Last winter, Mark and I did a 3.5-month house sit in San Diego, California with Italian Greyhounds Elvis and Frida. During that time, we met up frequently with our friend Amy, as she was a graduating zoologist/environmentalist. “You guys are so awesome with dogs,” she said. “If I ever need someone to take care of Skylos, I’ll get in touch.”
In the summer, Amy secured a six-month position in Peru. Her best friend Cara moved in with her cat Casper to keep an eye on the place and care for the dog as well. At some point during our summer travels in Zesty, Cara and Amy inquired whether we could come to Ocean Beach (a funky neighborhood in San Diego) in December to take over Cara’s “duties” as she visited with friends and family over the holidays. She’d be gone for a long weekend early in the month and a week over Christmas later. The timing was perfect. We happily obliged, as long as we could stay the full three weeks.
So, after our three-week house sit in Ojai, we drove to Ocean Beach, where we stayed at Amy’s house, partly by ourselves and partly with a roommate, for the remainder of December. For this reason, and because it was a favor to a friend, I have a hard time calling these three weeks an ordinary house and pet sit. Yet, we did take care of Skylos and Casper the entire time we were there. It was a mutually beneficial situation for us and Cara, who was nice enough to let us stay a fourth week.
The first thing Mark did when we showed up – after cuddling and walking Skylos – was research what the deal is in Ocean Beach/San Diego with “oversized” vehicles (aka campers) parked on the street. Our previous experiences in California had made us hyper attentive to the RV aversion in many communities. While you wouldn’t say it from looking around this part of the Point Loma peninsula, with tons of vans and campers near the seaside every day and all day, there are strict rules when it comes to parking an RV. Trouble! Each car has to be moved every 72 hours regardless, but RVs are technically not allowed to park on the street overnight. Plus, Amy’s street is extremely packed by evening. No need to upset the neighbors and get a ticket.
Luckily, the alley behind the garage has a “parking” spot, very tilted, just big enough for our camper to be out of the way. We took our bikes off, folded the rack up, and squeezed in. Worried we couldn’t do this (elegantly) twice, Zesty was not to be moved for a month – which explains our low fuel expense for December. 😊 Amy’s car was blocked by our actions, so we couldn’t utilize hers either. Ocean Beach is extremely walkable and with our bikes we could reach grocery stores and our friends Janis and Paul.
The weeks flew by, as we took care of Casper, the cat (Mark’s allergies didn’t act up too much) and Skylos, the dog. I made good progress on the book proposal for my memoir Plunge.
Almost every afternoon, Mark and I walked Skylos to the beach. During the weekends, we attempted few other excursions, as we’ve visited a lot in the area the previous year. Then there were the holidays, of course. On Christmas Day, we finally met fellow house sitters Charli and Jeff, who drove down from LA. New Year’s Eve was spent with Cara and the animals at home.
And, our “pizza friends” Karmen and Tom stopped by in their Sprinter van for a couple of days, on out of their way to Florida. The last time we saw them was in Oregon, where they run the amazing – yummy and successful – pizzeria Yeasty Beasty. My hope is to have some van travels together this summer.
All in all, our San Diego stay wasn’t overly exciting. But before you think we’ve become “boring” people sitting behind their computers all day (well, I actually am), just know that this is currently happening from the road again with a changing view through the window, whenever we move. 😊
Best feature(s): The doggy door, the warm and cozy atmosphere in the house, being able to walk to the beach and all over Ocean Beach. Skylos – at 16 – is the cutest small dog in the world!
Best gadget(s): The small handheld Dyson vacuum cleaner did an amazing job with the cat hair. We also enjoyed using the oven as we don’t have one of those in our camper van.
Surprise(s): Two sets of friends visiting us. Colder than usual weather. Louder than expected planes flying over.
Downside(s): Ocean Beach might be funky, but lots of areas are quite dirty, with garbage and dog poop. There is a big homeless population and that causes some of these issues.
Since this was a house sit for a friend, we did not ask for a review. To see all our house sit reviews, click here. To read about other house sits, check out this link.
This was the last multiple-week house sit Mark and I did. In January, we spent a weekend in the desert, flew to the East Coast for two weeks (brrrr), and, back in San Diego, took care of Elvis and Frida again for one uneventful week (and met up with Amy, Skylos, and Cara). Back in Zesty, we have no more house sits lined up or no plans.
Have you ever had no plans? When you didn’t know where you’d be the next day, or sleep that night?
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February 20, 2019 at 15:52
We continue to have a colder and wetter than normal winter here in San Diego. Did you know that the OB pier is closed now due to damage from the storm in January? Yikes! I’m glad we had a chance to see each other a couple of time while you were here. Good luck on your continuing travels.
February 20, 2019 at 21:38
Hi Janis! I had no idea about the OB pier being out of commission. Wow. A lot of damage has occurred in SoCal apparently, because of the bad weather. We’re looking forward to next week, when it will finally hit 70 degrees! We’ve been stuck in the van for three weeks! Who would have guessed? Another failed attempt for us to be warm during the winter. That’s a strike! Next year, we will have to return to the tropics or drive to Florida!
It’s so nice to have friends in San Diego! It will attract us to the city forever. 🙂
February 20, 2019 at 16:04
Yes, we’ve had times where we had no plans and didn’t know where we’d park the RV or did have plans and changed them on our way. The beauty of a home on wheels.
February 20, 2019 at 21:41
Amen to that, Ingrid! I love the flexibility we have with this lifestyle. More often than not, we haven’t got a clue until the day itself, where we will boondock. And, as you mention, often the existing plans change. Like yesterday… We were getting tired of “waiting” for better weather, shivering every day. So, we packed up prematurely and drove to hot springs an hour away. We haven’t felt this warm in ages. 🙂
February 20, 2019 at 16:18
Great parking job! Similar to what one must do on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. We were very disappointed with how strict San Diego (and much of SoCal) has become about RV and campervan parking…ugh.
February 20, 2019 at 21:45
It’s really becoming impossible to park during the day (Santa Barbara) or in some towns (like Carmel) even drive an RV, let alone park overnight, in California. Mark and I keep saying that we “need to get out of here” and get to Arizona. Yet, every day California is keeping us just a day longer. 🙂 I hope you had a nice time with your friend still, exploring the state.
February 20, 2019 at 16:29
Yes, I’ve had times when I had no plans. Plus at least once when I had a plan and my connecting flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem so I was kind of stranded at the connecting airport. I din’t know exactly where I was going to sleep that night. It all worked out at the end and my flight resumed the next morning.
February 20, 2019 at 21:49
Hi Natalie! I’m glad that flight nightmare worked out OK in the end. When you’re tired traveling, having to change your plans isn’t always easy. Being flexible is key when it comes to certain situations. It was only recently that I realized that we often have no idea where we will be for lunch (parked somewhere in a parking lot, usually) or where we will camp for the night, until that afternoon. Especially when we are driving that day. As opposed to being “settled” in the van for a few days.
February 20, 2019 at 18:32
At least you were able to park without worries. Bet you got a ton of exercise!
February 20, 2019 at 21:52
We were able to park after the worries. 🙂 But you’re right, Alex. We certainly lucked out with this option available to us, once we had a look in the back and realized we might just fit there. And, yes, we had more exercise there than now, on the road. But only because the weather has been awful and we’ve been stuck inside for weeks.
February 21, 2019 at 00:09
Skylos is a seriously cute dog. Congratulations on all of your book progress, Liesbet.
I am totally jealous about your meetup with Janis and Paul. 🙂
February 25, 2019 at 10:11
Thanks, Donna! And, you will get to see Janis and Paul this summer! How exciting. Yes, it was nice to catch up with them in San Diego. I don’t think we will ever be back. But, you never know with us! 🙂
February 21, 2019 at 01:41
Liesbet, great it all worked out in such a serendipitous way. I’m sure it was nice to be in one place for 3 weeks. Cutest little pup and lovely pics!
Yup been in the position of not knowing where we will sleep or be… I’m ok with that as somehow things work out but I don’t live the process of looking for guest houses when you tired and just wanting to crash!
Peta
February 25, 2019 at 10:15
Those three or four-week house sit stints will be far and few between now, Peta, so you’re right, it was nice to be settled for a little while. We used to house and pet sit for months at a time, but those years are over. Back on the road it is. I do miss the conveniences once in a while, but for now, our travel itch is partly satisfied. Of course that means that the book project is paused again.
You two are such positive and flexible travelers that you can probably manage in about any situation. But I agree, when one is exhausted and wants to sleep, not finding a guest house soon is taxing! At the end, it will work out, and another story can be told. 🙂
February 21, 2019 at 02:42
Liesbet we have the same rules here in New Zealand regarding campervans (RVs) parked along the roadside. Big issue at the moment is the Van’s that are not self contained. The dogs are very distinctive!
February 25, 2019 at 10:18
Suzanne, I love the fact that New Zealand makes the distinction between self-contained and not in their boondocking areas. When Mark and I rented a camper van in the South Island a few years ago, we were so happy to be self-contained! For three weeks, we camped in the nicest places for free. I hope cars and simpler vans don’t abuse those areas, though, as that would indeed be a problem since there are usually no bathrooms when only self-contained units are allowed.
February 21, 2019 at 03:04
With all of the dreary and wet weather we’ve had this winter, it’s so nice to see those beautiful palm trees. I live a structured life…some might think it’s boring, but I need my routine. In fact, I can get a little cranky without it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us, Liesbet. Safe and happy travels!
February 25, 2019 at 10:24
Hi Jill! Most people like their routines, as is demonstrated with how and where most people live. Structure and familiarity are easing and pleasing. We have small routines as well. They are part of our lives, like brushing our teeth, or favoring a certain cereal for breakfast, or writing my diary every evening before bed. I would get antsy if certain things wouldn’t be possible or available to me anymore. But, in the bigger picture, I’m a tad averse to routines. And, that’s what makes this lifestyle fun and interesting! 🙂
We’re in Arizona now and the weather is finally shaping up! I hope for the same over there.
February 21, 2019 at 06:50
Amy must be Greek! (Or know Greek or someone Greek …).
I love the name Skylos, and the dog itself is soooo cute. My little dog made it to almost 15 last year, so seeing this sweet little face here brought bittersweet memories. Always a pleasure to catch another glimpse of Elvis and Frida, too. Am I focusing too much on the dogs?! Haha. 🙂
February 25, 2019 at 10:29
I remember your dog, Lexie, so I understand the bitter sweetness of seeing cute dogs and learning their advanced age. Fifteen is really good, though, especially for a big dog. Mark and I lost both ours around ten years of age, which was a total shame. We still miss those cute faces.
I like how you focus on dogs. We do it all the time. We just adore dogs and since we don’t have any of our own, people might think us creepy, each time we approach an owner asking whether we can pet the dog. 🙂 Luckily, even though we are not dog sitting anymore, we manage to get our doggie fixes from meeting up with friends who have dogs.
February 21, 2019 at 13:41
It’s lovely to see Elvis an Frida again and meet Skylos too – three sweet golden oldies must have been a treat to look after 🙂🐾💖🐾 xxx
February 25, 2019 at 10:35
They were a treat, Xenia! You know how we love the company of dogs! We will miss that part now that we’re back on the road. Luckily, many people travel with their dogs, so there are plenty of petting opportunities. 🙂
February 21, 2019 at 15:29
Your post and photos made me a teensy bit homesick for our Christmases in San Diego, lot’s of those for me and again these last 9 years with Hans in SD with both our sets of families. But yes, it was COLD all over California and cold, windy and sunny for now, here in Sacramento. The Sierras look amazing with all the snow. About parking Zesty, we agonized over this ourselves with our trailer being parked in front of our house for a week before we left. Code enforcement wasn’t around much, thank goodness! That is definitely a new wrinkle for you guys with future housesits and another factor to consider. But I envied the ability for you and Mark to be forced to walk and ride around the area. We are so used to driving everywhere. So many other countries pride themselves on having walkable communities…we would all be so much healthier! How fun to meet up with friends and play with the pooches again, Liesbet!
February 25, 2019 at 10:44
Hi Terri! Thank you for your insightful note. The view of the Sierras must be spectacular after all that snow. I’m glad to read that Sacramento is sunny again and it should finally be warming up a bit there as well.
Some neighborhoods are fine with RVs on the street, especially if they belong to the owner of the house it’s parked in front of and if it’s temporary, like for loading purposes. But, other places ban them all together or you need to buy a permit that is valid for a couple of days. What a hassle. I’m glad your neighborhood is not making a big fuss about it.
I don’t think Zesty will be a big issue anymore in the future, as we don’t plan any house sits anymore, especially in California. And, if we avoid cities, we should be OK. But it was definitely not something we expected to deal with!
To be honest, Mark and I (especially I) hate driving. I’d rather park somewhere and walk everywhere. We attempt this a lot. Especially having bikes now, we prefer to park the van somewhere and reach all the sites (whether in cities or national parks) by foot or bike. We will see how that goes in Arizona. 🙂
February 21, 2019 at 17:34
I held my breath when you described needing to park your van elegantly so it doesn’t call attention to itself. My husband has a conversion van that houses audio and sound equipment for his art/music shows. In our previous home, no problem. But now we live in a community with a homeowners’ association, so I felt anxious for awhile. The top is not nearly as high as yours, but still I wondered if there would be complaints. Fortunately, not.
Did we ever wonder where we were going to sleep for the night? Well, that’s another story I may write about sometime. When our kids were babies, the whole family went on the road with daddy in a 24-foot travel trailer. During the day, Cliff took the van for shows and the kids and I stayed in the travel trailer sometimes with a playground nearby. Occasionally, we weren’t sure where we’d be when we moved though often it was a KOA campground.
February 25, 2019 at 10:52
Hi Marian!
Our gray Zesty blended in well in the alley. We saw other cars parked like us as well and since we have the same width as a normal car, we knew we weren’t sticking out too far. But, it was tight! Not sure what we would have done if this hadn’t been a possibility. And, yes, we are pretty tall as far as vans go. Does your van fit in your driveway or is it on the street? Associations usually care less when the vans are non-distinct and don’t look like RVs.
I’m curious to learn about that period in your life, when you and the family lived on the road. We’ve never stayed at a KOA, but I’m sure they were (and are) a reliable, comfortable spot for the night with all their amenities and – most likely – a playground on the premises. An exciting way to live!
March 2, 2019 at 11:47
The worst thing was lack of companionship. I was cut off from all of my friends back home; I nearly went crazy. :-/
March 6, 2019 at 15:39
Do I sense another memoir to write? 🙂
February 22, 2019 at 07:40
I had not thought about the issue with parking Westy when yo are housesitting. It seems like you came up with an almost perfect solution. One parking job would have been more than enough for me so I can see why you parked it and left it for the month. Too bad about all of the garbage. Always a sad thing to see in any community. Happy travels wherever your road leads!
February 25, 2019 at 10:55
Hi Sue! Thank you. The travels have been relatively happy and will only improve with the warmer weather. 🙂 We actually never thought having our camper would make house sitting (or finding house sits) more difficult. We won’t have that problem anymore, though, as we finally left California and will be spending time in wide open areas. We think!
February 22, 2019 at 08:46
I always have a rough plan of what we are going to do in the future. I think because our lives are broken up into chunks – 4 months house sitting and working in Cabbagetown and 8 months on the road, I am always thinking about the plan for the next chunk. Someday soon (maybe in a couple of years) our lives will be open ended – I have no idea what the plan will be then.
We use that rough plan to make up the day to day plan on the fly. And sometimes we abandon a plan in the middle and end up somewhere completely different than we thought. This happened recently when the van got stuck 4 times going down a road – we could of went an alternative route but decided to ditch our plan and head to the big city and hot showers instead.
It is funny that this wasn’t a normal house sit because it was for a friend – since that is our normal house sit. I plan to ask them all to review me this summer since my plan for next winter is to do a little house sitting on the road.
Hope your “no plan” days are going well and you are finding great places to sleep at night!
February 25, 2019 at 11:02
Hi Duwan! Yes, you guys have more of an annual “schedule”, which has its advantages for sure. Knowing where you will be (and reconnecting with friends, staying in familiar surroundings, and the certainty of making money) is attractive. We’ve considered that kind of a life often, as the months on the road would be more defined and less stressful (in regards to work and money worries).
Your time on the road sounds exactly like ours. Some plans are necessary, but they can’t be set in stone as circumstances often alter them. 🙂
Sorry to read about your van getting stuck. We have been in similar situations where our plan/destination just didn’t want to work out after a few attempts and we abandoned it all together.
So far so good about finding nice boondocking spots on the road, in California and Arizona.
Yes, you should definitely ask for reviews next summer. They are very important when looking further afield for house sits. Enjoy the rest of your México travels! We’ve finally decided we will not cross the southern border this year.
February 22, 2019 at 15:40
Well, it was definitely sociable!
February 25, 2019 at 11:03
And those are often the most wonderful times, Anabel! Friends = fun! 🙂
February 23, 2019 at 07:12
Hi Liesbet,
It’s too bad CA is becoming so unfriendly to RVs and Vans…that will certainly impact our travel plans when we get out there.
I like having no plans every once in a while; I tend to be a planner. When we are on the boat sometimes plans go “out the window” or “overboard” depending on winds and weather. Has a way of keeping you humble, and flexible.
February 25, 2019 at 11:32
Hi Nancy!
All those RV rules in California caught us by surprise. We remember from years ago that Carmel was an issue, but just figured we’d skip that high-end coastal region. But, to learn that we couldn’t even park in the city when visiting Santa Barbara, for example, was a shock! Here we were walking around town, possibly spending money in a store or a restaurant and we stumbled upon a sign mentioning that oversized vehicles couldn’t ever park on the street! We rushed back to Zesty, hoping we didn’t collect a fine. (We didn’t.) Yes, it does alter routes and plans. It wasn’t this bad fifteen years ago, when we traveled around by truck camper.
Plans and boats rarely go together! The weather is the boss! Especially when you always anchor out. We’ve changed uncountable plans (more often than not actually) when living on our sailboat. Yes, it keeps you humble and flexible, well said. The worst is when family or friends plan to visit you! The “rule” on boats is that guests either decide on the place or the time. Never both. 🙂
February 25, 2019 at 00:36
I was thinking maybe restful, after all that running around, Liesbet, but I can see that there are issues with Zesty. Campervans are on the increase here too, and invite a bad press, sadly. Hopefully something will turn up soon 🙂 🙂
February 25, 2019 at 11:34
We actually have a few friends who own a campervan in the UK. Such a cool way to travel. There, or in Portugal. Hopefully, we will be able to experience Europe in a van one day as well. No more house sits, Jo. We’re choosing a more challenging way of life again. It keeps us on edge and exploring. 🙂
February 25, 2019 at 09:37
Seriously, Liesbet, you have the best job. I think Skylos is adorable, too. You’ve got a wonderful routine, and down time. I’ve got to get better organized so as to find downtime, meaning time away from the computer and this blasted memoir. All best to you and Mark and Zesty!
February 25, 2019 at 11:39
More a “best” lifestyle than a job, Victoria, as we don’t make money house and pet sitting. We could, but we decided not to in the past as we never saw it as a job (we had other jobs), got free accommodation in return, and it would change the dynamics between home owners and sitters.
It’s hard to find downtime. Now that we are back on the road, I’m sometimes “forced” to have downtime, when my computer doesn’t have battery power or we don’t pick up a cell signal. It’s difficult to handle, but I truly need to get rid of this stress, self-induced pressure, and anxious mentality, whether it has to do with my memoir, my blog, or my few work projects. You and I, we will get there!
Thank you for your comment and continued support!
February 26, 2019 at 08:45
Ocean Beach sounds a cool and funky place, until I read your ‘downside’ at the foot of your post. However, I guess most places have the same problems, although here in the UK people can be fined for not clearing up their dog poo. And there are officials out there who will fine people.
Glad you had a lovely festive season in a lovely cosy home, Liesbet.
February 27, 2019 at 21:34
Hi Hugh! It pleases me to read that dog owners in the UK actually get fined when not cleaning up their dog’s poop. I wish that was the case everywhere! What most dog owners don’t realize is that by their bad behavior, everyone gets punished. Places were dogs were allowed before aren’t anymore, because some people don’t follow the rules or don’t show respect or are ignorant or careless. Oh well. I’m preaching to the choir!
March 1, 2019 at 05:24
Exactly, Liesbet. Even though people can get fined for not cleaning up their dog mess, some dog owners still don’t clean it up. It then goes on to give all dog owners such a bad name. However, worst still, are the humans who leave their rubbish rather than put it in a bin or take it home with them. It saddens me to see the beach full of rubbish left by the day visitors, and the tide then coming in to carry it all off to the sea.
March 2, 2019 at 11:13
Oh no! Yikes. I agree that leaving trash is much worse than leaving dog poop. What’s wrong with people? Common sense and responsibility seem to have gone out the window for many. Our oceans are already burdened enough. There should be mandatory documentaries about plastic in the oceans and its effects!
February 27, 2019 at 02:20
What a beautiful kitty (I’m all about the kitties) and what a gorgeous place to spend part of the winter. It sounds like an awesome little community.
February 27, 2019 at 21:35
Ocean Beach was a fun place to live for a month. I really like communities where we can walk everywhere, and that are dog-friendly. Or, cat-friendly! 🙂 Casper was a fascinating cat, especially his fur and eyes, but yours are the cutest!
March 6, 2019 at 10:48
What a fun job! My daughter just signed on to dog walk (back in Maryland) and is so excited about being around those pups!
March 6, 2019 at 15:41
Hi Jacqui! My husband and I love dogs, so the house and pet sitting doesn’t feel like a job at all. And, up until now, we never charged for it either. 🙂 Your daughter will enjoy the dog walking, I’m sure. If I ever live in a house, I’d love to do this in my future neighborhood.
March 6, 2019 at 15:05
You make house sitting sound like adventure. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
March 6, 2019 at 15:42
I have come to realize that everything you do in life – that is different than mainstream – is an adventure, Anna. But, I can guarantee that life on the road is more of an adventure than house and pet sitting. Those years in comfortable houses were as close as we ever came to “settling”. 🙂
March 16, 2019 at 09:25
What a great win-win situation for everyone. That cat is absolutely gorgeous!
March 17, 2019 at 10:50
Isn’t he a fascinating color and presence. Did you know he only has three legs? That was quite tricky at times as Casper is huge!
April 5, 2019 at 18:37
Usually when Rob and I go on a longer road trip with the camper, we have no idea where we will end up each night or how long we will stay there. However, because we have friends scattered all across western Canada, trips tend to have a certain amount of structure so that we can visit people enroute. My longest “plan-free” trip was 6 weeks – a trip across Canada with my son (then 13) and the dog.
Jude
April 6, 2019 at 22:02
Aren’t spontaneous trips the best, Jude! With a son and a dog in tow, it might get a bit trickier, though. 🙂 Mark and I have always traveled this way (other than the constant need for internet for work), but I have to admit that flexibility sure is easier these years with all the internet camping resources!
How wonderful to have friends scattered around and to plan your trip around visiting them. It’s a bit of what we did last summer on Vancouver Island, the Pacific Northwest and then California. 🙂