She was laid off in 2023 while living alone in an overpriced Seattle apartment with no savings, $3,000 monthly bills, and mounting inflation. Facing potential homelessness, she brainstormed alternatives and leaned into a recent small venture: pet and house sitting through a global platform. For a $165 annual subscription she gained access to nearly 10,000 assignments and quickly booked weekend and short stays, caring for cats and dogs in attractive locations. Positive five-star reviews enabled longer bookings. She sold nearly all her possessions, moved out of her apartment, and transitioned to full-time pet sitting, creating a more adventurous, lower-cost lifestyle that surprised friends.
It was 2023, and I'd been feeling stuck for a while. I was working a soul-sucking job at a financial services company, living in a cramped, overpriced Seattle apartment, and feeling bereft as my kids grew up and left home. Staring at those same four walls every day while working remotely as a marketing writer, I found myself wondering, "Is this all there is to life - working, paying bills, and wondering how I would ever retire?"
Just a few months prior to getting laid off, I'd started my own small venture - I began pet sitting through a global platform that connects homeowners with travelers who trade pet care for free accommodations. I've always loved traveling, and when I first heard about the possibility of getting free lodging in beautiful homes in exchange for walking the dog, feeding the cat, and bringing in the mail, I figured it was too good to be true.
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