Every time we commercial world we are reminded of why we live the lifestyle we do. In the commercial world it's all about money. People give to get something and there is an ethos of the more money you give the more you will get, and the ultimate is to get something for nothing!

I feel this is born out of the scarcity mindset that is prevalent in the commercial world. No matter if it is  buying or selling a product or service, the driving force is scarcity. That's what marketing is all about, get it now or lose, if someone else gets it you will miss out, pay more and you will be part of an exclusive group and on it goes.

During a recent blog challenge I completed, I realised the commercial world I had been participating in for so many years was generally based on an ethos of mistrust and self-interest. It is why I never really felt part of it, and only over the last five years of International House and Pet Sitting has my world felt different.

You see our world of International House and Pet Sitting is based on Trust and Contribution. We don't provide a service, we find a way to be of service. Now this is not just some sort of marketing spin for us, we do it because it adds a great deal of intangible value to our lifestyle and we feel great about it.

For us the True Currency of International House and Pet Sitting is Trust and Appreciation. We give that not to get it back, but because we feel that is the way we want to live our lives. We trust and appreciate life and our freedom lifestyle, and it just so happens that is what is reflected back to us.

Now i'm not saying here that this awareness and life cannot be reached in the commercial world, as it most certainly can. What I am saying is that with our International House and Pet Sitting, it is at the centre of our lifestyle and is a lot easier to maintain.

With a currency of trust and appreciation the Joy is found in the giving, and if anything is received that is just a bonus. We extend love to all our furry foster friends and receive it back 10 fold. We trust and appreciate all the home owners and see that reflected in their attitude toward us. Our sits are for the most part drama free, and when not, a solution is easily found. The relationships built are based on our values and the values of the people we seem to attract.

Following is a video we have on our website which goes some way in showing this, not to say yay we are so good, but more of an example of the attitude we experience.

While we are grateful of our home owners appreciation, it is not why we do what we do. We only participate because by extending trust and appreciation we start to see the whole world differently. It is a mindset that house and pet sitting was built on from the early days and I trust will remain as the industry moves forward.

I understand that there are many motives for house and pet sitting, both from owners and sitters, and I don't see anything wrong with that. However I do know there are a tribe of International House & Pet Sitters living a lifestyle of freedom who feel as we do. A lifestyle based on trust and appreciation, and directed by gut feel, intuition, guidance or whatever we would like to call it. We do it because we love it. It enhances our whole world and inspires others to a new way of living. We take total responsibility for all that we do and know whatever happens is for our own good and learning.

I feel it's important that we keep this message out there. It's important to speak out. To show by example and through experience that there is another way.

There is a way, and by changing our mind about the world through trust and appreciation, it does actually change the way we see and interact with it, and in doing so extend that to others. We use International House and Pet Sitting to do this and are very grateful to be part of a wonderful group of people who feel the same way.

​Reviewing the Lifestyle of “International House & Pet Sitting” is based on my life experience over the past five years and highlights the areas I believe to be most important.

If you like the security of having your own home or similar then this lifestyle is not for you. We sold all our assets and have not rented anywhere for five years. This makes it really challenging when asked for a home residential address by bureaucratic systems that don’t understand some people choose to be address-less. So our motto is “Houseless But Never Homeless”. Additionally we are on the move a lot. We prefer sits of around 1-2 months and depending on what’s next it can be a new area, state or country. We have stayed in million dollar water front properties, beach shacks, in cities, suburbs and rural areas.

Pros

• So much cheaper to live with no ownership or renting costs
• None of the regular hassles associated with ownership or renting
• Visit new areas, states and countries

Cons

• Have no security of a guaranteed place to live
• Have no real fixed residential address
• No place to store stuff or vehicle

International Lifestyle House & Pet Sitting is in the people business. If you don’t like people then think seriously before adopting it. The simple fact is this lifestyle only works by building relationships with all types of people, and when I say all, I mean ALL. This lifestyle teaches us how to be OK with all personality types and see the world from their point of view. We get to appreciate there is more than one way to look after a house and pet, and we are constantly mixing with people, who up until now, we may not have.
Pros

• Opens up your view of the world
• Meet new people and make new friends/connections
• Learn to accept people as they are

Cons

• Living in confined space with strangers
• Accepting others habits and routines
• At times limited personal space

​Must Love Animals

Yes there are some house sits without animals, however there are many more with them. We love all types of animals and they are a big factor in the sits we select.  If you don’t love animals then think seriously about whether this lifestyle would suit you. Over the years we have had so much fun looking after all types of animals with many types of personalities. Additionally it is usually us that fit into their routine rather than the other way around so being flexible in the way things are done is a necessity.
Pros

• Enjoy playing and being with animals
• Learn more about different types/breeds of animals
• Enjoy time with animals without the full-time responsibility

Cons

• Leaving the animals you grow to love
• Dealing with animals behavioral issues
• Changing your routine to fit into theirs

As the old saying goes “the only constant is change”. Well that's it for our lifestyle. Developing and maintaining a constant routine is next to impossible, and this applies to all areas of our life. Eating, sleeping, activities, working, you name it and it usually varies with each sit. Because we travel with two backpacks only we can’t take our juicer, pillow and other things we are used to, so making do with what’s available is a necessity. 
Pros

• If something is not working for us it is sure to change soon
• Get to try a variety of new things and ways of doing them
• Opens up new opportunities by removing comfort zones

Cons

• Hard to develop a routine, both physical and mental
• Finding a favourite food, place, pet, etc. then having it taken away
• Always adapting to new circumstances

This lifestyle is not for everyone, in fact its probably not for most. however if you feel that

• Being of service is more important than what's in it for me
• That people, relationships and pets are more important than money
• Collecting experiences is more important than collecting stuff

Then it just may be right for you.
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