every time they see anyone entering my house.
  
  I have a 33- year- old brother (born in Peru, raised in NY, AZ and now FL) who leaves for work at 3am Tuesdays to Saturdays. When he's home, he's either playing a video game quietly in my loft, or he's more likely ASLEEP from working long, crazy hours. I see him less than 1 hour a week and none of my sitters have ever had any problems with him, he's so quiet and keeps to himself. He is, however, able to help walk the dogs when he's home if the sitter needs to be out several hours in the afternoon.
  
  My family is extremely diverse and international.
  
  I hope to find a mutually beneficial exchange as soon as possible. My most recent upcoming trip is for August to September and if I find someone I can trust to leave my house and animals alone with for several weeks, I would go for as long as 5 weeks.
  
  Ideally, the candidate is already in the region so we can meet and see how comfortable we feel about the exchange. I would like the person to be here for a few days before I leave so I can show her everything and get the animals used to her and her used to their routines. There is a lot of flexibility possible, other than that the dogs must be fed twice a day and walked several times a day.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Animal Care

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Pets

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Events & social

  

  Culture

  

  Charity work

  

  Plant care

  

  Photography

  

  Performing arts

  

  Languages

  

  History

  

  Gardening

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Animals

  

  Winter sports

  

  Water sports

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Hiking

  

  Fitness

  

  Dancing

  

  Cycling

  

  Camping

  

  Beach

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  I am an underwater photographer. If people want to learn about sea creatures, I am just to teach them.
  I am also happy to explain history of Israel, Greece and WW2 and the Holocaust.
  
  There are animal parks, ocean, botanical gardens and museums all around South Florida.

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  Help

  Someone who LOVES animals, especially dogs. The dogs must be walked several times a day. I usually take them for one walk to add around the local park in the morning before it gets hot, then I feed them and walk them again after they eat, and or right before I go out. I walk them again as soon as I come home, give them dinner between 5 and 6pm walk them again, and then again before bed, with another loop around the park in the evening most days. I used to walk them on a 3.5 mile loop but the local park is 0.8 miles. My dogs would gladly walk or run much more if their sitter wants to get more exercise. They are border collies and have endless energy.
  
  The cat gets tiny meals throughout the day, and her litter box scooped as well. I dump it once a week on trash day.
  
  The aquariums get a pinch of food once a day, and dechlorinated fresh water added every few days. The tasks are very quick and simple once someone learns them and I always show anyone staying here, plus I leave written, detailed instructions and phone numbers for local people who can help if necessary.
  
  I also have several orchids in 2 rooms which would hopefully be watered once a week.
  
  If someone is staying for several weeks, I would show her how to rinse the aquarium filters about once a week to keep the water cleaner. It's very simple.
  
  My biggest concern is my young dogs because they are so precious to me. They love everyone and everyone who meets them loves them too.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Greek: Beginner
  Portuguese: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  My level of English is very high so if someone wanted to stay here, I could help her improve her English during the time we overlap, or when I am away, via Internet phone and video calls. I speak Greek like a little child. I am relatively fluent in Spanish, but it is not my first language, and I learned French but I have forgotten a lot from lack of use.
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  Accommodation

  I have a guest room with a full sized bed for the sole use of my guest. There is a shared bathroom upstairs and another bathroom without a shower downstairs.
  The guest will be alone most of the day and will have use of the large kitchen, living room and den, and the backyard.
  
  The guest will be responsible for her own food and transportation but I can help by asking family members or neighbors to drive her to the stores a few times a week. The supermarkets are all about 3 miles away. There are public buses just outside of my neighborhood which is .4 miles to the main Street. I have many dishes, utensils, pots, baking pans, whatever they might want to prepare their food. I don't expect someone to be a maid, but I do want the person to clean up after herself and make sure the house isn't filthy since I won't be here to clean up.
  
  I have a washer and dryer the guest will be able to use.

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  What else ...

  This form doesn't allow clarification. I need as someone to walk the dogs EVERY day I am away. If the guest needs a break, I can try to make arrangements, but I would be far away. She (or he) will not need to spend hours a day performing chores for me each day, it will only take about 10 minutes a day, but the dogs must be walked and fed and given fresh water EVERY DAY, and the cat and fish must get fresh food and water every day as well. The person can leave for several hours a day to enjoy the area or work, but we would need to work out a plan to make sure the dogs aren't left too long without being walked.
  
  My only rules are to never leave dirty dishes more than the time it takes to have each meal, ALWAYS make sure the doors are locked so the dogs don't let themselves out, don't leave the Henkle knives wet, and don't wear shoes upstairs.
  
  Transportation: fort Lauderdale airport has the cheapest rental cars in the United States, or the guest can drive her own car down, or I can try to help her borrow or buy a bicycle, or she can use the bus, train and walk. There is also Uber and Lyft. I can arrange for occasional rides by neighbors.
  
  My house is a bit cluttered but CLEAN and very comfortable. The guest room is very clean. If someone is interested I can send photos.
  
  The tasks take very little time and in between she can go for walks, go shopping, go to Bird Parks, go to the beaches, possibly use a neighbor's pool, go to museums. If she has a car she can go snorkeling, diving, to Butterfly World. She can join local Meetup groups and go paddling and go picnics as well. She can also volunteer as the numerous animal shelters.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  I assume this means people working remotely. Someone home on the computer all day is an excellent fit as long as she can take a break a few times to take the dogs out quickly.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  Cats are the only problem unless they are tiny kittens because my cat HATES other cats. Dogs are welcome if they are house trained and will get along with my dogs who are starting to show jealously and protective behavior for each other. I would need to know that the dog would not have accidents in the guest room and that the owner will take care to make sure none of the dogs fight, c and if there seems to be any problems, that she will responsibly separate the dogs until they are calm. I have several baby gates to help with this. Birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, any other animals besides snakes are welcome.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Apollo (2 years)

  Sweet, energetic bordercollie

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