Profile information
Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Looking for house/pet sitting opportunities and I welcome the chance to work with animals whether farm, homestead, or rescue situations. I want to learn organic gardening, permaculture, etc.
Description
I am a retired fundraising and communications professional who is addicted to travel, learning about other cultures, and building friendships. I am fit, have stamina for days, am easy-going, very adaptable, and have a pretty decent sense of humor. I try to cultivate compassion in all areas of my life and I meditate regularly. I am incredibly hard-working, love to learn new things, and I value animals deeply. Since 2015, I have been a full-time, five-star house and pet sitter through TrustedHousesitters, traveling the entire East Coast of the US and across Europe, so I am accustomed to adjusting to new environments. In addition, I have cared for dogs, cats, horses, chickens, Guinea fowl, doves, parakeets, and gerbils. I'd love to add other animals to the list! My proudest accomplishment is that I raised two wonderful human beings.
Interests
Fitness
Self development
Gardening
Farming
Charity work
Writing
Yoga / Wellness
Vegetarian or vegan
Politics / Social justice
Photography
Pets
Outdoor activities
Nature
Hiking
Cooking & food
Culture
Animals
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: BeginnerMore details about my language interests
Will be spending the next couple of months in Spain and would love help learning the language. I also welcome the chance to revive what French I knew years ago!
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Life at a Farmstay
Eco Projects
Languages
Some knowledge of:
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Being an elderly companion
Animal Care
Able to teach about:
Helping around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Charity Work
More details about your skills
For the last five years, I have been a full-time international house sitter (with a good number of repeats), both independently and through TrustedHousesitters.com. Short- and long-term housesits include the entire East Coast of the US plus England, Scotland, France, and Italy. I count myself lucky to now have good friends in all of these places. I love to immerse myself in the local community. I am definitely a traveler and not a tourist! In addition, I have only five-star references which you can view on my website http://findingmyselfamongstrangers.com.
I retired from regular employment in May 2019. Currently I pick up the occasional gig off of Craigslist or do other part- time remote work as it comes up. Until 2019, I worked full-time remotely as a fundraising and communications professional for a small non-profit called Global Grassroots (http://globalgrassroots.org), working with vulnerable women and girls in Rwanda and Uganda. I feel so grateful to have been able to work on behalf of an organization doing noble work in a part of the world that I have a special affinity for. From January 2010 through March 2012, I had the enormous pleasure of living in Tanzania while doing similar work for an organization that rescues street children. I loved living in East Africa despite the challenges of living so far from family and in such a dramatically culture.
Living overseas gave me a much broader perspective on culture, people, and life, and it served to teach me more about myself than I ever could have learned had I not ventured beyond my comfort zone. I am well-traveled, having visited 19 countries thus far, including most of East Africa, a fair amount of Europe, plus Bermuda, Costa Rica, Bali, and Thailand.
In addition to a broad worldview, I also have not insignificant home maintenance and repair skills, having completely renovated two homes of my own over the last 20 years. Former employers, homeowners, and friends will tell you that I am incredibly hard-working, learn quickly, self-motivated, and and am easy to get along with. I am healthy and fit, love walking, hiking, and biking, and I keep a neat and tidy home. Those who know me will attest that I always strive to live my life with integrity and that I am dependable, honest, and trustworthy.
As mentioned above, I have vast experience with both cats and dogs and have lovingly cared for a dove, a horse and pony, chickens and Guinea fowl, and gerbils. Teach me how best to care for your pets/livestock and I guarantee I will do well by them. I used to be a pretty decent cook but now consider myself merely adequate. Cooking only for myself for the last 20 years has made me lazy but I have a few, primarily vegan and gluten-free, meals that I am adept at preparing. I am an amazing house cleaner and I thoroughly enjoy organizing files, kitchens, closets, garage, office, or entire homes.
I am good-natured, fun, really love to laugh, and I get a kick out of life, and I was told recently that I am never boring. I have outstanding references - house sitting, employment, and character and it's been said that I have never met a stranger.
I thank you for your time and for considering engaging me as your Workawayer. I look forward to hearing from you!
Age
67
What else ...
I love to read, believe that I am well-informed, and enjoy history and geography. I also love writing and photography and enjoy jigsaw puzzles and board games; Scrabble is a favorite and probably the only time I am competitive. I love to be outdoors and am not afraid to get my hands dirty or work up a sweat. Home improvement and decorating are strong interests and I know my way around most hand and power tools. I am socially and politically progressive and not religious. I can walk nearly forever and am planning to spend 4-6 weeks trekking in Nepal on my own in October 2022.
Some more information
Smoker
Driver's licence
Allergies
NoSpecial dietary requirements
I have Celiac Disease (no gluten) and am very lactose intolerant. I generally follow a Whole Food Plant-Based diet (no animal protein, few processed foods) but am not against eating meat if the occasion presents itself. Regardless, I manage my food very w
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At home she was very kind, clean and tidy. What I liked about Kathleen is that she is capable of finding the perfect balance between sharing time together and giving space for our personal… read more
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At home she was very kind, clean and tidy. What I liked about Kathleen is that she is capable of finding the perfect balance between sharing time together and giving space for our personal… read more
