Wait, when did it become August already? Seriously where has summer gone? Wasn’t it just my birthday?
Granted, summers have grown increasingly busy for me at work and the season always seems to just blow by.
It’s been a while since my last post, so I thought I’d give an update. And if nobody reads this, it’ll be a nice summer recap for me to look back on when I’m wondering: “where has summer gone?”
House Sitting
Last year, I learned about Trusted Housesitters, a website where home/pet owners can find people to take care of their property and animals, and sitters can have a free place to stay. I tried it out last fall and decided it was an awesome platform. I love animals, but my living situation doesn’t allow me to have my own.
I don’t usually travel during the summer, so I figured house sitting was going to be a great way to have a nice staycation and work remotely for a break from the office. Plus, most people that have pets have good AC, which is something I don’t currently have. And I figured that if I’m not willing to travel during the summer, I might as well do my part to help others. I remember how hard it was for my mom to find reliable people to watch our Golden Retrievers, so I’m glad I can provide a certain peace of mind for others.
The concept of Trusted Housesitters is quite simple. You create a profile on their website, both pet/homeowners and sitters, fill out all the necessary info, and match up.
Owners can search for sitters in their area, post dates that they need a sitter, and reach out to individuals.
Sitters can search their own area or an area they’ll be traveling to, apply to sit, connect with the owners online or via phone, and find a good match.
Although you pay an annual membership fee on the website, the sits are all done for free.
At the end of the sit, you review each other and the reviews are posted on your profile. The more you sit, the more reviews you have, which means you have a better chance at scoring a more coveted sit. Some of the options are unbelievable – chateau in France, castles in the UK, ranches, etc.
My goal is to build up my profile with plenty of sits around my hometown to boost my credibility and prove that I’m a desirable candidate. This way I can have the option to find free lodging around the world when I travel, in exchange for loving on some cute pets!
If this is something you’re interested in, check out this link to get 25% off of your membership and 2 free months!
I tend to look for sits that are in Northern Utah, where I can have access to new areas to explore. It’s been a blast to discover corners of Utah that I haven’t really had any reason to go to before.
Staying Cool
Utah has been having it’s 6th-hottest summer on record, and my home’s AC has been going in and out. When not working or having adventures, I’ve been trying to stay out of the heat – swimming, going to the movies, and staying at other people’s houses.
Spending Time with Family
I’m fortunate that most of my immediate family lives close by, and I took full advantage this summer. Movie nights, dinners, sleepovers, water days, sending my youngest brother off on his LDS mission, and adventures.
Working
Part of the reason I don’t travel during the summer is because of work. I haven’t really had a full day off for leisure this summer, and am fielding calls nights and weekends. The benefit is that I get to stockpile my PTO.
When I haven’t been at work, I’ve been working on a passion project that will be revealed soon! Hours and hours and days and weeks have gone into it, and I’m super excited to share it!
So when I take a step back and ask, where has summer gone, it’s pretty clear. It’s been a fun season, but I’m excited for things to come! Stay tuned!
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