A former corporate manager from the San Francisco Bay Area has spent over two years travelling the world, funding her lifestyle through house and pet-sitting. After leaving her job in 2022, she booked a one-way flight to Italy and has since lived entirely off her savings while staying in more than 15 cities.
The individual, who had achieved financial stability including a home and car, sought a more fulfilling life. She discovered house-sitting as a method to travel economically, receiving free accommodation in exchange for maintaining properties and, often, caring for pets. In some cases, she is also paid for these services.
A Strategy for Extended Travel
By eliminating accommodation costs—typically a person's largest expense—she has been able to significantly extend her travel funds. "I try to line up my sits so that I don’t often need to pay for hotels or rentals, either," she explained. This approach has allowed her to experience locations like Honolulu, Santa Fe, Chicago, and Brooklyn in a deeper, more local way.
She has completed sits in over 15 different cities, including international destinations. The network of homeowners seeking sitters is high, both within and outside the United States, facilitating her continuous movement.
Lifestyle Benefits and Challenges
The lifestyle offers profound personal freedom. "I love the freedom that this life brings, not only financially but also emotionally," she stated. Building relationships with generous homeowners and their animals has been a highlight, with her taking the responsibility of caring for their homes "as if they were my own."
However, the nomadic existence requires constant planning and adaptability. She lives out of a suitcase, deals with bookings that can be made months in advance or cancelled last minute, and often doesn't know her next destination. "The uncertainty can be stressful," she admitted, but considers the trade-off worthwhile.
The Future of a Mobile Life
She now works remotely while balancing paid and unpaid house-sitting assignments to sustain her travels. With a long list of cities she still wishes to visit, she has no immediate plans to settle down. "I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon," she concluded, emphasising that this lifestyle fulfils her desire to explore and connect with new places and people.